Show and tell

Open Minds London Group - Jan 24

January 2024 saw us back in London at The Common Press, an LGBTQIA+ book shop in East London. We asked people to bring items that were important to them and that represented something important about their connection with their South Asian heritage. 

Someone brought a shawl covered in phulkari embroidery, and another person brought a homemade snack that their mother had made for them. The items got us talking about our family histories, and we spent a lot of time talking about the rituals and traditions that we experienced in our childhoods.

Migration to the UK was another theme that kept coming up. Some of us were born and raised in India and they talked about how living in the UK has made them feel like they don't quite fit in the UK or in India. This is a common experience for people who spend time living away from their birth countries and this feeling of being between cultures is one of the challenges of moving between countries. 

About halfway through the group, we stopped to hear a poem written by one of the group members and we finished up the session with more conversation. As usual we covered a lot of complicated topics and the time went fast. It was great to see that the group ended with a lot of smiles and everyone seemed to have enjoyed the experience.

We’re next planning to meet in London in April 2024. Find out more by following our Eventbrite page.

With warm wishes,

The Open Minds Project ­

We usually meet on the last Wednesday of each month and if you want to join us at an Open Minds Meeting, please visit the Events page on our website.