South Asian heritage month: honouring a legacy of contribution
- Rakhee Verma
- Aug 11
- 7 min read
Every year, from 18 July to 17 August, South Asian Heritage Month invites us to celebrate the histories, cultures, and achievements of people with roots in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
I am of Indian heritage.
It’s a chance not only to recognise the journeys that brought millions of South Asians to the UK, but also to acknowledge the profound ways this community has shaped British society and the economy.
A shared history
The South Asian presence in Britain is far from new. Since the era of the British Empire, sailors, students, soldiers, and professionals from the Indian subcontinent have made lasting contributions here. During both World Wars, South Asians—primarily from what was then British India (now India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and parts of Myanmar)—played a crucial role in supporting the British war effort.
In the First World War (1914–1918), around 1.3 million soldiers from British India served across battlefields in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, with approximately 74,000 losing their lives. The scale of their involvement expanded even further during the Second World War (1939–1945), when roughly 2.5 million soldiers from British India formed the largest volunteer army in history at that time. They fought in major campaigns across North Africa, Italy, Burma, and beyond, with nearly 87,000 making the ultimate sacrifice.
Taken together, around 3.8 million South Asian troops fought alongside British forces in both wars, with more than 160,000 lives lost and countless others wounded, captured, or serving in vital support roles such as supply, engineering, and medical assistance.
Post-war reconstruction of Britain
Following the wars, the 1950s and 60s saw a significant wave of migration from South Asia and the Caribbean as people answered the call to help rebuild a nation recovering from the devastation of conflict. This post-war migration laid the foundations for the rich, diverse communities we see today—a story marked by resilience, adaptation, and remarkable contributions, often made despite discrimination and hardship.
South Asian Heritage Month is not only a time to celebrate the extraordinary cultural, economic, and social contributions of South Asians to Britain, but also to recognise the challenges we have faced and overcome. The history is rich with stories of resilience and resistance.
Documentaries such as Defiance: Fighting the Far Right (2024) reveal how South Asian communities in 1970s and 80s Britain organised to defend themselves against a surge in racist violence and far-right extremism, while Handsworth Songs (1986), John Akomfrah’s experimental essay film, reflects on the 1985 Handsworth riots and the wider realities of migration, memory, and racial tension. I for India (2005) offers an intimate portrayal of migration through home videos and letters, capturing the isolation and cultural adjustments faced by a newly arrived immigrant family.
Together, these works provide important context for understanding not only the struggles South Asians have endured, but also the ways in which they have shaped and enriched modern Britain.
Academic achievement
South Asians in Britain have consistently demonstrated high levels of academic achievement, often outperforming national averages despite facing significant social and economic challenges. Children from Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, and Sri Lankan backgrounds have made notable strides across all levels of education, with Indian pupils in particular achieving some of the highest GCSE and A-level results in the country.
This success is often attributed to a strong cultural emphasis on education as a pathway to stability, respect, and opportunity, as well as the dedication of parents and community networks who invest time and resources into learning.
However, the story is not uniform—while Indian and Bangladeshi pupils have seen dramatic gains in attainment, some sub-groups, particularly among Pakistani boys, continue to face barriers linked to poverty, language, and discrimination. These patterns highlight both the resilience of South Asian communities in navigating the British education system and the need for targeted policies to ensure that all young people can fulfil their academic potential.
South Asians in Britain have established a strong presence across a wide range of academic and professional fields, with especially high representation in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and other healthcare professions. British South Asians make up a significant proportion of the NHS workforce—particularly as doctors, surgeons, general practitioners, and consultants—reflecting decades of commitment to medical excellence. Beyond healthcare, many have excelled in law as barristers, solicitors, and judges; in engineering and technology as innovators and researchers; and in academia as university lecturers, professors, and researchers across disciplines from economics to history.
The sciences—particularly chemistry, physics, and biomedical research—have also seen a notable South Asian contribution, as have finance, accountancy, and business education. These achievements underscore the community’s deep investment in rigorous study and its enduring influence in shaping Britain’s intellectual and professional landscape.
Building the NHS and saving lives
Perhaps nowhere is the South Asian impact more visible than in the health sector. When the NHS was founded in 1948, Britain faced a severe shortage of healthcare workers. Doctors, nurses, and ancillary staff from South Asia stepped forward—many arriving from India, Pakistan, and later Bangladesh—to fill the gap.
Today, the contribution continues:
Around 30% of doctors in the NHS are of South Asian heritage.
