Cohesion Plus were proud to deliver a programme of activity as part of South Asian Heritage Month. The activity which saw hundreds attend consisted of two flagship events taking place across Gravesham and Dartford, showcasing South Asian excellence via artistic, musical and dance performances as well as the premiering of a series of short films.

The first event took place in Gravesham at the Woodville Studio where guests had the opportunity to watch a new series of short films titled “Big Stories Local Legends”. The sold out event was attended by dignitaries such as the Mayor of Gravesham, Cllr Daniel Adewale King, Andrew Wood DL, Jo Holmes DL and Jane Louden DL as well as Chair of NHS Kent and Medway Cedi Frederik.

The proceedings were overseen by Gurvinder Sandher MBE DL who participated in his capacity as Deputy Lieutenant, representing The Lady Colgrain, Lord Lieutenant of Kent.

The three films told the stories of key local figures whose impact and contribution to Gravesham have been significant and lasting. The first film told the story of South Asian led football club Punjab United and their success within the Southern Counties East Football League, marking them as a force to be reckoned with. There was a particular focus on Karan Sanghera, one of the Punjabi first female coaches in the men’s game. The second film charted the history and contribution of Virdee Stores, the first ever Indian sweet shop in the South East and the significant impact it made on multiple generations of British Asians born and raised in the area. The film focused on Surinder Kaur Virdee and her daughter Gurpreet Kaur Virdee who both spoke about the journey the shop went through including many challenges from its inception in the late 1960’s to the current day. The third and final film covered the artistic journey of Dhol drumming prodigy and local resident Bhavinder (Bill) Sandher also known as Machine Gun Billy, a playful moniker for his legendary drumming abilities and style. The film chronicled Bill’s many artistic inspirations, challenges and his legacy as one of the most well-known Dhol drummers both across the UK and internationally.

The screening was followed by an award ceremony where members of the community were awarded for their vast contributions to Gravesham across various fields. Awardees included Balbir Kaur Aluhwalia and Sukhdev Kaur Sandhu from the Asian Woman’s Group who work with and support Punjabi women in the local communities through exercise, social activity and outings. Marni Dhinsa co-founder of Four by Four Bhangra Group was awarded for his longstanding contribution to Punjabi Arts and Culture through his decade’s long Bhangra dance career. The films participants were also awarded as part of a special presentation to recognise their prolific work and contributions.

The second event, which took place in Dartford at the Orchard West Theatre was a dazzling affair with a programme that boasted artistic performances originating from Nepalese, Telugu, Bangladeshi, and Punjabi cultures. The event was produced and delivered working in partnership with local community partners Sujatha Thaladi, Bina Ghimire, Santosh Patil and Cllr Avtar Sandu as well as Orchard West Theatre.

Some 200 guests attending the event including Mayor of Dartford Cllr Andy Lloyd were entertained with a rich artistic programme of arts hailing from multiple regions of the South Asian Continent.

During the course of the evening there was an array of performances of genres such as Khatak and Bhartnatyam, forms of ancient classical Indian dance as well as Bhangra, a traditional North Indian dance originating from the farming roots of the region. Groups such as Nepalese Hindu Dance Association, Dartford Telugu Association, the Neetha Rohini Dance Academy and Soptosur Music School showcased their exemplary abilities. The finale performance was given by Four by Four Youth Club and the Kings of Dhol who brought the house down with their bold choreography and vibrant percussion set. As part of the performance there was an interactive workshop that had everyone up and participating.

Gurvinder Sandher MBE DL, organiser of the event commented, “We couldn’t be prouder of the wonderful activity we were able to deliver this year for South Asian Heritage Month. At the time of the delivering the Dartford event, our country was in the grip of violent, racist riots which were taking place across major cities. The aim of these riots was to divide communities, and ensure that ethnically diverse communities felt marginalised and afraid. Which is why as an organisation whose central ethos is cohesion, unity and the championing of what binds us together, we were adamant that we continue with our plans in order to stand against far-right hateful rhetoric. As such, we were greatly enthused with how the celebrations were received by individuals from all backgrounds. It is so important that we all continue to champion diversity especially in the face of those trying to divide.

I am grateful to all our partners across both events who volunteered their time and efforts during a difficult time, to ensure we delivered the best possible activity that pays tribute to the contributions of the South Asian diaspora here in the UK.