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Journey to Leicester |
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Contributions to society
I am really proud of the contribution that both my parents have made to British society. My father Dilip, is part of a long tradition of immigrant academics who have contributed greatly to British academia.
The Council for Assisting Refugee Academics was established in 1933. Immigrants and refugees have made, and still make, an immense contribution to British academia; 18 have become Nobel Laureates, 16 have received knighthoods, 71 have been made Fellows or Foreign Members of the Royal Society, and 50 have been made Fellows or Corresponding Fellows of the British Academy.
Manju with her first child, Gargi
© Courtesy of the Bhattacharyya family |
My mother has used her experience of immigration in her job as a social worker; it has given her a unique perspective.
“My working style is based on the respect of others, as my own experience as an Asian woman immigrant has unfortunately been a lack of respect from others. This empathy is reflected in my work.”
In particular my mother’s experience of being pre-judged and discriminated against helps her connect with similarly margined groups.
“My experience of being judged as an immigrant woman in this country has been invaluable when working with different vulnerable groups. I understand the situation that others are in. I pass this awareness on to my students. When they qualify, they have a different perspective.”
My parents have never received any benefits; they just worked, paid taxes, and contributed to the system. My mother feels very strongly that “we shouldn’t look at asylum seekers and immigrants as a burden. The vast majority of them have valuable experience and abilities that can enrich communities.”
Immigrants not only provide a diversity of cultures and languages, they also provide a diversity of experience, life skills, and work skills, which are invaluable assets to their chosen countries of residence. We need to view immigrants and asylum seekers as the prospective nurses, teachers, and engineers that many of them are.
Words: Sonali Bhattacharyya
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