Rani Rawji, 56, from Handsworth Wood, vividly remembers her first day in the UK after relocating from Mumbai, India, in August 1988. For her, the journey wasn’t just a physical move but a deep cultural shock. Raised in the bustling, modern city of Bombay, Rani described Britain at that time as “backward” compared to what she knew.
She recounted arriving at her aunt’s house, where her cousins were dressed in traditional churidar trousers and puffed hairstyles, a stark contrast to her own Western attire of stilettos, tight jeans, a white top, and light makeup. “I walked in, and it was a complete culture shock. We were more modern in Bombay than they were here,” she said.
Rani also spoke warmly about Birmingham’s vibrant cultural community and reflected on her upbringing in multicultural India, where living alongside diverse religious traditions was the norm. Her mother, she shared, never needed a clock to keep time — the calls to prayer and temple bells marked the day for her. “The mosque’s Adhan at 4 am, temple bells at 6 am, and the gurdwara at 7:30 am,” she recalled. “She never looked at the clock; the light and sounds told her the time.”
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Rani’s story highlights the unexpected challenges and rich cultural contrasts she faced after emigrating, capturing the experience of many who move between worlds in search of new beginnings.