What is Ruprah Roots?

Some of you may know me as Baljeet, but throughout my childhood, I was known as Jeeti. I want you to see through Jeeti’s eyes as you discover my roots, what influenced me growing up in Southall and what has shaped who I am. My hope is as I go through my own journey I can bring to light stories of others who grew up as children of the first wave of Indian immigrants. 

Ruprah Roots is a collection of stories of growing up and living in Southall, a small township in West London, England. In the 50s many Indian immigrants including my father moved into Southall. This became a vibrant and diverse community – a community which has led the charge in bringing about positive change for immigrants. Initially it was men who came from India, many from Punjab, to work in the factories in the area. These included Rockware, a glass factory, the Rubber factory, Quaker Oats, Nestle just to name a few. The factory’s mechanical equipment was old and often unsafe. It wasn’t a time when we were welcome. This was a period when there were signs in windows saying ‘no wogs no dogs no Irish’. Often many men lived in one room taking turns to sleep in one bed whilst doing different shifts. Like many immigrants, many were poor and sent back money to their families. 

But Southall has changed beyond recognition. The Broadway (Uxbridge Road) has the majority of shops being Asian. When I was growing up it was a mixture of Asian and English. When I was very young they were all English. Now you often hear it described as Little India.

It is a different world now where diversity on the whole is recognised and celebrated. Many battles have been fought. Many still to fight for. Look at what happened to George Floyd the USA in 2020. This incredible movement of Black lives matter has spread all across the world. We can never allow ourselves to become complacent.I can remember a time when children were bused out of Southall because Ealing Council considered that there were too many children of colour in the schools. We’ve come a long way since then. A world which I hope for my children, who I am extremely proud of, is a much better place. 

Yes this is my story but I hope this project will uncover a social history which will increase your knowledge of the past. The past which laid the foundations of who we as a generation are now. I have lived in Southall all my life. I have a fond connection for it and I hope to share that with you.

If you’d like to collaborate, email me at [email protected]

A little about me…

I have vivid memories of my dad helping people in the community. Although he initially worked in the Rubber factory in Greenford he had a law degree and helped a lot of people from immigration to housing issues. He was one of the founding members of the Indian Workers Association (IWA), which in its heyday had over 25,000 members. The IWA was a powerful force and joined with the trade union movements in many rallies and marches. My dad was a political leader and received the Mother India award for his services to the Indian Community in this country. I remember going on marches in central London. It all felt normal to me. I thought everyone’s mums and dads did the same thing. I adored my father, we were very close. I have never felt as loved by anyone as I did with my father. He was extremely kind and generous. I always looked up to him and wanted to be just like him.

I remember when I was very young my mum took women to factories to help fill out forms for jobs, as so many of them could not read or write English. There was a need to teach English in the community, so my mum set up a class for women to learn English.Mum was one of the first successful Indian business women in Southall. She opened her department store called Ruprah Travo Gifto  in 1976 after the success of her gift shop which opened in 1967. I have a great many happy memories of her store. I remember on the first day it opened there was a queue around the block of customers waiting to get in. Saris of Japanese fabric called 644, were on special offer. Buy one and get one half price. She was an incredibly strong and talented woman. She taught me that anything is possible if you strive enough to get it.

They were both modernists, way ahead of their time. They both adored and supported each other throughout their lives. I am in awe of their love and respect for each other. They both met at university in India and at that time it was very unusual to choose your life partner. Mum told me that although she was interested in marrying my father she was a bit concerned because she had heard that his eldest brother was an alcoholic. My grandmother and mum went to check out his room at university, just in case there were any bottles stashed anywhere! They interrogated the chap who cleaned and looked after the rooms. As you can see, she was always a force to be reckoned with!

I am their youngest daughter. I have an older brother (Inder) and sister (Parvin). Our parents came to this country to give their family a better life. I think they would agree that we did have a better life. Inder went on to study at Cambridge and became a noted economist. Parvin taught English at the Sorbonne and lives in Paris, France. They both have beautiful families. Mum and dad always told us how proud they were of us. Inder married an Italian (Anna) and Parvin a French man (Olivier). My father used to say with all the languages in the house it felt like the United Nations. This made us an international family when so many other families were still finding it so hard to embrace new ways.