Priya Jandu

By: Priya Jandu

I think British Asians today are losing their identity. They’'re losing the meaning of being an Asian basically losing their roots. It’'s easy for that to happen because you live in a British country and there’s pressure on you to fit in so you try to lose your roots. I think the term ‘British Asian’ is dying out and soon it’s going to just be ‘British’.

This is really going to affect all the Asian races, because soon enough there won’t be any. Religion and culture- everything is going to be lost. That’s what annoys me the most today, Asians wanting to be so non Asian. It’s like they’re on a mission to be non Asian. You can’t deny your roots. Fair enough there’s pressure on you wanting to be pure British because of the racial abuse you get, but that doesn’t mean you have to lose your roots. I know I get confused sometimes on what you can and can’t do because some of the things in life today go against your religion or culture but you live in a modern world today so it won’t matter…Right?

I think we need to just stay stronger, and learn more about where we come from. If we stand up and say we’re proud of whatever names or labels we’re getting thrown at us, I think we’ll be fine. I know friends who have had to move out of Asian communities and into pure British areas and the amount of racial abuse they get. It’s ridiculous.

We need to fight back with the strength of knowing we’re proud of who we are. If British Asians today stop being scared of who they are, and understand their roots and culture then words won’t mean anything and our identities won’t be lost. Too many Asians are moving away from their roots and it needs to stop because if they lose their roots they lose who they are. Be proud of who you are and embrace the feeling of being a British Asian today. You should feel gifted that you have the culture you have and are from the country you’re from and practice the religion you do. Stay true to who you are and don’t change for anyone!