South Asian Heritage Month: ‘We belong to all places’

South Asian Heritage Month is truly a celebration and time to reflect on South Asian culture and the richness it brings to communities. 

Asian culture encompasses a wide range of communities from the subcontinent, and there are differences among South Asian communities such as lifestyle, food and cultural practices. 

I come from a Tamil-speaking area – Tamil is over 5,000 years old, which makes it one of the world’s oldest languages. About 3,000 years ago a Tamil poet, Kaniyan Pungundranar, wrote: ‘Yaadhum Oore Yaavarum Kelir’ meaning ‘we belong to all places, and to everyone’. 

The saying nurtures unity and celebration of human relationships. Work to achieve equality and diversity has come a long way, but there are still some gaps, which is why the CSP supports and represents members facing discrimination in the workplace.  

Policies and procedures act as some deterrent, but it does not completely change what is happening in practice, and sadly, racial discrimination continues to exist. 

Diversity creates joy and brings people together, however, this is often overshadowed by negative experiences. When I came to the UK in 2003, I experienced insecurities about my accent and cultural practices. My line manager offered me fantastic support, and this helped me to be confident about my identity. However, I know this support isn’t available to everyone. 

The CSP BAME network provided me with a safe space to share my experiences and hear from others about their own cultural expectations and sensitivities within the profession.  

Diversity creates joy and brings people together, however this is often overshadowed by negative experiences

This South Asian Heritage month let’s rejoice in celebration of our culture, unite with one another and raise awareness of the experiences that physios, support workers and students have within our profession. Get together with your South Asian colleagues and celebrate!