Every year from July 18 to August 17, we celebrate South Asian Heritage Month—a time to honour the rich tapestry of cultures, histories, and contributions of people with roots in South Asia. This includes communities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
The theme for South Asian Heritage Month in 2025 is “Roots to Routes“. This theme explores the journeys that shape South Asian identities, focusing on how migration, heritage, and personal stories influence who we are today.
Award winning Journalist, Broadcaster and Author Babita Sharma is a Patron of the South Asian Heritage Trust. Her first book, The Corner Shop (followed her BBC documentary ‘Booze, Beans & Bhajis: The Story of the Corner Shop’), is a brilliant look at “Roots to Routes”, chronicling the human stories behind the British corner shop. It explores part of British Asian life that is often stereotyped but plays a crucial part in British life and communities.
Many South Asian communities have shaped the social, cultural, and economic fabric of the UK and beyond. From the arts and sciences to politics, cuisine, and activism, their influence is woven into everyday life.
This month is not just about celebration—it’s also about reflection, education, and empowerment. It’s a chance to:
- Celebrate identity: Embrace the diversity within South Asian cultures, languages, and traditions.
- Share stories: Honour the journeys of migration, resilience, and belonging.
- Challenge stereotypes: Break down misconceptions and amplify underrepresented voices.
- Build solidarity: Connect across communities and generations.
In the workplace, this month is also a great opportunity to celebrate colleagues of South Asian heritage, to learn about their culture and stories to increase understanding and create a better sense of inclusion and belonging.
Here are a few ways you can get involved this month:
- Host or attend local events: From Lunch and Learns, Indian head massage workshops or yoga sessions, film screenings to panel discussions, there are many community-led events happening across the UK.
- Explore the cuisine: Team lunches, trying different South Asian cuisines. Or why not try cooking a dish from a different South Asian country each week.
- Read South Asian authors: Dive into works by writers like Arundhati Roy, Kamila Shamsie, Nikesh Shukla, Hira Ali, Moni Mohsin or Babita Sharma.
- Educate yourself and others: Learn about the history of South Asian migration, colonialism, and the contributions of South Asians in the UK and in your community. The Migration Museum in London makes for a great day out!
- Visit https://southasianheritage.org.uk/ for more ideas.
South Asian Heritage Month is a celebration of identity, resilience, and joy. It’s a reminder that heritage is not just about the past—it’s about how we carry it forward, shape it, and share it with others.
Let’s use this month to listen, learn, and uplift. Because when we honour each other’s stories, we build a more inclusive and compassionate world and workplace.
We’re celebrating and thanking our Partners, our Team, Panel and Community Members, our network, friends and family of South Asian Heritage who help make EDI Accreditation Ltd what we are – Ajay Mistry ACMA, Aliya Mohammed, Asma Aziz , Asmina IslamChowdhury, Babita Sharma, Deepak Klair, Hana Hussain, Hira Ali, Jay Jupp, Kamran Mallick, Karima Moustafa, Kiran Nar, Mo Kanjilal, Nasser Arif, Poppy Jaman OBE, Hon.PhD, MBA. Rab Bassi, Ritika Wadhwa, Rohit Sagoo QN, Sal Naseem FRSA, Sky Rakhra – Assoc. CIPD, Shabna Begum4windrush.org/
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