Celebrating South Asian Heritage Month: Jahanara Rajkoomar
Born in Bangladesh and raised in the East-End of London, Jahanara has embraced both cultures and is a perfect example of how our diverse backgrounds create powerful individuals that can make great change.
Read her story below:
“My culture and heritage are a fundamental part of who I am. I have distinct memories of fishing with my friends and cousins, going exploring in the forest to find berries and fruits and playing until the sun went down in a small town in Sylhet.
Having arrived in the UK as an 8-year-old, my formative years were in the East End of London where many other families were in a similar position to mine. There was a sense of community within the Bengali community, and we could access all the cultural food and clothing that forms a big part of what it means to be Bengali.
Food is a big part of my heritage and I take pride in the fact that our food is steeped in the identity of what it means to be Bengali. “Shatkora” and river fish are unique Bengali ingredients.
Having been a British citizen for over 40 years, I see myself as a British-Bengali as I embrace both parts of my “heritage”. This means that I and many others like me amalgamated both cultural norms to create something that is unique to British-Bengalis. We love our fish and chips, burger and fries, lattes and equally relish home-cooked curries, spiced brewed tea with evaporated milk and “handesh” to name a few.
I speak English as a first language and broken “Banglish” with my father. My sisters and I have a dance-off in our kitchens to our favourite beats like Insomnia, Adagio for Strings and Dilbar Dilbar.
My whole life has taught me valuable lessons and even the traumatic events in my life have shaped me. I am a firm believer in the phrase “everything happens for a reason” as I have learnt that even when something makes you feel hopeless, there is a lesson in there or a silver lining showing that the universe is looking out for you.
Adversity is what has made me stronger and many of those were because of my Bengali culture like arranged marriages, being prevented from studying into higher education when I wanted to. My cancer diagnosis which made me face my own mortality gave me an appreciation of life and how you have to be present in the moment because tomorrow is never guaranteed. All of it has given me clarity on who I am and what I want to achieve for myself and my family. I am more confident in who I am, and I am not ashamed of any of it. Take me as you find me.”
