South Asian Heritage Month
We’ve been celebrating South Asian Heritage Month at the College. As part of the celebrations, we asked Council members to share their experiences of the region, people, colleagues, friends, the values and culture or simply the food!
South Asian heritage month is celebrated from the 18 July-17 August. The month not only has some important historical dates signifying the intertwined relationship between Britain and the south Asian countries, it also coincides with the month of “Shravan/Saawan” that is the season of monsoon in the region.
Dr Toni Brunning
I have visited various regions of Bangladesh running teaching sessions in different hospitals. I will never forget how warm, friendly, and welcoming the people of Bangladesh were. Their kindness and hospitality have had a lasting effect on me and the way they greet strangers as if they are their own family sets an example to us all.
Professor Will Harrop-Griffiths
I was very fortunate to be invited to speak at the 2019 Academy of Regional Anaesthesia of India in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. I was overwhelmed by the enthusiasm, friendliness, camaraderie, energy and vibrant joie de vivre - and the sights, sounds and music, which even drew a quiet and reserved person like me onto the stage to dance in front of hundreds of registrants. If you have not been to a meeting done the “South Asian way”, go as soon as you can!
Dr Sarah Muldoon
I made some of my best friends as a foundation doctor, one of whom encouraged us all to wear traditional dress to her wedding like her and her Sri Lankan family. I was a total amateur going sari shopping, and relied on YouTube videos and lots of safety pins to get ready for the wedding. Many years later, I hope I would be more comfortable admitting my ignorance and asking for help from those who know better! South Asian Heritage Month is a reminder to be open with friends and colleagues about what we don’t yet know about each other and respectfully get better acquainted.
Dr Ramai Santhirapala
South Asian culture is more than a heritage; it is an integral part of who I am. Remaining close to my Sri Lankan (Tamil) roots is a great source of inspiration for me. This was especially true during the pandemic, when I turned to its values and expressions to maintain equanimity during a very changeable time.
Dr Helgi Johansson
From close personal friends to some of my biggest medical inspirations, people of South Asian heritage have touched my life in so many ways. One of the privileges of living in the UK is having such rich cultural diversity, something I could not have imagined growing up in 1970’s rural Iceland. It gives me immense pleasure in joining my South Asian council members in the celebrations of their heritage month!
Dr Satya Francis
I thought of talking about a place, Kodaikanal, which is close to my heart and a place I have frequented since a child and introduce it to people who may wish to visit it. A hill station on the western Ghats in southern India where coffee plantation and cultivation of fruits and vegetables are the main livelihood. A place where Bison, elephants, wild boar, sambar and barking deer roam freely in the jungles. I cannot wait for my next trip up the sleepy hills with their winding roads and feel the fresh, cool breeze upon my face and soak in the gorgeous sights and smells.
Dr Ashwini Keshkamat
The South Asian region and its connections to Britain are incomplete without celebrating the food and flavours. I believe food truly can bring people together as it has its own culture, story and relationships. From a cup of masala tea with samosa, to a heart-warming curry, I think the Indian subcontinent occupies a special place in every person’s heart.
