Individual results

Name: Darshan Singh Briya
PA Number: PA2671/4/38
Ref: C2C/130705/INT/03
Date of Interview: 13 July 2005
Date of Birth: about 1923
Origin: Nawanshahr, Punjab, India
Gender: Male
Religion:
Caste:
Came to England: 1956
Came to Coventry: 1956
Language of Interview: Punjabi?
Timing: 53:42

Track 1

Would you tell me your full name?
My name is Darshan Singh Biryan.

Where were you born?
I was born in Village Paroli, District Nawanshahr, Punjab, India.

Why did you come here?
I came here for work. I came here to make money.

What was your age when you came here?
I was 23 years old. I came here in 1956. It has been 50 years.

Did you know anybody here?
Yes, my cousin was here. He came a year before me. And my uncle was also here.

When did your uncle come?
He came two years before me. He came here in 1954. My cousin came 10 months before me.

Were they living in Coventry?
Yes, they were in Coventry.

How did you come here? By Air or by ship?
We came here by air. Our plane landed at Heathrow. At that, time there only small sheds. Now a day it has converted into massive airport. People who came here in 1950 they came by ship.

Did you go straight to Coventry or stay in the Gurdwara in London (Shepherds Bush)?
No, we went to Coventry.

Did you get work straight away?
Two of my relatives used to work in Dunlop. They got me a job. We came here on 13th of January. I started work on 28th of January. For two weeks, we went here and there and drink beer. We went to see Birmingham city.

After 4 months, I was made redundant. Later on I got a job in Mother's Pride bakery in stoke. After getting a redundancy from the bakery, I started work in a foundry in Birmingham.

Track 2 starts approx 5mins
I started work at 8a.m. I was given a big shovel. I had to fill that with sand and then put that sand in ( ? ) That was a very heavy job. I was very slim in those days .We had a1omintues break at 10.0.Clock. Then I had a bit of rest. After that, we started work again. It was piece work, by 1.O.Clock I was shattered .We had taken some stale chapattis with us we could not eat those chapattis we had to throw those away. When we came home, first of all we had 3-4 glasses of beer then made our dinner and ate the meals. Again went to work .In the evening we finished work at 5.00 -5.30 O, Clock. We had 8-9 glasses of beer and made chapattis and had our dinner. With great effort, I had some sleep. It was very dirt work full of dust and very hot as well. After 1 and a half week I was given card. It was during the war days. Fore men used to take bribe to offer the jobs. So on one hand they gave cards to the employees and on the other hand they were offering the jobs by taking bribes. I used to earn £8 after working for 48 hours. I thought I could not afford to bribe someone. So I left from there and came here.
I started here in Factory that was apposite the Station Street West. Company's name was Sterling. I worked there for 10 years and 6 months. They started me on the machines, then helper and I was working on the grinding. I worked on day and night shifts. I was on inspection job on grinders. At the start, my wages was not good but later on, I started earning good money. In 67 that place close down. Later on, I started work in G.E.C. I started on small press and afterwards I was moved to a machine. I worked there for 18 years. I started in 1968 and finished in 1986.Then my one of my friends called me back for a job I was not well. I started getting pains in the chest. It was a short contract. I had to leave the work. Then I had retirement on medical basis. After that, I never worked again. My son was not feeling well. He needed looking after as well. Later on my wife started working. She worked same span of time as I worked for. She came here in 1964. My eldest son Makhan was 11 years and a few months old then. I used to work in G.E.C. in those days.

Track 3 starts approx 11mins
My wife came here in November 1964. My mum died with bronchitis after 21 months.

When you were here, did you send letters to your home?
Yes, we do used to send letters. Most of the people were uneducated they used to come to me for writing the letters. I used to help them gladly. Even at present old people come to me for help. I used to do their work in the evenings or at the weekends. If they wanted to hear the English newspaper or write a letter in English I would do for the. I had Life Corporation Insurance Agency as well. I used to work for that as a part time job. When I bought this house in 1993 then I left that agency job.

Did people used to come to you or you used to go to their houses?
If there was a big job involving many papers or books, like filling the tax forms then I would go to their house otherwise they used to come to mine. If they wanted to get any Punjabi letter written, they would come to me.

Were many Punjabi people here?
Yes, here were many Punjabi people. Many of the Punjabis were from Punjab. Later on in 1968 Punjabi came from Kenya and Uganda.

