Our Untold Stories - The Asian Community in Gloucestershire is the last in a series of three books - the result of a two-year project which set out to explore, for the first time, the history and settlement of the Asian, Chinese and African-Caribbean communities in Gloucestershire. The term 'Asian' refers to a diversity of cultures and religions. Pakistani, Indian and Bangladeshi nationalities exist in Gloucestershire following religions such as Islam, Hinduism and Sikhism. British contact with India began in 1600 when Queen Elizabeth I granted a charter to the East India Company to trade with India. Subsequent British rule of India resulted in the movement of Asians into Britain, so that when in the 1950s larger numbers of Asians arrived, they joined an already existing older community. Why did they decide to leave their homeland to come into an alien culture and how do they feel now? What are their hopes and expectations and what does the future hold? How much do they feel that they are 'British' and are they proud of it? Would any of them consider going back after half a century of political and social change? What made them feel at home in a strange country? 
There is an enormous depth of emotion as people talk about their lives, and achievements, their losses and regrets and their advice to the second and third generations of British Asians.  | | Nasreen Akhtar |
You can find out the answers to all these questions by reading their life stories. There is an enormous depth of emotion as people talk about their lives, and achievements, their losses and regrets and their advice to the second and third generations of British Asians. Now is the time to record this living history through first-hand experience, which will otherwise be lost. In the first project of its kind for the Asian community in Gloucestershire, multilingual researchers interviewed community members and the stories of people whose culture, religion, customs, language and taste for food was totally different from the host community. Our Untold Stories talks about these different groups and the sacrifices and hardships they experienced in order to settle in Gloucestershire. I hope these stories will preserve the great cultural diversity of Gloucestershire, which benefits all who live here. Our aim throughout this project has been to provide a valuable educational resource. I view this as one of the most worthwhile things I have ever done and in particular feel satisfied to see this third book published. A big thankyou goes to all the people and funding providers who have helped my dream come true! Nasreen Akhtar BA, MA, ALA
Senior Librarian: Ethnic Services,Gloucestershire County Library
Arts & Museums Service | 
