Balti
Going for a Balti is as common as going for fish and chips in Birmingham. A balti is a dish cooked and served in a steel bowl similar to a wok. From a Birmingham perspective, it originated in the Sparkhill and Sparkbrook Asian communities and is now found across the West Midlands. It remains extremely popular, as do the many Asian restaurants in the region.
Asian Population
The make-up of the Asian community as a percentage of the population is Pakistani 66,085 (6.9%), Indian 51,075 (5.3%), and Bangladeshi 12,739 (1.3%).
Asian Community
From around the 1960s, large numbers of immigrants arrived in the UK from Asia. Many were single men seeking work, later bringing their families once they had established themselves. Many became shopkeepers and traders, which remains very apparent today.
Travelling through Birmingham, the influence of Asian communities is clear, with distinctive shops, clothing, cuisine, and products on display. Predominantly living in Sparkhill, Sparkbrook, and Handsworth, the presence of halal butchers, mosques, and temples has had a profound effect on the character of the city.
Although sometimes accused of not integrating fully due to language barriers, the Asian community has consistently strived to gain acceptance while maintaining cultural and social values. Parents often encourage younger generations to achieve academic excellence and aspire to professional careers such as medicine, business, and law.
Sikhism
Founded over 500 years ago, Sikhism is a progressive religion with more than 20 million followers worldwide and is the fifth largest religion in the world. Sikhism teaches devotion and remembrance of God, truthful living, equality of humankind, and rejection of superstition and blind ritual.
The religion is open to all and is based on the teachings of the ten Gurus, enshrined in the Sikh holy book and living Guru, the Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
Hinduism
There are over 700 million Hindus worldwide, mainly in India and Nepal. Hinduism is often referred to as Sanatana Dharma, meaning the eternal faith. It is not strictly a religion but a way of life based on Dharma, the moral code governing conduct.
With no single founder, anyone who practises Dharma may be considered a Hindu. Hinduism allows questioning of scripture and even the existence of the divine. While reading scriptures alone may not lead to self-realisation, the teachings of ancient seers provide guidance towards spiritual understanding.
Though the oldest of religions, Hinduism presents truths that transcend time, leading individuals from ignorance to truth through inner discipline and understanding.
Islam
Despite negative publicity following terrorist events, Islam is a peaceful religion. As with all religions, extremists exist, but Islam itself promotes tolerance, lawfulness, and compassion.
The word Islam literally means submission, peace, and salvation. Its foundation is mercy and compassion, expressed in the Quranic phrase known as the Basmala: “In the name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate.”
The mission of the Prophet Muhammad is described in the Quran as “a mercy for all the worlds,” emphasising Islam’s core message of universal compassion and guidance for all humanity.
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