Avtar was born in Nairobi, Kenya in 1948. His family moved to India in the 1960s when the policy of Africanisation forced his father into retirement. Avtar came to Britain in 1967 and trained to be a teacher. He has been made an MBE for his services to education.
Avtar was born in Nairobi, Kenya. He grew up in a predominantly Asian community because; ‘there was clear demarcation between where the African lived, where the Asians lived, and where the white people lived.’
But there were no divisions between the different religious groups within the Asian community. This has had a strong impact on Avtar.
‘That model community, that model thinking process, you know, of understanding and sharing, is still with me.’
At school in Kenya Avtar was taught the British curriculum and he viewed Britain as
‘something to aspire for.’
Avtar was a teenager in the 1960s when Kenya became an independent country. The policy of ‘Africanisation’ meant only Kenyan nationals could hold jobs. This created uncertainty for Asians in Kenya because many had taken up British citizenship after independence. Thousands left the country.
‘Even if you have been working for say 20, 25 years and you got to retirement age and your position is going to be Africanised, what do you do? … You have a British passport…that sort of insecurity was created, Had they said, “sorry, you belong here, you are nationals of this country and you are Kenyan citizens”…then we wouldn’t have come here.’
Avtar’s father had to retire because of Africanisation and some of the family moved to India in the 1960s. Avtar attended university in India but came to Britain in 1967. He worked in various jobs before training to become a teacher.
He used to think of Kenya as home, but this gradually changed.
‘I have fantastic memories of Kenya, but I have equally fantastic memories of this country, Britain, now, to me…Britain is my home.’
But Avtar still feels a connection to Kenya. He currently has family and friends living in Kenya.
‘Colour is superficial, ethnicity is superficial…because people belong to the place where they breathe the air…and drink [the] water…’
He has had to overcome a great deal of prejudice as he advanced in his career. But he is now a Head Teacher at a successful Junior school and has been made an MBE for his services to education.
Avtar believes that his values have helped him throughout his career.
‘No matter what background you come from, sharing each other’s values, gives you the strength and makes you a better person.’
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