South Asian Heritage Month 2023 - Sangeeta shares her story
18 July to 18 August 2023 is this year's South Asian Heritage Month.
Here at #TeamUHDB, this is an opportunity to say thank you to all of our South Asian colleagues and members of our communities for their invaluable contribution to our NHS, and our society. Colleagues from South Asia have helped make not just UHDB, but the whole our National Health Service, what it is today.
As part of our commemoration of this awareness month, we have spoken to one of our colleagues about her South Asian heritage, and its importance to her. Sangeeta Mahey, an EDI Officer within our People Services team, is a third generation British-Indian, with a Punjabi Sikh family background - and spoke to us about her connection with this heritage has guided her through life and given her a sense of belonging, which you can read below.
"Growing up in the UK I had always been greatly encouraged by my grandparents and parents to be respectfully curious of all cultures and faiths. I have always felt a deep connection to my Punjabi roots whether it be through the celebrations of Vaisakhi and Bandhi Chhor, Punjabi weddings, the language, the bhangra music and dancing, fashion, and the food.
"My childhood was full of laughter, many good times with a large extended family and even to this day my home is never quiet place but for me. I wouldn’t have it any other way - I still find silence very odd! Growing up I was taught that respecting your elders was a reflection of your upbringing which is an integral part of Punjabi culture: everyone is 'aunty' or 'uncle' and we welcome all into our home as family. I totally embraced this and even now as an adult I love sitting with elders and listening to their own stories of old traditions that have become lost over the generations.
"I learned to speak Punjabi very fluently from a very young age thanks to my wonderfully inspiring and very loving grandparents and often surprise people when I speak Punjabi as people label me as very 'westernised'. Due to the similarities of the Punjabi language with the Hindi language I was able to pick up Hindi very quickly too. This skill of speaking different languages then led me to appreciate bhangra music and dance throughout my life - I'm certainly the best bhangra dancer in my family, even if I do say so myself!
"Celebrations like weddings encouraged my love of Indian fashion. There is something about dressing up in Indian attire that makes me feel like a million dollars. To me personally, I feel that it enhances my cultural identity and always see the look of pride in my parents face when I wear it. I am now just the same with my own daughter and love seeing her in traditional wear as I watch her grow into a teenager.
"Punjabi food, whether sweet or savoury, is something I thoroughly enjoy. It is my comfort food and my happy food, and the more spice added the better it is. It is safe to say that I eat more Punjabi food than my own parents and I am known to add Indian finger chillies to everything I eat. Although I don’t visit India as often as I would like to, I have always enjoyed my times there which were a complete assault on the senses in an amazing way.
"My Punjabi roots have provided me with such an enriching life and memories which I now replicate with my own daughter, nieces, and nephews so that they can have the opportunity to feel connected with their Punjabi cultural heritage.
"Family and the continuation of cultural traditions is very significant to me due to my own positive experiences. Being of Punjabi heritage has kept me deeply and strongly rooted no matter what experiences I have had in life; it's reminds me of who I am, my connection with my Punjabi heritage and my sense of belonging."