Were they a bit more educated?
Yes, people from Kenya and Uganda were educated. Even any of those people come to me ii would do his work as well.

At first, how did you feel here? How was the weather here?
At that time, there were two things in mind. It was like slavery in this country. First, we saw slavery in India, later on we got freedom. Now again we were going to be slave in this country. But in India, we did get freedom on the politics basis but economically we were still not in good state. Educated people were unemployed. We left the studies and came here. We did labour work here.

Track 4 starts approx 16mins
There was not good money in office work. There was more money in factory and foundry work. Our aim was to earn money. There was no chance for holidays at all.

Did you first think you would only stay here for a few years?
Yes, when I came I told my wife I would be back in 5-6 years. After 9 years, I called her down here.

Did you get married in India?
I was on 12 years and 6 months old and my wife was 14 years of age. She is 1year and 6 months older than me. I was not very I was very slim. I had to work very hard. I had to send money home to run the family. Due to Murababandi (A new law about keeping land) the situation has gone worse. There was no water for the fields we had to get a well dig for us. My house fell down I had to get a new house built. so many jobs I had to finish back home. Here as I had to buy my own house. I was living on rent at first. I had to call my family. They came in 1964. I used to live in No 64. We had to face lots of problems there.

When you came here, what was the house like?
It was difficult to find a house. I came to live with other. There was already 10 -11 people living in that house. Some were working on night shifts and some were on day shifts. People on day shifts leave the beds for the night shift people. They used to use the same beds. It was 3 bedrooms house. At the weekend when people of both shifts get together and sometimes any friend came as well, we used to spend some time in pub and then come home eat our dinner and just sit and talk for long time and then it was time to go to work again.

Did you get your house easily?
I knew some people here. My uncle was already here. My cousin was here. I lived with them. I got job even then I was living with them. There were some more people there.

Did they get you work?
No. I got work in Dunlop by my own efforts. When finished from there then my uncle got me a job in bakery.

What did you use to do about making roti?
Who ever used to finish early he would come and make the roti. No body had any experience of cooking in India but here I had to cook. I reached here early in the morning about 4.0, clock. I had some tea and went to bed. I got up and went for shopping with them. I had a glass of beer. I did not drink or meat or fish in India.
Track 5 starts approx 21mins
Even I tasted tea here. I had to eat meat here, otherwise I would have caught T.B.

Where did you go for drinks?
We used to go to pubs. We used to get together there and drink beer.

Which pub did you use to go?
There was a pub in Sparkbrook Street, in Hillfields. On Saturday, we used to go to town and used to drink there in some pub .In the evening if any friends come to visit us we used to go with him to a pub. Our way back home we used to buy brandy or whisky to drink at home. There was not any other entertainment. If we did not drink or eat how we could manage next day to go to work.

Was there any other social life?
At present where you see Nanaksar Gurdwara, there we used to see movies.

Were those Indian movies?
Yes, they were Indian movies. We used to spend our time in pubs, From there we come back eat our dinner. We used to go to see our friends and eat at their place. At that time there were not many ladies. Mostly here were single men. It is the rule of economics that abundance of anything lessens the importance. It did happen to us. When we were here in less number we used to love and respect each other a lot. When many people came here then it was not the same.

Did you make all the dinner your self?
When I came first time, my uncle told me to make dough of the wheat flour. I never had done that work before. In India, I never did any work. I never ever filled a glass of water for myself in India. Here I learnt everything. I had to learn all the jobs here. Later on I was so expert in cooking that cooking dinner for 4-5 people was not a big deal for me.

Did your uncle have his own house?
No, he was renting one. That house belonged to a person from Nurpur.

Was it easy to buy grocery here? Where from did you get the grocery?
Yes, everything was available at that time. There was a shop by the pub. We used to get things from that shop. On Saturday, we used to go to town and get the things from English shops. Generally, we used to eat English stuff.

Could get chillies and lentils?
Yes, there was a shop in town. We could get these things from there. Later on, Anant Ram opened his shop and we were able to get the grocery from there. Your neighbour Shankar used to own a shop. We used to buy Lentils and herbs from here and other things from other shops. We used to buy meat in tins, otherwise we could get meat from the market. We get chicken chopped in small pieces. We used to cook chicken on Saturday and that lasts till Monday. After that, we would cook lentils and that dish would be used for two days. by the time Saturday was there again for the meat.

