What is South Asian Heritage Month? 

Every year from 18 July to 17 August we celebrate South Asian Heritage Month, ending on the anniversary of Partition. The Indian Independence Act received royal assent from King George VI on 18 July 1947, and the Radcliffe Line, which divides India, West Pakistan, and East Pakistan, was published on 17 August. This event is celebrated over two months to respect the traditions of each of the countries which make up South Asia incorporating their own individual independence days.

The first South Asian Heritage Month event was conceptualised and launched by the South Asian community in the UK in July 2019 at the House of Commons. The Grand Trunk Project, The Partition Commemoration Campaign, City Sikhs, and Faiths Forum for London worked together to establish the initiative.

What countries are part of South Asia?

The eight countries which make up South Asia are:

• Afghanistan
• Bangladesh
• Bhutan
• India
• Maldives
• Nepal
• Pakistan
• Sri Lanka

Why is this important? 

Not only is this month important to provide learning opportunities for others, the month also enables people of South Asian heritage to celebrate their history and identity by sharing their own stories and experiences.

I'm not South Asian but I want to support my South Asian colleagues, how can I do this?

You can do many things to support your South Asian colleagues this month such as ask your South Asian colleagues about their heritage in a respectful way to gain insight into their culture, attend an event for South Asian Heritage Month designed to broaden knowledge and celebrate a variety of heritages or maybe try your hand at cooking a South Asian recipe and learning about the culture behind it and so much more.

The Ethnic Minorities Subgroup