Product Description

This is a classic account of Indians in Britain. Spanning three centuries, it tells the history of the Indian community in Britain, from the indentured servants of the 17th century to the princes, professionals, students, conscript soldiers and refuges of the 20th century. Drawing on recently declassified government documents, Rozina Visram examines the nature of Asian migration; official attitudes towards the immigrant community; the reactions and perceptions of the British people; and the social, cultural and political lives of the Asians themselves. This new edition has been thoroughly revised, expanded and completely updated.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #458017 in Books
• Published on: 2002-04-12
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 504 pages

Review
"'A lively- and timely- survey of British Indian history.' Salman Rushdie; 'Rozina Visram's excellent book does a great deal to explain how the idea of white supremacy lingers.' Hanif Kureishi"

About the Author
Rozina Visram is an independent scholar working on multiculturalism and education.

Customer Reviews

Superbly researched, well written emlightening history
Asians in Britian by Rozina Visram is subtitled '400 years of history' and so it starts in 1616 with the first documented case of an Indian boy in the UK. This is the first of hundreds of fascinating facts and anecdotes that guide the reader through the often hidden history of the Indian community in Great Britian.
The study is roughly chronicological with chapters devoted to different phases of immigration and the resultant imapct on both societies. This is a serious study of the history of the indian community in Britain but it is far from a stodgy acedemic affair - it is very readable and superbly researched with copious notes and references for further study. The history stops abruptly at the 1950s, and there is a feeling that this could be the subject of a future piece of work. The only other minor shortcomings are a paucity of illustrations and supporting statistical tables and analysis.
Overall, a really excellent pieces of work that is perfect for educators, parents and serious students.

Recommended
An intense book packed with information but containing human stories throughout. The treatment of black and mainly asian immigrants and those serving the interests of Britain are painstakingly picked apart here. Visram draws on wide resources from official documents to referenceable testimony to redress the bias against our asian cousins.
Asians in Britain ought to be a shaming account of officialdom and the failures of 'radicals'to take up the battle for common freedoms.
Particularly of note at this time of year - remembrance day (just passed) are the chapters concerning asian contributions to the first and second world wars and motivations for doing so. The Indian elites supplied vast amounts of men, women (and possibly children), money and materiel for the war efforts of their imperial masters. Such things are largely overlooked or conveniently airbrushed to fit an officialised version of events, one that states that 'we' stood alone. Visram falls slightly into the trap of WW2 being about democracy versus fascism (p341)which tends to whitewash allied endeavours and demonise the then enemy. Yet as detailed throughout this is very much democracy based on sleight of hand.
Reading like a who's who of asian subjects, the struggle for equality and recognition and the length's taken to achieve it, Malcolm X's words to the effect of it not mattering what you do, you will always be a nigger come to the fore. Unfortunately, this is well proven in this book. For us white folks viewing other peoples as a distinct and necessarily seperate race this makes 'niggers' of us all.
At times it can be a 'bitty' read but then one shouldn't be expecting a flowing novel and it certainly doesn't detract from the books value as a reference work in its own right or platform for further reading.