Events
The Venerable Mina Smallman in conversation with Shahida Rahman
Murray Edwards College, Cambridge Visiting Fellow The Venerable Mina Smallman was an Archdeacon in the Church of England. The writer Shahida Rahman is the only female trustee of Cambridge Mosque. Two remarkable leading women in the UK’s religious life exchange experiences.
Together they will discuss life as a female religious leader.
The event is free but booking in advance required.
Writeidea Festival 2022
An Ayah’s Choice talk
An Ayah’s Choice was published in March 2022 by Onwe Press. Set in 1900s, it tells the story of an Indian Ayah (nanny) and her journey to freedom and independence.
Mira's Minders / An Ayah's Choice - Film Screening and Book Signing
Mira’s Minder is a visual narrative on India’s emergent caregivers (ayahs) from Kolkata,. This is followed by a book signing of my novel An Ayah's Choice. Part of the South Asian Seafarers exhibition hosted onboard the historic HQS Wellington.
An Ayah's Choice: A talk about Indian Ayahs in the 1900s by Shahida Rahman
Shahida will talk about the role of Ayahs. At the height of British colonisation, many Asian women found themselves adrift within British society.
Most had entered the country on ships employed by English families as ayahs (nannies) and, once they’d served their few weeks at sea, were dismissed, expected to survive on their own. Securing passage back to India was seasonal and often difficult especially during wartime, leaving hundreds of young women stranded far from home.
Many British high society feminists voiced concerns for their Indian sisters, regarding them as passive victims. A gradual change in this compassionate but superior attitude came about as Asian women grew stronger and more outspoken, not only in Britain but also in India.By 1905, Asian women emerging to show public support of various political activities with the suffragette movement and the exploitation of women and their traditional roles were challenged
Come and find out about who these women were and their role in 20th century England.
There will be an opportunity to buy signed copies priced at £9.99 each. Card payments will be accepted.