By Ramesh Kallidai
“The annual festival has been held for the last 20 years,” explained a breathless Nirmala Patel, General Secretary of the Hindu Council of Brent. She had just been running round sharp corners and up steep staircases - in a splendid attempt to bring her costumed artistes, stage decorations, food and music together for a spectacular show.
“This event has become a major attraction for the Indian community in our Borough,” explained Venilal Vaghela, Chair of the Hindu Council of Brent. “It manages to entertain as well as educate. Parents of Hindu children have often expressed their appreciation of how this event helps remind them of our rich cultural heritage.”
Fourteen organisations contributed to the colourful cultural show and enthralled the audience with a feast of traditional music and dance. The pageant included folk dances from Gujarat, Rajasthan and Punjab as well as classical dances composed and choreographed by famous Gurus like Pandit Birju Maharaj.
“By educating non-Hindus in Brent about the cultural aspect of Hinduism and by motivating Hindus to appreciate the contributions of the wider British society, we hope we can further the Government’s community cohesion agenda,” continued Vaghela.
The compere that Nirmalaben had arranged did not turn up, and there was last minute chaos. Finally, with a gleam in her eye, Nirmalaben rounded on me and escorted me to the stage. I had managed, with undue hestitation on my part and firm resolution on Nirmalaben’s part, to turn into the impromptu compere (past compare, of course).
After I made a few announcements and went backstage, the sound technician complained, “Rameshbhai, why do you keep saying, ‘ladies and gentlemen’? This is a Hindu programme. ‘Bhaiyon ane beheno’ is more appropriate.”
I went back to the audience, and admitted on stage that I had made an unforgivable mistake by addressing them as ‘ladies and gentlemen’. As soon as I rephrased my address to ‘bhaiyon ane beno’, a roar of appreciation and a thunder of applause rang through the hall.
A few minutes later, the technician smiled and said, “You addressed all the bhais and the bens. But what about the kakas, kakis, masas and masis? You should at least have acknowledged their presence.”
I fled.
Home sweet Home-Office
Lord Filkin, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Home Office had invited Hindu leaders for a private meeting on 2nd April to discuss the Government’s faith community agenda.
I arrived there to find the other delegates huddled before the lift. Hamish McPherson, from the Race Equality Unit received us and escorted us to a reception room.
“This is what I call professionalism,” commented Nitin Palan from the Swami Narayan Mission as we browsed through books about Indian culture displayed on the coffee table in the room. “They must change the books to suit the cultural background of the people they are meeting.”
Lord Filkin explained to us that he was interested to find out if the Hindu community had any thoughts on the current legislation that moved Britain from the prevailing stress on race discrimination to a more balanced approach on discrimination that included race, religion, age, sex, disability and orientation. The discussion turned to issues faced by British Hindus – including lack of political representation, failure of party machineries to facilitate Indian candidates at council and parliamentary elections, problems faced by temples for planning permissions and car parks, lack of
adequate crematoria suitable for Hindu needs and the need for inter-faith dialogue. Lord Filkin invited the delegation to submit six to eight key issues or problems faced by Hindus in Britain. Suggestions to hold a conference between the Hindu community and 25 or 30 local councils with substantial Hindu populations were greeted warmly.
Saraswati Dave, Vice President of the VHP made the closing remarks at the meeting. “We would like to thank your Lordship for extending your time,” she concluded with genuine appreciation.
“Oh, call me Geoff please,” smiled Lord Filkin. “or just call me Minister.”
Later, one of the delegates remarked privately, “Lord Filkin genuinely wants a productive dialogue with faith communities. This was no talk-show.”
We are living truly and firmly in progressive times.