Background

Throughout human history, people have moved from one region to another. But in the last two centuries, the patterns and reasons for migration have been vastly different. Where Industrialisation has triggered the movement of people within countries from rural to urban areas, Globalisation has played a pivotal role in accelerating movement between countries and across regional blocs.

Though patterns of migration have evolved, pertinent questions still remain. If we aspire for a system that holds together and sustains both local communities and global economies, what needs to change? Do we need a re-think?

The 'Soil and Roots' Conference explores critical ideas across three inter-related domains, with the hope of drawing ever-closer to a sustainable future of social cohesion.

Links to each online event will be sent to registered delegates 48 hours prior to the start of the event. Delegates can attend any or all of the panels.

Migration Panel (Fri 22nd 19:30-20:30)

• How have patterns and reasons for migration changed over time?
• With globalisation being the norm, should we self-identify as global citizens first or with our nationality?
• For those that identify as migrants or children of migrants, should they feel compelled to be pro-immigration, no matter what? Or is that too simplistic an idea?

Chair: Sneha Purohit

Panel: Professor Atul K Shah, Professor Kehinde Andrews

Integration Panel (Sat 23rd 10:30-11:30)

With mass migration comes the issue of Integration, referring to the degree of cohesion amongst social groups. This springs up issues of its own:

• Does Britain - a multi-ethnic country - experience a healthy amount of cross-group interaction or not?
• Is multiculturalism a myth?
• What is an effective blueprint for Integration?

Chair: Jazz Kaur-Sharma

Panel: David Goodhart

Connection Panel (Sun 24th 10:30-11:30)

As migrants settle over time and integrate, how do they re-connect meaningfully back to the ancestral homelands?

• What do we mean by a 'meaningful connection' ?
• Does one owe something to their ancestral homeland?
• If you don't fit the mould of being 'well connected', are you whitewashed or feel 'not part of the group'?

Chair: Manu Khajuria

Panel: Laxmi Chhaya, Parle Patel

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This programme is being organised by Tattva - an independent non-profit organisation that nurtures creative leadership for those that have the courage to re-think and pursue ideas that positively change worldviews.

This event is proudly sponsored by Acorn Dental.

If you could like to sponsor this programme or want to know more about supporting Tattva, send us an email on hello@tattva.org.uk.

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Speaker Bio:

Sneha Purohit is an L&D consultant and author of the upcoming book Brit:In, documenting the migration story of British Indians to the UK.

Prof. Atul K. Shah brings decades of experience in business, research and teaching and an objective and scientific dimension to culture and ethics in the workplace. He has published books on Boardroom Diversity, Ethical Finance, the Politics of Banking, Celebrating Diversity and Reinventing Business Education. Presently, he is a Professor at City, University of London and working on a new theory and model of Inclusive Finance. Professor Shah’s broadcast credits include Channel 4, BBC Radio 4, BBC World Service, and he is also the most prolific expert on Business Ethics for The Conversation. In 2010 he completed a 1500 mile Masala Tour of Britain which was profiled in the Guardian. His writings have been featured in the Financial Times, Economia, City A.M., Guardian and other media.

Prof Kehinde Andrews is Professor of Black Studies at Birmingham City University. His research focuses on resistance to racism and grassroots organisations. His latest book Black to Black: Retelling Black Radicalism for the 21st Century was published in 2018. He also wrote Resisting Racism: Race, Inequality and the Black Supplementary School Movement in 2013 and is editor of the Blackness in Britain book series with Zed Books. His next book, The New Age of Empire: How Racism and Colonialism Still Rule the World will be published in February 2021 by Penguin Allen Lane in the UK and Bold Type Books in the US. Kehinde has written opinions pieces for outlets including the Guardian, Independent, Washington Post and CNN. Kehinde is founder of the Harambee Organisation of Black Unity; and co-chair of the Black Studies Association.

Jazz-Kaur Sharma is a management consultant and co-author of Tipping Points and Creativity in Crisis. Her research insights lie in social theory and humanities, and has written a seminal paper on 'Women, Tradition and India'.

David Goodhart is Head of Policy Exchange’s Demography, Immigration, and Integration Unit, and Director of the Integration Hub website. He is a former Director of Demos, and former Editor of Prospect magazine, which he founded in 1995. David is a prominent figure in public debate in the UK, as a well-known broadcaster, author, commentator, and journalist. In 2013, he published The British Dream, a book about post-war multiculturalism, national identity, and immigration. It was runner up for the Orwell Book Prize in 2014. In 2017 he published The Road to Somewhere: The new tribes shaping British politics, about the value divides in western societies, which was a Sunday Times best-seller.

Manu Khajuria is a political commentator and author of the upcoming publication, Mountain Goddesses. She is also founder and coordinator for Voice of Dogras - a voice for the British Jammu diaspora community.

Laxmi Chhaya is a facilitator and social researcher. Based between India and the UK, she works closely with grassroots organisations on the development of skills among youth in India; she’s currently Head of Programme Delivery - Asia for The Princes Trust International. Over the last 15 years, Laxmi has lived in India for 5 years, and Kenya for 2. Laxmi has an ongoing exploration with the idea of belonging. Facilitating service leadership programmes for British Indian youth, and living in rural Gadchiroli in Maharashtra, as part of a one year Indicorps Fellowship - both gave her the space to unpick some of her own biases and seek a meaningful connection to India. Laxmi is also a Board Advisor for The Rights Collective, a group looking to tackle the distinct ways in which disempowerment and inequality manifests within the South Asian diaspora community in the UK.

Parle Patel is an award winning YouTuber, presenter and producer, passionate about infusing his Gujarati heritage within the UK community.