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Title: R1182_10 Track 10_Avtar Singh Jouhl
Description: This is an oral history interview with Avtar Singh Jouhl, recorded between October 1991- February 1992, as part of the Birmingham Black Oral History Project (BBOHP), discussing his life in India and the UK.
Avtar lived in Punjab, India until 1958 when he left college and travelled to England hoping to continue his studies. He worked in foundries in Birmingham and joined the Indian Workers Association after experiencing inequalities in the workplace. He talks about his upbringing in rural Punjab, India, his involvement with Trade Unions and politics and his work and family life in Birmingham.
These recordings include racially explicit content, including discussions of racism, prejudice and violence; and language and phrasing that we would not use today. Some of this content might be unsuitable for younger listeners or triggering for People of Colour.
We recommend reading the description for each track before choosing to listen.

R1182
Track 01 The House in Smethwick
Avtar describes living conditions in the Smethwick house in Birmingham

Track 02 The House in Smethwick (continued)
Avtar talks about the difference between British and Indian houses

Track 03 The House in Smethwick (continued)
Avtar talks about living conditions when he first came to England and reasons for buying property

Track 04 The House in Smethwick (continued)
Avtar talks about purchase of food, cooking and eating arrangements

Track 05 Food Shopping / Money Lenders
Avtar talks about purchase of food and sending money to family to pay loans

Track 06 Starting Work
Avtar talks about starting work in a foundry

Track 07 Saving Money / Colour Bar in Pubs
Avtar talks about using money orders through the Post Office to send money to India. He also talks about his experience of going to a pub where there were rooms reserved for white people only

Track 08 Colour Bar in Other Places
Avtar talks about his shock at being refused a haircut at a barber’s because he was Indian

Track 09 Writing Letters Home / Starting Work at Shotton Foundry
Avtar talks about writing letters for other people, helping out as he could understand English and starting work at a foundry

Track 10 Being a Moulder’s Mate at Shotton Foundry
Avtar talks about his job at the foundry

Keywords:
Birmingham Museums Trust/Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery
,
Sound Archive
/
Oral History
,
Social history
/
BBOHP
,
Social history
/
Birmingham Black Oral History Project
,
Black History
   
Usage Rights: CC BY-NC 4.0 - Attribution-Non Commercial You are free to share & adapt this material. Credit: © Birmingham Museums Trust, shared under CC BY-NC 4.0 licence
    • ID: 23699
    • R1182_02 Track 2_Avtar Singh Jouhl
    • ID: 23708
    • R1182_Merged Tracks_Avtar Singh Jouhl
    • ID: 23706
    • R1182_09 Track 9_Avtar Singh Jouhl
    • ID: 23700
    • R1182_03 Track 3_Avtar Singh Jouhl
    • ID: 23701
    • R1182_04 Track 4_Avtar Singh Jouhl
    • ID: 23702
    • R1182_05 Track 5_Avtar Singh Jouhl
    • ID: 23698
    • R1182_01 Track 1_Avtar Singh Jouhl
    • ID: 23703
    • R1182_06 Track 6_Avtar Singh Jouhl
    • ID: 23704
    • R1182_07 Track 7_Avtar Singh Jouhl
    • ID: 23705
    • R1182_08 Track 8_Avtar Singh Jouhl