Tindall Foundation Stories of Otherness
Tindall Foundation ‘Stories of Otherness’ Podcasts is a 4 part series. These first hand accounts are here to educate and help people to speak up.
We want to debunk some of the common myths around migration today, focus on people as individuals, become aware of our own unconscious biases and open up to the idea of broadening social circles and understanding multidimensional and intersectional identities.The episodes are true stories that cover some serious topics that could be upsetting to some audiences.
Episode 1
Lenny Wills
As a child Lenny felt different and not accepted by family and society - a misfit that fulfilled that feeling by rebelling and causing trouble in school when all they wanted was to be accepted and valued for who they are. Lenny talks of the challenges of being true to oneself when society sees you as ‘other’ and how important it is to feel safe and valued in one’s community.
Episode 2
Daphne Nock
Daphne was born by Lake Victoria in Uganda, the daughter of adventurous Indian immigrants. The expulsion of Asians from Uganda in 1972 forced Daphne to settle in the UK where she confronted racism in many forms. As an educator she has confronted racial inequities affecting herself and her students as well as hard core right wing beliefs in her community, always with her sense of justice and compassion.
On August 4, 1972, Ugandan President Idi Amin shocked the world when he announced a policy to expel the country's Asian population. Ugandan Asians largely consisted of Indian and Pakistani communities. Under threat of torture and/ or execution, they were given 90 days to flee the country without any assets and possessions. The international community, including countries like the United Kingdom, Canada, and India, provided assistance to the expelled Asians. Many Asian Ugandans were resettled in these countries and elsewhere, contributing to the diaspora communities that emerged as a result of the expulsion.
Episode 3
Areeha Maryham
As a young child Areeha was excluded and judged by her peers and teachers in Pakistan because of her religious beliefs. Eventually her family had to leave Pakistan because of this religious persecution and in Sri Lanka she found some peace through acceptance of her beliefs and her discovery of art. Settling in Aotearoa New Zealand has meant the start of a life filled with new connections and possibilities.
The persecution of the Ahmadiyya community is embedded in Pakistani law and encouraged by the Pakistan government. In September 1974, the Pakistani parliament declared the Ahmadis to be non-Muslims. In 1984, Pakistan amended its penal code, giving legal status to five ordinances that explicitly targeted religious minorities and two laws specifically restricting the activities of Ahmadis, including prohibiting them from “indirectly or directly posing as a Muslim.” Ahmadis are prohibited from declaring or propagating their faith publicly, building mosques (or even referring to them as such), or making the call for Muslim prayer.
Episode 4
Arrun Pancha
Arrun’s great grandfather stowed away on a ship from Gujurat, India bound for Fiji in the 1920s to begin a new chapter in life. He ended up finding a home in Tāmaki Makaurau and today his descendants call Aotearoa New Zealand home. This journey has included overcoming racism, building community in a new land and maintaining connection to cultural traditions through such things as food and sport.