Countless nurses, midwives, and allied health professionals trace their roots to South Asia.
South Asian scientists and researchers have been at the forefront of medical innovation—from vaccine development to pioneering surgical techniques.
The COVID-19 pandemic was a stark reminder of their role, as South Asian healthcare workers were disproportionately represented among those who risked—and sometimes lost—their lives in service to the public.
South Asians play a vital role in filling essential jobs within Britain’s social care sector, providing much-needed support to vulnerable individuals and communities. Their contribution is crucial in addressing the significant staffing shortages facing the industry. Despite challenges like low pay and demanding work conditions, many South Asians continue to step into these roles, helping to sustain a care system that is increasingly under pressure. Recognising and supporting their contribution is key to strengthening a diverse and resilient social care workforce for the future.
Driving the UK economy
Beyond healthcare, South Asians have been instrumental in driving growth across multiple sectors:
Entrepreneurship: from corner shops to global corporations, South Asians have established thriving businesses that provide jobs, generate tax revenue, and revitalise local economies.
STEM fields: engineers, IT specialists, and scientists of South Asian heritage play key roles in Britain’s innovation economy.
Hospitality and retail: the South Asian influence has enriched British food culture immeasurably—with curry still being considered Britain's national dish.
In fact, research by the Centre for Entrepreneurs found that ethnic minorities —many of them South Asian—are more likely to start businesses than their white British counterparts, contributing billions annually to the UK economy.
Shaping culture and society
South Asian culture is woven into Britain’s identity. From literature and film to fashion and festivals, its influence is everywhere:
The arts: groundbreaking TV shows such as Goodness Gracious Me, The Kumars at No. 42 (Sanjeev Bhaskar and Meera Syal), and Citizen Khan (Adil Ray) have permeated mainstream British television, using humour to challenge stereotypes and celebrate cultural identity. In the realms of literature and art, well known figures such as Salman Rushdie and Anish Kapoor have attained global recognition. Zaha Hadid, an Iraqi-British architect and the first woman to win the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize, is celebrated globally for her visionary and groundbreaking contributions to contemporary architecture.
Sport: South Asian athletes and coaches such as cricketers Monty Panesar and Moeen Ali, boxer Amir Khan, and footballer Adil Nabi have made significant contributions, inspiring new generations and breaking barriers in traditionally underrepresented sports. Jazmin Sawyers - who is of mixed Jamaica and South Asian heritage is a leading British long jumper who has won medals at European Championships and Commonwealth Games. She’s one of the UK’s top track and field athletes.
Politics: leaders of South Asian heritage now serve at every level of government, shaping policy and representation. Prominent figures include Rishi Sunak, Britain’s first prime minister of South Asian descent, thrice-elected Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and Priti Patel who has served as Home Secretary. (Inclusion in this article is not an endorsement of anyone's politics!)
Why this month matters
South Asian Heritage Month isn’t just about the past—it’s about creating space to tell the full story of Britain, one in which South Asians are not just contributors, but co-authors. It’s also an opportunity to reflect on the challenges that remain: tackling structural racism, ensuring equitable opportunities, and celebrating diversity beyond token gestures.
As we mark this month, let’s remember: South Asian heritage is British heritage. The doctors keeping us healthy, the entrepreneurs creating jobs, the artists enriching our culture, and the community leaders shaping our shared future—all are part of a vibrant, interconnected story.
From Bollywood to bhangra, here’s to honouring the past, celebrating the present, and building a future together.
To learn more, visit: https://southasianheritage.org.uk/
Image by 2sif Farooqui from Pixabay
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About the author
Rakhee Verma is a seasoned leader in sales, business development, marketing, and strategic communication, with over 15 years of leadership experience across the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors—including within PwC and the United Nations
Rakhee has cultivated and managed high-value strategic relationships with FTSE 100 and Fortune 500 companies and is frequently engaged for interim board-level assignments, where she leads transformative turnaround strategies and drives sustainable growth.
She is also a trusted business mentor and leadership coach, supporting senior executives to unlock their potential and navigate complexity with clarity and confidence.
An accredited mediator through CEDR, Rakhee brings a wealth of expertise in conflict resolution and negotiation. She has successfully coached leaders to enhance their communication, resolve challenges, and strengthen team cohesion.
Proficient in multiple languages and deeply attuned to diverse cultural contexts, Rakhee brings a truly global mindset and inclusive leadership style to every engagement.
Her culturally intelligent approach fosters authentic connection, drives strategic alignment, and delivers lasting impact across borders and sectors.
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