Why We Need South Asian Heritage Month in the UK

South Asian Heritage Month (SAHM) may only be five years old, but its presence already stirs a complex debate in the UK.

Some ask whether such a celebration encourages division rather than unity.

Others wonder if heritage months still have a place in a multicultural, modern Britain that claims to champion integration.

But for millions of South Asians across the country, the month offers much more than cultural nostalgia or self-congratulation.

This celebration has become a vital platform for reflection, representation, and education.

It gives space to generations often overlooked in mainstream history, while inviting all communities to learn, connect, and grow.

Amid rising conversations about Britishness and so-called ‘shared values’, the month provides an essential counterbalance.

It reminds us that being British can and does include being proudly South Asian. And more than ever, that needs to be recognised, not erased.

So, why exactly is this month still important? And what role does it play in 2025’s Britain?

Challenging the Integration Argument

A common critique of heritage months is that they supposedly go against integration.

Detractors argue that these events focus too much on difference rather than unity.

But this perspective misses a crucial point: recognition is not the opposite of integration.

Recognising and celebrating heritage is part of how people feel seen, accepted, and valued within a society.

As Indi Deol, Director of DESIblitz, puts it:

“South Asian Heritage Month for me is not just a celebration for the South Asian community, it’s an opportunity for wider British society to reflect on the deep-rooted connections between South Asia and the UK.

“It helps to create a better understanding of our culture, challenge stereotypes, and build a more inclusive national narrative.

“By acknowledging the contributions, histories, and identities of South Asians in Britain, we enrich our collective cultural fabric and create space for more authentic representation across all sectors, from the arts and media to politics and education.”

Indi’s words underline a key truth: SAHM is not about creating separate identities.

It’s about broadening the national story to include everyone who helped build it.

History That’s Often Overlooked

SAHM runs annually from July 18 to August 17, a date range steeped in powerful symbolism.

It begins on the day the Indian Independence Act 1947 received royal assent, and ends on Partition Commemoration Day, remembering the traumatic division of British India into India and Pakistan.

This historical framing reminds people that South Asian heritage is not an imported afterthought. It’s inseparably tied to Britain’s past.

The month, first celebrated in 2020, was launched by the South Asian Heritage Trust, co-founded by Jasvir Singh CBE and Dr Binita Kane.

Their vision was simple yet profound: to commemorate, celebrate, and educate.

The Trust also aimed to spark conversations about the long-standing links between Britain and the South Asian subcontinent, both joyful and painful.

As the co-founders state: “South Asian Heritage Month means so much to so many people.

“At the heart of it all is the ability to celebrate what it means to be South Asian, commemorate our history, and educate people along the way.

“It is a month for everyone, regardless of your own heritage or identity.”

That inclusivity is crucial. The month isn’t only for South Asians.

It’s an invitation to all communities to understand the shared history that shapes the present.

It’s easy to dismiss heritage months as tokenistic or divisive if you’ve never needed one.

But for communities that have long been marginalised, these moments provide vital space to be visible, vocal, and valued.

South Asian Heritage Month is a chance to reclaim history, embrace identity, and contribute fully to the national conversation.

Critics often say that we should all just be “British”, but Britain itself has never been culturally neutral.

Its identity has always been shaped by migration, empire, exchange, and community.

A truly inclusive Britishness makes space for all of this.

That’s what SAHM stands for, and that’s why it still matters.