British Punjabis are British citizens or residents who are of Punjabi origin. They originate from the Punjab region of Pakistan and India. Punjabis are a major sub-group of the British Pakistani and British Indian communities, representing the largest ethnicity among British Asians.
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History
The UK is home to the largest Punjabi diaspora. Immigration from the Punjab region to the UK began during the colonial era, when Punjab was a province of British India. The earliest Punjabi migrants included domestic labourers, students, officials, or recruits in the British Army. A notable early figure is the Maharaja Duleep Singh who was exiled to Britain in 1853. Some Punjabis arrived in the UK during the 1940s and 1950s, escaping the turbulent period during the partition of India.
The first significant migration of Punjabis occurred in the 1940s and 1950s. Labour shortages in the UK following the Second World War led the British authorities to encourage recruitment from across the Commonwealth. The vast majority of these migrants were men, who after a period of acclimatisation began to settle permanently and invite their friends, wives and children to join them.
In the 1970s, there was widespread migration of Punjabis from East Africa, many of whom had retained their British passports following the independence of Kenya and Uganda. East African Punjabis are known as twice migrants, and came to the UK amidst growing discrimination at home, symbolised by the Expulsion of Asians from Uganda in 1972. Unlike earlier Punjabi migration to the UK, East African Punjabis migrated as families. Many were successful businessmen or professionals with savings and able to adjust quickly to life in Britain.
Demographics
In the 2011 UK Census, 273,000 people identified Punjabi as their first language. Of these, 271,000 were in England, 23,000 in Scotland, 1,600 in Wales and a smaller number in Northern Ireland. Thus, Punjabi is the third most commonly spoken language in the UK. The Southall area of Greater London is home to a significant Punjabi population. The total population of Punjabis in the UK is estimated to exceed 700,000.
Immigrants from the Pakistani province of Punjab are mainly Punjabi Muslims, with smaller numbers of Christians. The majority originate from the northern and central parts of Punjab, such as: Jhelum, Jhang, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Attock, Chakwal, Chiniot, Sargodha, Toba Tek Singh and Lahore. Punjabis are estimated to comprise one-third of the British Pakistani population, making up the second largest sub-group after Mirpuri Kashmiris. The tribes to which British Pakistani Punjabis belong include Jats, Gujjars, Awans, Arains, Rajputs and several others.
The population of Indian Punjabis is over 450,000, constituting 45% of the British Indian community. Of these, two-thirds are Sikhs while the rest are mainly Punjabi Hindus. The majority of British Sikhs belong to the Jat clan. The UK has the largest Sikh diaspora outside India.
Culture
Punjabi culture strongly defines the identity of British Punjabis. The bhangra form of music was popularised by Punjabi immigrants in the UK during the 1970s. England has long been associated with the Asian Underground scene which gave rise to Punjabi pop music, especially among the younger generations. Punjabi cuisine is also highly popular in the country. Chicken tikka masala has been called a "national dish" of Britain.
Punjabis are known for their entrepreneurial activities. Research by Teesside University shows that the British Punjabi community is one of the most highly educated and successful in the UK. Notable businesspeople include Sir Anwar Pervez and Surinder Arora who rank amongst the wealthiest Britons. Other Punjabis have achieved notability in the theatres of British politics, sports and entertainment.
Business, science and academia
Successful businessmen and professionals include Surinder Arora, Ranjit Singh Boparan, James Caan, Mo Chaudry, Zameer Choudrey, Humayon Dar, Avtar Lit, Aneel Mussarat, Sir Anwar Pervez and Tom Singh. In science and academia, Asif Chaudry, Hasnat Khan, Mohammad Naseem and Simon Singh.
Entertainment
Punjabis have achieved considerable prominence across the entertainment industries. In literature and arts, Tariq Ali, Moniza Alvi, Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti, Chila Kumari Burman, Imtiaz Dharker, Mohsin Hamid, Emran Mian, Raman Mundair, Daljit Nagra, Tahir Rashid, Ziauddin Sardar, Qaisra Shahraz, and Aatish Taseer. In journalism and media, Martin Bashir, Daljit Dhaliwal, Mo Dutta, Hassan Ghani, Sunny Hundal, Mishal Husain, Razia Iqbal, Rizwan Khan, Sarfraz Manzoor, Sangita Myska, Anita Rani, Adil Ray and Osama Saeed. In the fashion world, models Neelam Gill and Atta Yaqub, and designer Omar Mansoor. Comedians include Humza Arshad, Guzzy Bear, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Danny Bhoy, Kulvinder Ghir, Jay Islaam, Hardeep Singh Kohli, Sanjeev Kohli and Meera Syal.
In the film and television industry, the following Punjabis have found success; Adeel Akhtar, Shabana Bakhsh, Samir Bhamra, Jas Binag, Gurinder Chadha, Ameet Chana, Saeed Jaffrey, Nitin Kundra, Art Malik, Jimi Mistry, Zia Mohyeddin, Parminder Nagra, Parvez Qadir, Tahirah Sharif and Mandy Takhar. In the music industry, names include Apache Indian, Juggy D, Dr Zeus, Diamond Duggal, Bobby Friction, Aman Hayer, Jas Mann, Ms Scandalous, Manj Musik, Aki Nawaz, Panjabi MC, Rishi Rich, Bally Sagoo, Indy Sagu, Manni Sandhu, Nitin Sawhney, Jay Sean, Sukshinder Shinda, Malkit Singh, Talvin Singh, Tijinder Singh and Tigerstyle.
Law and Politics
Prominent politicians include Bashir Ahmad, Parmjit Dhanda, Tarique Ghaffur, Sajid Javid, Sajjad Karim, Piara Khabra, Afzal Khan, Bashir Khanbhai, Bashir Maan, Hanzala Malik, Nosheena Mobarik, Seema Malhotra, Zahida Manzoor, Yasmin Qureshi, Diljit Rana, Kulveer Ranger, Anas Sarwar, Mohammad Sarwar, Virendra Sharma, Shas Sheehan, Marsha Singh, Ranbir Singh Suri, Paul Uppal, Sayeeda Warsi and Humza Yousaf.
Sport
British Punjabis have also excelled in sport. Notable cricketers include Kamran Afzaal, Usman Afzaal, Mohammad Akhtar, Kabir Ali, Kadeer Ali, Zafar Ansari, Ravi Bopara, Asim Butt, Imran Jamshed, Shaftab Khalid, Imran Majid, Sajid Mahmood, Saqlain Mushtaq, Monty Panesar and Ajmal Shahzad. Elsewhere footballers include Michael Chopra, Kash Gill achieved fame as the kickboxing world champion and Amir Khan has achieved notable success as a boxer.