South Asian Heritage Month: Embracing dual identity in modern Scotland

In the 1970s, during a period marked by global transitions, my parents embarked on the journey from Kenya to the UK, finally settling in Scotland. Their decision was deeply rooted in the pursuit of opportunities and an ambition to forge a brighter future.

Although Scotland greeted them with the undeniable warmth of its people and its striking landscapes (not to mention the cold climate; my mother still takes a jacket everywhere in Summer “just in case”), they found themselves confronted with the challenge of navigating dual identities: preserving the essence of their Kenyan-Indian (Gujarati) heritage, while assimilating into Scottish culture and society.

This balance between two worlds played a defining role in my early life.

There were moments, subtle and formative, that highlighted our distinctiveness. I still recall the intrigued looks from classmates at school when my mother turned up somewhere to pick me up wearing a sari, or if I unwrapped a chapati at lunchtime. I’d cringe. Today, I cringe at the thought of cringing.

Nevertheless, such seemingly small events were foundational, moulding my understanding of identity, belonging, and the intricacies of integrating into a society while staying connected to your roots.

My father was a bridge between cultures; he was a towering figure in Scotland’s business community and inspired many in the Asian community to come together and embrace Scottish culture. The initiatives he was involved in during the transformative decade of the 1990s shaped our family's journey.

Recognising the need for greater cultural dialogue and understanding, he championed inclusivity across communities. His endeavours, ranging from organising intercultural events to fostering discussions between diverse groups, underscored the importance of mutual respect and collaboration.

It wasn’t about “assimilation”, but about creating a community where cultural threads wove a richer, eclectic societal fabric.

In my case, entering the legal profession almost 15 years ago, the nature of challenges evolved, becoming more subtle, and more profound. Those days, there was a dearth of ethnic minority role models and “people like me” to look up to in private practice.

It made me - and undoubtedly many of my peers in a similar situation - reflect on our position within these structures. Were we merely statistics in a diversity report, or were our roles genuinely reflective of our skills, contributions, and potential? Even as I’ve moved from private practice to in-house roles at global organisations, with employees spread out across the world, that doubt still creeps in…

Modern-day Scotland, fortunately, continues to transform and improve. The country I knew as a child has evolved, revealing a more inclusive and diverse society.

I have three children and, through them, I experience a Scotland where cultural intersections are much more commonplace, where they proudly embrace their identity and cultural background, and they want to learn more about where they come from. They don’t cringe.

Yet, there remains an undeniable gap. The legal profession in Scotland, while showing progress, still lags behind in terms of representation. There remains a shortage of diverse voices in senior roles, a reality that must continue to improve, if we aspire for a truly inclusive society.

South Asian Heritage Month is an important reminder for all of us to stop and reflect. It's an opportunity to not only celebrate our roots and the events that brought us to this moment, but also to carve out our future trajectory.

Like our parents that came before us, our goals have to extend beyond representation and “assimilation”, we should strive for genuine influence, based on merit, shaping the narratives and policies that impact our future and build communities that encourage everyone to embrace differences across cultures.