Z1205/123

Female. Indian immigrant to Bedford. Founder and leader of Asian Women's Forum, Bedford b. 17.03.1950 Side A (00 mins)Born in the Punjab, India. Mother from Kenya. Moved there at 6 months. Father had furniture shop in Kenya. (05 mins)Very happy family life. Liked school. Stayed in Kenya until 12-13 years old. From young age liked to go to the temple. Great love for a particular God. Believes in reincarnation. (10 mins)She remembers things and places from her past life. Felt the need to build a new temple. Finds all this difficult to explain. (15 mins)Father had carpet shop in Mombassa. There was some jealousy from others and he may have been poisoned at 35 years old. Family looked after by uncle. Sister learned to play music and teaches music now. She started to develop individual religious vocation. (20 mins)Went to Indian-only school. Visited India, decided to stay there with extended family. Got deeper into religion. Mother and sibling went back to Kenya. Gave people advice, studied sewing; had sewing machine. (25 mins)14-15 got married, through arrangement by her mother, to a well-educated man. He had to finish his degree; she got pregnant and came to England. Her first child was born in England. Her mother was already here to look after her. (32 mins)End of Side A Side B (00 mins)Brother was working in Bedford. She was well looked after by all her relatives and friends. Did not feel she was a strange place. Her mother looked after all her children. She was very involved with religion. Her children treated her as sister not a mother. (5 mins)Husband worked at Vauxhall as a supervisor in an office. Bought a house where people came to visit and ask for help and prayers. She found some people jobs to help them. She did not get a job herself but spent her time dedicated to others and religious duties. (15 mins)Very kind, patient, husband. In an old factory she built a temple in Bedford to her favourite God. Many people attend. (20 mins)She also runs a refuge for Asian women with the help from the police. She acts as peacemaker between the women and their families. Some of the women go back to their family after a while. Some she helps to find a permanent home. This is a unique service she provides for the Asian women in Bedford. (32 mins)End of Side B END OF INTERVIEW. Original Interview 60 mins

9 April 2002

From: 1945 To: 2002

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Indians, women's education, Asians, shopkeeper, schools, Hinduism, Asian Women's Forum, DEATH, musicians, dressmaker, married woman, EDUCATION, FAMILY, supervisor, prayers, police, India, Punjab (India), Kenya