The Hindu Business Line : ‘The desire to do well is ingrained in every one’

I always recall an interview I had with the BBC when I was asked what percentage was I British and what percentage Indian. I answered that I am one hundred per cent British and one hundred per cent Indian.

Lord Swraj Paul

Hasan Suroor

As one of the pioneers of British-Indian enterprise Lord Swraj Paul, Chairman of the UK-based Caparo Group, has seen the Indian diaspora grow and has a special insight into its strengths and weaknesses. Here, he reflects on its successes and his own journey.

As one of the most successful British Indians you’ve almost become the public face of Britain’s Indian community. How do you look at its contribution to British life?

The British Indian community is well respected in Britain. It is a hard working, law abiding community with close-knit families where the parents take a lot of interest in the education of their children. They send them to good schools and then oversee their progress right through their educational career. There is a recognition and respect for the British Indian community because of that.

What are the strengths of British Indians and are there any areas where, in your view, they could have done better or need to do more?

Most of the community is very law abiding, and that helps a great deal. It means they get a lot of respect and affection from the local people. The strength of the British Indian community is that they are hard working, law abiding, well educated, good citizens and are proud to be British who are Indian by origin.

Every community and every individual could do better and could have done more. However, the desire to do well is ingrained in every member of the British Indian community because they want to make their mark and they are seeing the success and recognition of it.

How do you look back at your experiences in Britain? Was it a difficult journey?

My personal experience in Britain has been marvellous. I started working here in very difficult personal circumstances but the people I came across always were very kind. They trusted me and gave me all the help. That is why I feel very proud to be British as well as proud to be Indian.

How much has Britain changed since you have been here in terms of race relations and the opportunities for non-white immigrants?

Britain has changed a lot in all aspects of life. First, in terms of race, I would say that more than 95 per cent of the British community hate discrimination. Second, it is the most multi-ethnic society in the world.

As you know, I am Chancellor of two universities – Wolverhampton and Westminster – and in both we have a lot of students from minor communities who enjoy the same status as their indigenous colleagues. This is the same throughout the country.

It should not be misunderstood when, every now and then, some incident happens. The important thing is that any race related incident gets reported and the press highlights incidents like that, which itself is a good thing. It is important to remember that any such occurrences are also roundly condemned by all three main political parties and by the media.

There are other changes in British society. For example, a lot of people in the indigenous community today have benefited from opportunities that they would not have had say 30 years ago – better education, leading to better jobs, better housing, better infrastructure etc. These people are far more inclusive in their thinking, so the face of British society has changed and will continue to change because it is very forward looking.

What is your take on the current state of India-UK relations and how can they be strengthened further?

The work culture in Britain has improved almost exponentially and Britain today is a country that is proud of its standing in the world, which is completely different to the way it was 30 or 40 years ago. It is a country of opportunity and, in my view, the India-UK relations are at their best. Historically, there have been ups and downs but one must remember that both Indians and Britons feel much more at ease with each other than perhaps a lot of other nationalities in the world.

The main UK political parties have worked to improve relations with India; and the Labour Party when it came to power both under Tony Blair and now under Gordon Brown has raised this relationship to an even higher level. This is because it respects what India has achieved democratically, in the rule of law and the contribution of the Indian community to Britain.

In 2000 when Robin Cook was Foreign Secretary, the UK and Indian governments set up the India-UK Round Table (IUKRT), which I was asked to co-chair on the UK side. Mr K.C. Pant and then Mr Hamid Ansari were the Indian co-chairmen. In my five years with IUKRT we found that the two countries had so much in common and there were so many ways in which we could gain from each other. The discussions of the Round Table always ranged very widely – from visa policy and education to international security and the WTO. Many ideas were submitted to both governments on how closer cooperation might be achieved on trade and investment, culture, tourism, air services, science & technology, climate change, healthcare, educational exchanges and financial and legal services. It also gave rise to the successful UK-India Education & Research Initiative.