Not To Be Denied!
Ishtiaq Ahmed
Bradford: Young British Pakistanis, with the support of community organizations, are forging their own unique legacies.
With an unwavering “not to be denied” attitude, they are pushing back against the tides of racism and Islamophobia, leaving indelible marks across various spheres of life, particularly in artistic pursuits and endeavours.
Two recent examples stand out: the work of Tehseen Jay and Henna Majid. Both are British citizens of Pakistani heritage, with roots in the district of Rawalpindi. Sharing this connection fills me with immense pride.
In the past week, we’ve seen the fruition of two creative projects by these emerging talents:
Ghulam & The Gulab Jamun Factory by Tehseen Jay
Tehseen’s project offers a refreshing cultural twist on Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, a beloved children’s book that has twice been adapted into Hollywood films: Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory (1971), starring Gene Wilder, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), starring Johnny Depp.
Dahl, the iconic Welsh-British author (1916–1990), is widely recognised as one of the greatest storytellers for children of the 20th century. His works, including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Matilda, have captivated readers worldwide. Tehseen’s creative reimagining, infused with South Asian culture, adds a vibrant new dimension to this classic tale.
Tehseen comes from Tehsil Gujar Khan , not far from the village where I grew up before moving to Bradford. He first gained public attention through his comedic TikTok puppet sketches, Nana G, humorous conversations between two elderly wife and husband on everyday issues. Motivated by the positive reception of his work, Tehseen turned his creative energy to Ghulam & The Gulab Jamun Factory.
Despite his talent and passion, Tehseen lacked the means and support to realise his vision. When my colleague Dr. Sofia Buncy first introduced me to him, I was struck by his passion, enthusiasm and determination. It was evident he had faced numerous empty promises of assistance—a common challenge in our community, where creative ideas are often appreciated but rarely supported.
We offered Tehseen a workspace at our community hub, providing him a distraction-free environment and assistance in securing resources. The breakthrough came when LEAP approached us with a small funding pot to support emerging creative talent from the local community.
Recognising the abundance of talent in our community, LEAP the local funding programme aimed at simplifying the often bureaucratic process of accessing resources by the emerging talent.
In collaboration with LEAP, we identified several projects by the local people from their communities for financial support which also included Ghulam & The Gulab Jamun Factory. The inaugural book ceremony was held on 27th December in one of the community venues that was attended by parents and children- a grassroots project for grassroots people . The author was present in person to sign each individual copy for children.
Back to the Future with Bradford by Henna Majid
Henna Majid, a talented young photographer from the BD7 area of Bradford , has roots in the same Rawalpindi district. Her project, Back to the Future with Bradford, documents the evolving history of BD7 communities through striking images of iconic local buildings. The area has a significant population of Pakistani/ Kashmiri heritage.
This initiative, supported by the Khidmat Centre through LEAP’s Creative Spaces programme, supported Henn, guided and supported by her father, Georgi Majid , also a renowned community photographer, who also successfully completed this ambitious project.
Her captivating photography exhibit was unveiled at the Khidmat Centre on December 20 this month. Henna now plans to share her work with local schools, using her artistic vision to inspire others in the area.
There is no shortage of talent and creativity in our communities, however, it requires nurturing with practical guidance and support.
