Introduction
I am currently a 3rd year dental student. I am a part of BL Islamic society and the Dental society currently but was previously also part of netball, commuters, QM ISoc, Indian and Pakistani societies. I also have attended various events hosted by Tamil, QM Indian, Students 4 Syria as well as other societies. I’ve been part of protests against the Citizens Amendment Act in India as well as attended the premier for a documentary about the discrimination of minorities across the world. I have been keeping up to date with the Farmer protests in India as well as the genocide occurring within China against Uighur Muslims.
I have a lot of connections with different organisation that openly advocate for equality for different ethnicities and do their best to challenge any forms of discrimination that become apparent to them. I am currently the co-president of a large society, so I have the ability to lead and express my opinions as well as the courage to seek changes within SU and the University.
Who am I representing?
I am personally an Indian Muslim, which is a minority within a minority. I have faced discrimination due to my ethnicity and due to my religion when I was younger, but I didn’t know how to face it. I have learnt more over the years and I hope that I will be able to bring that experience to help make life easier for the BAME community.
Some of my closest friends are from Sri Lanka, where their community also faces racism and humanitarian crimes. My other close friends are from many different parts of the world, Europe, middle east, East Asia and south Asia mainly and of varying religions. I have close connections with each of them and I hope that will allow me to get as much feedback from the BAME community as well as give me stronger ties with each of their communities individually. I care about them all and hope that will help me to get their opinions heard.
What motivated me to stand?
I wanted to stand because discrimination is still so prevalent in our society whether we want to accept it or not. A person saying “I don’t see colour” when they are trying to prove that they treat everyone fairly does not give the BAME community justice. It denies all the struggles they have gone through to get to the same position that another person of a different background could get so easily. To give the BAME community justice, is to get as many people as possible to understand that whilst colour does not matter, realising the struggle and effort someone has put in to get somewhere due to their race should be recognised and taken into consideration. Implicit bias is also very prevalent in our community and is something that we need to work towards in irradicating for a truly fair and just society.
Key policies
To make every community within Barts and the London feel heard.
To raise awareness of implicit bias
To create a sense of unity between ethnic minorities and remove feelings of isolation.