Title: | R1191_08 Track 8_Avtar Singh Jouhl |
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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. R1191 Track 01 Organisational Problems For Black Workers Groups and the IWA Avtar talks about co-ordinating black workers’ associations against racial discrimination Track 02 The Co-Ordination Committee Against Racial Discrimination Avtar talks about the united effort against racisim Track 03 The National Committee for Commonwealth Immigrants Avtar talks about how, when some organisations joined the Committee, it resulted in their near-demise and the reasons he declined to join Track 04 Against Joining The State Apparatus Avtar talks about how state organisations create a buffer between the black community Track 05 IWA Retains Its Independence From State Funding Avtar talks about how the IWA does not accept state funding and retains it independence Track 06 IWA Retains Its Independence From State Funding (continued) Avtar talks about how the IWA does not accept state funding and retains it independence Track 07 IWA Funding From Its Members Avtar explains how the IWA is funded and the contribution of volunteers Track 08 IWA Split and Government of India Interference Avtar explains how events in India influenced the split of the IWA Track 09 Religion and Politics Avtar describes how religion and politics became entwined with temples being used for political electioneering Track 10 Indian Districts and Languages Avtar talks about the different districts and languages spoken by Indians |
Keywords: |
Birmingham Museums Trust/Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, India, Birmingham history, Sound Archive/ Oral History, Social history/ Black History, Social history/ BBOHP, Social history/ Birmingham Black Oral History Project, South Asia |
Usage Rights: | CC BY-NC 3.0 - Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 You are free to share & adapt this material. Credit: © Birmingham Museums Trust |