Marking South Asian Heritage Month
ICAS is celebrating South Asian Heritage Month and sharing the stories of British South Asian colleagues within the global ICAS community.
Founded in the UK in 2020, South Asian Heritage Month is a grassroots movement driven by the lived experiences of being British South Asian. It is an opportunity to celebrate connections, commemorate history and gain a better understanding of the links between Britain and South Asia.
Indy Singh Hothi CA: Championing the voices of our global community
In a video recorded to mark South Asian Heritage Month, ICAS President Indy Singh Hothi CA highlights the importance of championing the voices within our global community.
“Championing the voices of people from all cultures and walks of life is an essential part of ensuring that the accountancy profession is open to all, and it is vital that we attract talent with varied experience so that we can continue creating a profession which is built on diverse perspectives.
“Every CA has the opportunity to act as a force for good by championing equality, diversity and inclusion within our organisations and the wider world.”
‘My parents came to the UK with nothing but their education’
Rahul Handa CA joined our Championing Unique Perspectives series to tell us what his South Asian heritage means to him, how it has influenced his life and career, and how views on diversity differ from the UK to the US.
The Championing Unique Perspectives series profiles ICAS’ diverse membership and builds awareness on the key themes of equality, diversity and inclusion.
Share your story
If you’d like to share your story and connections with your South Asian heritage, then please get in touch with us at communications@icas.com.
Sharing the stories of British South Asians
ICAS regularly features the voices of British South Asian Members, and leaders from the worlds of business and finance, as they share details of their histories and successes and provide insight into their diverse experiences.
Catch up on past features
Mufseen Miah CA: “Every single story brings value to the workplace.”
Amjad Hassan CA: “Let’s educate ourselves so that we can be more diverse and understand the challenges.”
Sumati Sharma CA: In the ICAS Insights podcast, Sumati, Partner in Aviation at Oliver Wyman, discusses her work to improve gender equality, the importance of transparency in business and founding the Women in Aviation & Aerospace Charter.
Hamisha Metha CA: “Diversity isn’t just about what you see on the surface or which box you tick. It is about embracing difference and recognising that it isn’t just relevant for minorities, it impacts everyone.”
Tracey Rob Perera CA, Chair of the ICAS EDI Committee: “I truly believe our membership can, if they’re to become more inclusive business leaders, professionals and ED&I allies, inform massive change and improvement in their organisations and create those safe workplaces that allow people to work to their full potential.”
Rukasana Bhaijee: “I looked at EDI as an opportunity to create change and drive an effective talent management strategy.”
Sheree Atcheson: “The work I do may be at a senior leadership level, but it means the majority of rooms I’m in are not diverse. My job is to try to hold people to account to change that.”
South Asian Heritage Month
The aim of the month, which runs from 18 July to 17 August, is to transform how people connect with South Asian culture and identity in three simple ways: through the celebration of arts, culture and heritage, through the commemoration of South Asian history and ultimately, through education to help us all better understand the interconnectedness between Britain and South Asia.
For 2022, its third year, the month has a theme of ‘Journeys of Empire’, including those made from empires such as the Mughal, the Durrani, the Vijayanagar and the British, from indentured labourers forced to travel to the Caribbean and East Asia, to the journeys that families made to the UK with just £3 in their pockets.
Learn more
Learn more about South Asian Heritage Month and find details of events that are happening in your area.
