The hidden stories of Birmingham’s Bangladeshi women have finally been told thanks to a heritage project being awarded £42,600 by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). Legacy WM has spent the last year working on the project.
“We have been able to document the lives of these women who have often been overlooked for their role in history. Their stories demonstrate courage and resilience when they faced adversary.” – Aftab Rahman, Director of Legacy West Midlands.
‘Old Wives’ Tales’ tells the stories of 20 Bangladeshi women and their journeys to the UK. These journeys began as young girls from Bangladesh who married Bangladeshi men with UK citizenship. The women talk about their life back home, their first impressions of the UK and how they made Birmingham their home in the 1970s and 1980’s.
Legacy WM has interviewed the women and filmed their stories. We have uncovered old black and white photos that show the women in their prime along with other memorable objects. These have been displayed at an exhibition in the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery from November 2015 to February 2016. They provided a unique insight into the culture and heritage of the Bangladeshi community. The exhibition was followed by the launch of a book that contains their stories and photos. The book was launched at the Houses of Commons by Baroness Young on the 23rd February 2016. She was joined by Rushanara Ali MP, Gisela Stuart MP and Richard Fuller MP.
