These are all helpful terms, but you can’t use them all in one go. It wouldn’t be a very succinct way of describing yourself, though could be useful for a matrimonial advert…

So, how do you describe yourself if someone wants a quick answer to who you are?

Some South Asian diaspora people may choose not to refer to their ethnic identity at all, but for many this is an important aspect of who they are.

In Britain, there has been some discussion on how South Asians should be referred to. Already the term ‘Asian’, which has been used in the UK to refer to people from the South Asian region, is beginning to fall out of favour, particularly since 9/11 and 7/7. Some non-Muslims do not want to be classified with people who might be perceived to be linked to terrorism. There is growing support for the practice of referring to people specifically by their country of origin, or their religious affiliation.

There are concerns around this, particularly for second and third generation South Asians who have been born and raised in the UK and see their ‘Britishness’ as a key part of their identity. The term ‘British Asian’ has been in use for some time, but some feel the Asian part can be dropped.

Use of the word ‘English’ can also stir up emotions. It’s rarely used by South Asians who feel it is an ethnic description, but some feel it should be used, citing the fact that many white people whose parents migrated from another country have no hesitation in calling themselves English. Another option that has been suggested is the US style ‘Asian-Briton’, which puts more of an emphasis on the British part, though many feel this will only serve to accentuate divisions.

So, whether you choose to call yourself a British Pakistani Christian or an Indian Hindu or just plain British, it seems ethnicity, religion and culture are all important ways of defining who we are, certainly for diaspora communities. But should they be the most important factors?

Also see…

> The prayer room
> Masala BridgeBuilders explores the area of identity and citizenship further
> Café Desi provides a space for young adults, especially from South Asian backgrounds, to socialise, explore issues, and grow in their personal and professional lives
> Coming soon: Discover: Identity

I used to refer to myself as a an Indio-Scot as i grew up in Scotland but associated strongly with my Indian roots. To complicate matters my parents were from East Africa so i guess i was kind of an Afro-Indio-Scot but this just complicated matters as people thought my parents were of African origin as opposed to Indians.

Ultimately my identity is tied up with who i am as an individual and my faith has a significant bearing on that but I seldom refer to myself by my faith as an opening gambit. These days i refer to myself as British, trying to avoid the nationalism that comes with being Scottish as i see that the strength of the UK is in a ‘Greater Britain’ where we all have different labels and come from different backgrounds, ethnicities and religions but ultimately we can come under the umbrella of being British.

I use the term Indo- Canadian out here in Vancouver Canada. I believe it has become more PC, than East Indian.

I am very much more “Canadian” than Indian, but still want to make mention of my Indian roots when identifying myself.