South Asian Heritage Month: 4 South Asian led organisations empowering their communities

By Jordan Maharjan

South Asian Heritage Month is being turbocharged by several organisations looking to empower South Asian communities. They’re utilising the arts, education and more to raise the profile of South Asian talent, and explore the diversity of South Asian identity long after this month reaches its climax. Wondering who some of these organisations are? Look no further - here are four empowering South Asian led organisations you need to support this South Asian Heritage Month.

1. The Partition Education Group

The Partition Education Group was founded by the South Asian Heritage Month co-founder Binita Kane. The organisation aims to encourage and facilitate increased engagement with South Asian History, placing particular focus on the 1947 partition. They're currently leading a forward march to decolonise the curriculum, encouraging primary and secondary schools to better reflect South Asian history and address the British Empire's colonial rampage in the Indian Sub-Continent.

2. South Asian Writers

The second one to keep your eyes out for is South Asian Writers. This organisation has been a huge player in the literary space this South Asian Heritage Month. It aims to share stories of the South Asian diaspora through its use of author spotlighting, guest poets and book giveaways, to protect and preserve a rich history of the people, culture and the realities of the partition. It was founded by Natasha Junejo in 2017 and is a burgeoning platform to uplift and inspire South Asian writers. 

3. South Asian Arts-UK

Commemorating the beauty of the arts, South Asian Arts-UK is a charity organisation dedicated to celebrating and educating on South Asian classical dance and music, helping to pass it down to future generations. Headed by Keranjeet Kaur Virdee, the Yorkshire based organisation is unique, and not afraid to push the boundaries of how traditional and contemporary South Asian arts are taught, performed, and experienced by the audience. Looking to learn more about the subtleties of South Asian arts? Why not sign up to their newsletter to learn a thing or two.

4. United Kingdom’s Punjab Heritage Association (UKPHA)

The final organisation to put your support behind is the United Kingdom’s Punjab Heritage Association (UKPHA) led by founding member, Amandeep Madra OBE.

The heritage charity has no permanent members and is instead powered through the efforts of volunteers. UKPHA showcases Punjab’s rich culture, arts, literature, and traditions through the creation of projects and exhibitions. This is an organisation which prides itself on the pursuit of knowledge. Their weekly book club provides the perfect setting to connect with authors, scholars and content creators in an open exploration of Punjabi heritage.