Track 6 starts approx 27mins
We used to cook plenty of meat or lentils. Every one could eat to his fill. We could buy plenty of fruits from the market. On the Foleshill Road there is a cake shop at present at that place there was a grocery shop we could get chillies and other herbs from that shop. Later on there were plenty shops opened here. Some of the washing we could do at home and shirts and other clothes we used to take to laundry. Suits etc, we used to get dry cleaned.We had only one problem that was for sleeping.
We used to eat chappaties in the morning and in the evenings and at work, we used to take bread .In this way spent those days.

What about the Gurdwaras?
First of all, the Gurdwara at Harnall Lane was built. Prem Singh and Dharam Singh from Hadia thought that here should be a Gurdwara. They came here for a long ago.
People used to do marriages at their houses. Front room was cleaned and The Holy book was brought home. Then people thought there should be a Gurdwara. In September 1967 the foundation stone was laid for the Gurdwara. There was only on person with a turban his name was Giani Bhag Singh. He laid the foundation. All others were with short hairs. He became Granthi or the reader of the holy book. Then later on Dharam Singh and others started to tie turbans on their heads. This Gurdwara was complete in 1967. It was a small building at first. They had to do extend the building. Later on, they built three storey building. According the demand of the public more space is made available for them. At present, this Gurdwara is running at its top. Last Saturday I saw there were three Satsangs, Two Akhand Paths, and there were two other programmes. I wonder how people used to do without Gurdwaras in olden times.

What about marriages?
I have told you that people had The Holy Book at their homes. Sucha had The Holy Book. People used to bring the Holy book to the house. Front room was decorated, Prem Singh and others used to get together and the marriages were performed there.

Track 7 starts approx 32mins
We did Dev's marriage in that way. Only a few marriages were performed. We used to lay tables in the bedrooms. We used to eat and drink there. Now a day we have to book big halls. Video films are made and dancers and singers are hired for the wedding. We have to hire 2-3 coaches for the marriage party.

Did you arrange functions in schools?
Yes, later on we started arranging functions in school halls. As the public increased, we had to hire bigger places. In olden days, ladies did no attend the marriage parties. Now we have to hire even three coaches for the party. When my son got married, we only took one coach there was no child in the party.

When you came here, did you mix with the English people easily or did you feel strange?
Even till now we have not fully mixed with English people In the pub if meet an English man we would have glass together after some gossip we would say bye and come back to our home. Those people who came before us I think they were more mixed with English people. Those people used to do small businesses. They used to sell clothes and ties. They used to sell door to door. In very olden days, those people only came here to make merry. They used to sit together in pubs and enjoy beer. They never thought of their families back home. Some of them never sent a penny to their families. We came here to make money.

Do you know anybody who used to do business in those days?
No, I can not I think of anybody. I only remember the stories. I think all of them have died

Do you remember any story about them?
There is nobody at present. There was on person Mela Singh. I am going to be 73 years old. Those people were here before 1930. So we can guess how old they could be. They formed Indian Working Association. They all used to live together. Here were not many of us at that time.

Were you the member of that Association?
Yes, later on I became a member as well.

When was that?
I think it was 1960-61. After that there was a war between India and China .We collected funds and I was involved in this work we sent £1200 to Indian High Commission in London for Defence Fund. In 1965, there was a war between India and Pakistan at that again we collected £500-600 and sent to the High Commission, I was the secretary at that time. In those days, we only used to earn £12-13 per week.

What did you use to do when you were in Indian Working Association? Were those meetings social or political?
Mostly they were political meetings. Some time they used to invite singers in those meetings. We used to celebrate our Independence Day. Later on in 1961- 62, an Indian Cultural Society was formed. That society used to show Indian Films. When Ritz Cinema was sold out that society was closed down. Then there was no other activity in those days. Later on Tournaments started.
Track 9 starts approx 39mins
At first small Tournaments were held in Redford in a ground. Later on, they arranged in Coundon Parks. Tournaments were also held in Town in Stadium. There were not any special activities.

Did you ever think of going back to India?
While our children are here then what would we do in India? I have been to India 3-4 times. First time I went back in 1971 after 15years and 9 months. Later on in 1973, again I had to go after 1 year and 9 months. In 1976, I went with my family. After that, I did not go for 17 years. In 1993, I went again with my wife. Again, we went in 1999. My son got married there. And my daughter -in-law came here. After a year, we went again. Now we have just come back from India in April.

