The document summarizes a partnership between the British Library and Open University to share forgotten histories of South Asians in Britain from 1858-1950. It discusses how the partnership developed exhibitions, publications, blogs and school workshops to showcase their collections and raise awareness of the contributions of early South Asian communities. The success of the partnership is attributed to their shared vision, ongoing collaboration, and cultural understanding which helped spread knowledge about this overlooked history.

1. Sharing the forgotten
histories of
South Asians in Britain
Discovering Collections,
Discovering Communities
Birmingham, October 2014
Penny Brook
British Library
Susheila Nasta
The Open University
Cover of Mirror of British Merchandise, No. 24 (Jan. 1893)
Shelfmark: 14119.f.37

2. Why share this forgotten history?
The ayahs’ home in Hackney was a charitable
institution that looked after abandoned ayahs.
London City Mission Magazine, (1921). Shelfmark:
PP1041.C, British Library Advert for Bombay Emporium, Indian Student, IOR:
L/P&J/12/475
Ramsden Collection Lantern slide. Shelfmark: Photo 472/25
(110)

3. Sophia Duleep Singh, God-daughter of Queen Victoria,
was a campaigner for votes for women in Kingston Upon
Thames.
India Office Records, L/PS/11/52, British Library
A march of South Asian Muslims to India House,
Aldywch, delivering a petition, protesting against the
misrepresentation of the prophet Mohamed, in H.G.
Wells’s A Short History of the World in April 1938, fifty
years before the publication of Rushdie’s novel. India
Office Records document the campaign.
India Office Records, L/PJ/12/614, British Library. Images
Courtesy of Getty Images
Dadabhai Naoroji was the
first British Indian MP,
elected in 1892.
Mirror of British Merchandise,
August 1892, Shelfmark:
14119.f.37, British Library

4. A mixed group of British and Indian soldiers of the Signal Troop of the Lucknow Cavalry
Brigade relaxing in a farmyard at Brigade Headquarters (1915).
Official Record of the Indian Army in Europe, H D Girdwood, Photo 24/(158), British Library

5. Development of the Partnership

6. Evolution of the partnership
 Database of research resources
 Conference at the BL
 Academic publications by OU,
King’s and Oxford
 Pop-up exhibition – UK
 Pop-up exhibition - India
 Asians in Britain – online
learning resource
 School workshops
 Blogs
 Photographic history

7. Pop-up exhibition venues
2010-2012
 Bradford (2 venues)
 Leicester
 Birmingham
 Brighton
 Woking
 Croydon
 Barking
 Swiss Cottage
 Middlesbrough
 Foreign and Commonwealth
Office
 Great Britain Centre,
Alexander von Humboldt
University, Berlin
2011-2012
• National Archives of India
• NAI regional centres
• British Council Offices:
Delhi
Kolkata
Ahmedabad
Mumbai
Pune
Hyderabad
Chennai
• Open University
• Asia House
• Southall Library

8. Beyond the Frame: India in
Britain 1858-1950
Partners
 The Open University
 The British Library
 The British Council
 The National Archives of
India
 British Museum
 V&A
 RCUK
Funding
 World Collections
Programme
 AHRC – grant to OU
 The Open University
 The British Library
 The British Council

9. Complexities
 Culture
 Aims
 Intellectual
property
 Recognition
 Delivery

10. Why does the partnership
work?
• Shared vision
• Shared commitment and
enthusiasm
• Support from OU and BL
• Meeting commitments
• Slow evolution of
partnership
• Honesty and trust
• Mutual support
• Understanding of
constraints
• Cultural awareness
• Adaptability
• Laughter
A partnership must be strong enough to withstand surprises and crises!

11. How did collaboration help?
Open University British Library
Inspiration Inspiring collections
Practical support
Leadership Co-ordination of input from BL
departments
Contacts Contacts
Funding – AHRC, OU, RCUK Funding – World Collections
Programme, BL
Commitment Commitment
Knowledge exchange Knowledge exchange
Institutional support Institutional support

12. Shared working
Open University British Library
Research Advice on collections
Writing and image selection for:
Exhibition
Online learning resources
Booklet
School workbooks
Blogs
Know-how and delivery:
Exhibition design and production
Web skills and creation of micro-site
Design and production
Advice on design
Untold Lives blog and Twitter
Talks at UK exhibition venues Management of UK exhibition tour
Launch events and school workshops
in India
Launch events and school workshops
in India
Rights management Permission where BL owns copyright
Staffing for managing and delivering
the project
Staff resource to provide support
Media profile Media profile

13. Impact

15. Impact in government
 Sanjay Wadvani, British Deputy High Commissioner
Eastern India: The Asians in Britain website and the
database should be required reading for anyone joining
the FCO’s South Asia team.
 FCO research analyst Nivedita Velamati: Thank you for
recording this information on a history that is little
understood.

16. Audience feedback
 Student at workshop: The highlight was the theme India
in Britain, as we are aware of British history in India but
unaware of Indian history in Britain.
 Teacher at workshop: My outlook about the British and
Indians has changed entirely
 Visitor to exhibition at Southall Library: Hope this
display will remain in the forefront and set in our hearts
and minds and not be archived to collect dust. May the
labours of all South Asians in Britain not be in vain, in
that their legacy leads to mutual respect and
understanding.

17. Thanks for listening
Susheila Nasta
susheila.nasta@open.ac.uk
Penny Brook
penny.brook@bl.uk
www.open.ac.uk/arts/research/asianbritain/