Prof Jerri Daboo's Inaugural Lecture

My parents migrated to Britain from India in 1957. Like many members of the ‘Windrush generation’ of communities from former colonies, they arrived filled with dreams of success, expecting a warm welcome from the ‘motherland’. What these communities encountered was often a very different experience, facing racism, hostility, and exclusion. The story of the establishment of the South Asian diaspora communities in Britain can be observed in changing cultural forms and practices, and this talk will examine some of these, particularly examples from theatre, television, and popular culture. This will chart some of the shifts in ideology and policy, as well as cultural representations made by or about South Asians. Complex and intersectional experiences of identity in relation to migration and diaspora are of vital importance to consider today, and this talk offers a personal reflection on the place that performance and culture play in forming, reflecting, or challenging these experiences and identities which create a picture of a changing and changed Britain.

This lecture will be followed by a drinks reception from 18.30 – 20.00 in Queen’s Café. All are welcome to attend. To book a space, please RSVP to: humanities-executive-support@exeter.ac.uk or 01392 725494.