Did you watch Television in those days?
Track 10 starts approx 41mins
At first, there were no televisions. There were only a few televisions. There used to be radios we used to hear news on radio. MI had a young son Makhan. I had to buy a T.V. for his sake. We rented a black and white T.V. Very few English men used to have T.V. Only radios were popular. Some of us were very found of music they bought a gramophone. Then we started listening to the tapes. Now a day there is no limits of entertainment. There was no system of double glazing. In those days, weather was very cold. There were damp in the houses. Most of the time it used to rain. Weather has changed a lot at present. I am talking about 1963. It was boxing day, we came back after seeing a film. It was snowing. It started that day and lasted till 15th of March. Every day there was snow fall. It was terribly cold weather. We had chapped feet. Then it started melting. The lorries had to clear the snow from the roads.
It was very bad in those days.

How did you manage? Was there any heating in the house?
We used to use coal fire. Mostly it used to be in one room. In weekdays we used to go to work. At the weekend, we use to put fire in the upstairs room as well. Once we put fire in the middle room. We asked our son Makhan to go and put the fire he burnt the paper and left by the side it caught fire his coat also burnt. He was lucky that he survived at that time.
Track 11 starts approx 45mins
It was very difficult to get jobs, They only wanted healthy and strong people in the factory. If somebody was slim or been working in the office then it was difficult for him to get a job in the factory. They used to feel the muscles of the worker before the job was offered. It was like a butcher in India checks the goat before buying that how much that animal has on it.
It was easy for a farmer to get a job in the factory. If anybody would say that he was a student or a businessman then it was not easy for him to get a job in a factory. A man came from Jullundhar he was well educated. They told him that the work was hard. He said that he would do that work. He was employed but they asked him to leave after two weeks. Bribe was also common in those days. They wanted to get rid of the old employees so they can employ others and gain bribe from them. In Herbert Factory bribe was common but I got the job with my efforts. After only one and a half of week, I was made redundant. In India, I did not do any kind of work. Sometimes voluntarily, I used to help in fields. When I used to go my mum's place, I used to help my uncle in fields. We have some cattle in our house for our use so we can have fresh milk from them. Sometimes I used to feed them.
When I came here, I learnt the cooking. Now I can do all the kitchen work. When my wife came that I made the dinner I told her to have rest. My wife's wife was already here and my uncle was also with us so I cooked for all of them myself.

Where you living at that time?
We were in Churchill Avenue. Before that we were in ( ?). Before that we were in Sparkbrook Street in Hillfields, Later on went to Panes Lane now there is a school built we used to live at the back of that school. Later on, we moved to Lockhurst Lane. And after that, we bought this present house. In those days, houses were very cheap. We bought the house for £1550. House no 72 and 74 belonged to Bhajan in olden days neighbours were very friendly we used to eat at their place. When the number people increased then we started cooking ourselves.

Track 12 starts approx 49mins
Everybody became expert in cooking by that time .We had to do cooking, washing and cleaning by ourselves. When family came then I started coming to home in lunch time to have hot meals, my place of work was near the home.

Did you drive a car?
No, I did not drive a car. I used to ride a cycle in India but here i did not even use a cycle.

How did you manage at doctor? When somebody did need medicine?
When we living in Radford. Our Doctor was Mr. Bhalla. He was an Anglo- Indian. He did not know Indian but he knew English we used to go to him. He was a good man.

How did you use to talk or make him understand?
I could speak English. If anybody needed help with speaking, I used to accompany him.
If they need me, I used to go with others to tax office, Insurance Office or to a lawyer as well.

How did you get time to help the people?
I used to sleep at nights and help people like writing letters in day. I used to do my work whenever I got time.
Track 13 ( starts approx 51mins)
I had so many other duties to perform. I got a house built in India. We had to get a new well dig for our fields. All my brothers were studying. We had cattle and used to sell milk. Later on we had to go through a hard time. So I had to leave my studies unfinished and migrate here. Otherwise, I was thinking to do my M.A. in Phagwara.

Didn't you think here to study further?
I was very difficult. I used to work at nights. I started going to Tile Hill College, but my health did not allow me. My main aim was to earn money. If we have come here for study then it was different. I would have studied full time and worked part time. It was a shift work. To attend the college I had to loose time, which was very difficult for me. I could not afford that. I thought we would give good education to our children. My son Makhan worked for long time in B.T. After redundancy, he opened his own business. My younger son Chinda has learnt about computers he works in computers he is in Nuneaton. I am a man of leisure now.