Foreword To The Book ‘Racial Equality Education and Punjabis in Britain’  By Sujinder Singh Sanga

It was in 1997 that I had read the book entitled Vlayton Vekhi Dunia—View Points from Britain by Sujinder Singh Sangha. He made a vivid and candid description of the life and culture of the Punjabis in British society. He also gave an account of the problems faced by the Indian people in settling in Britain. It was after 1997 that I met Sujinder Singh a couple of times, with a view to developing links between Guru Nanak Dev University and City College, Birmingham; and also to work on an international accreditation for a BA Business Administration degree programme with Punjabi and Cultural Studies.

I have now got his new book which covers issues relating to equality, diversity and pluralism in a modern and complex society. It essentially creates an awareness about the issues of discrimination and exclusion in the fields of employment, education and other services. These issues with small variations are important for contemplation and appropriate action in different cultures and societies of the world at large.

I was privileged to be in Birmingham to contribute at the Tercentenary celebrations of the formation of the Khalsa at the International Convention Centre on 2nd May, 1999, and listened to the speech made by the British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who addressed similar issues in a global context. He spoke about the contributions that minority communities have made to the British society, for which they should be given credited further empowerment. The conference emphasized that the new millennium is about living and working together to make collective progress, irrespective of one's race, religion or cultural heritage.

The author conducted that conference for the Council of Sikh Gurdwaras in Birmingham by pulling together a rich diversity of views and people. He has pulled together relevant materials from his past writings and brought them together in the form of a book. It is a timely publication and reminder of issues in Britain and India and it fits the millennium agenda. I believe, the origins of various educational ideas and concepts that the author brings to his professional work, are bound to be of utility for the people of our two countries, India and Britian.

I strongly recommend that people concerned with education, employment and other vital issues should read this book.

HARBHAJAN SINGH SOCH (Dr.)
Vice-Chanceller
Guru Nanak Dev University,
Amritsar

About The Author ‘Sujinder Singh Sanga’ Of The Book ‘Racial Equality Education and Punjabis in Britain’

Sujinder Singh Sangha is the Deputy Principal of City College, Birmingham. He was the first Asian person, to have achieved a senior position in England's Further Education colleges sector in 1994-95. He also did some field research with the Commission for Racial Equality, Social and Community Research Institute London. One of his passions is the inner-city renewal and regeneration, to maximise learning, social, economic and cultural opportunities for deprived and disadvantaged communities. He has co-ordinated and conducted community conferences, addressed by leaders ranging from the British Prime Minister Tony Blair to the Chief Minister of Punjab Parkash Singh Badal, many civic leaders and distinguished academics. He gained his BA (Hons) Degree in Social Science from the Open University and completed his M.Soc Sc. with the University of Birmingham. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, London.

Table Of Contents Of The Book ‘Racial Equality Education and Punjabis in Britain’ By Sujinder Singh Sanga