South Asian Heritage Month – a catch up with the Aviva Origins Network
This year marks the third year of South Asian Heritage Month, which runs from 18 July – 17 August 2022.
South Heritage was established to celebrate South Asian history and culture and is an opportunity for us to learn more about the countries in South Asia and their heritage and the theme this year is ‘Journeys of Empire’.
There are 8 countries that make up South Asia – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
To mark the start of this month of celebration, the iCAN team spoke to Anna Dilku, Co-Chair of Aviva Origins (this is Aviva’s multicultural employee resource group), to find out what Aviva are doing to celebrate and commemorate South Asian Heritage Month:
“This year, Aviva Origins kicked off South Asian Heritage Month by delving into the countries of South Asia and over the coming weeks will be celebrating with a range of activities for our people.
We’re running a desk-yoga session, exploring the real roots of yoga whilst boosting our wellbeing and, as part of this year’s ‘Journeys of Empire’ theme, interviewing our colleagues’ parents who brought their families to the UK.
We’ve arranged themed lunches in our restaurants across the UK, so that everyone can get a flavour of South Asia, and we're excited to be launching a new network A.S.A.P., a space for Aviva's South Asian Professionals to connect over chai!”
Watch the new Aviva Origins video starring Nina Wadia: “What does it mean to be South Asian at Aviva?” below:
About South Asian Heritage Month
This year’s theme – ‘Journeys of Empire’ – is designed to celebrate and commemorate the journeys made throughout history from South Asia:
“From empires such as the Mughal, the Duranni, the Vijayanagar and the British, from indentured labourers forced to travel to the Caribbean and East Asia, and other migrants who travelled by choice to Africa and beyond, to the journeys that families made to the UK with just £3 in their pockets, we have all been affected by the journeys of empire.”
The theme also reflects two major anniversaries that take place in 2022:
75th anniversary of the independence of India, Partition, and the creation of Pakistan (later known as East and West Pakistan)
50th anniversary of the expulsion of Ugandan Asians by Idi Amin
iCAN Co-Chair Ajay Mistry said:
“It is fantastic to see Aviva embracing South Asian Heritage Month.
“By celebrating the month, we are able to appreciate the positive impact that the South Asian countries. Despite being a hugely diverse and ever-changing region, it is important to recognise the difficulties that South Asian immigrants, first, second, third generations and beyond have experienced and understand more about those who have paved the way.”
For more information about South Asian Heritage Month and to see the full calendar of events, visit: https://www.southasianheritage.org.uk/