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Eileanaich Phagastain (The Pakistan Islanders)

Episode 1 of 14

Sgeulachd choimhearsnachd Phagastaineach ann an Le貌dhas agus na Hearadh, a tha a鈥� dol air ais fad 60 bliadhna. A portrait of the Pakistani community in Lewis and Harris.

Tha coimhearsnachd l脿idir, s霉nndach Phagastain air a bhith air a st猫idheachadh ann an Le貌dhas agus na Hearadh fad 60 bliadhna a-nise. Mean air mhean, as d猫idh an d脿rna cogaidh th貌isich luchd-reic 霉r le m脿ileid loma l脿n a鈥� nochdadh anns na h-Eileanan an Iar, agus thar nam bliadhna tha a鈥� choimhearsnachd Phagastaineach air a bhith na p脿irt l脿itheil de bheatha nan Eilean Siar. Cha robh iad ao-coltach ris a鈥� choimhearsnachd th霉sail. Tha an c脿nan, agus traidiseanan s貌nraichte aca fh猫in agus bha iad ag obair gu cruaidh, agus bha sp猫is aca dha c脿ch a ch猫ile. Gu dearbha dh鈥檌onnsaich m貌ran den choimhearsnachd Phagastaineach beagan G脿idhlig, agus chaidh d脿imh is c脿irdeas a st猫idheachadh a tha a鈥� dol chun an l脿 an-diugh. Thar nam bliadhna, mar a鈥� choimhearsnachd Gh脿idhlig, tha e air a bhith na dh霉bhlain dhaibh an cultar agus na traidiseanan aca a chumail be貌, le m貌ran den 貌igridh a鈥� f脿gail nan eilean gun d霉il tilleadh. Ach leis a鈥� choimhearsnachd mu dheireadh thall a鈥� togail mosque ann an 2018, an e ceum a tha seo a bheir atharrachadh air c霉isean?

There has been a strong and vibrant Pakistani community in Lewis & Harris for over 60 years now. Gradually, after WWII, travelling salesmen with packed suitcases appeared in the Western Isles, and over the years, the Pakistani community has become an integral part of everyday life in the Western Isles. There were many shared values with the local community. They had their own language and traditions and were hard working, and there was a mutual respect that is still there to this day. Indeed many of the Pakistani community learnt some Gaelic and lifelong friendships were made. Over the years holding on to their culture and traditions, like the local Gaelic community, has proved a challenge, with many of their young people also leaving the islands never to return. However with 2018 seeing the community finally establish their own mosque, is this a possible turning point?

In Gaelic with English subtitles.

59 minutes

Last on

Mon 6 Feb 2023 21:30

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