I had an arranged marriage which made me migrate to the UK. On my entry, I was interrogated by the immigration officers unnecessarily about my marriage, the reasons for marrying, and to examine me if I was married which hurt me. We came to Leeds and had to start my new life knowing no one. I had to build my career from scratch. We were financially very tight. My first job was as an interpreter and we used the money to pay back a loan taken to buy the return tickets to come back - except for buying one item for myself, a hot water bottle.

I got admission to the library school. With the change in policies, the fee was introduced later which I could not afford to pay. The college helped me. After the examinations, I got a job at Lewis’s and paid back my fee. I topped up my qualifications and got a basic job after six years in library services. What I had to go through really hurt me such as shutting the door in my face when I went to enquire about the course. I could not afford to buy a woollen jumper and shivered in class. The tutor told me about the sales which embarrassed me. I became determined to prove my worth.

I worked extremely hard and became a principal officer in twelve years. I became also interested in research and acquired PhD from a British University. My journey was not easy. I was called nigger, Paki, and a black woman. A young white guy hit my husband when he came out of the car to check the back tyres with his steel-toe boots saying why a coloured person was driving when a white person had to walk. Sikh men grow their hair long but my son was asked to cut his hair at school as other pupils were teasing him. Someone living in the street commented ‘you should live down here and not up the street’. Some young boys used to throw stones and eggshells in our garden. It was really a tough journey.

I was not discouraged by these hindrances. Everywhere I went I had to build the service from scratch with the exception of one. Being a researcher, I filled many gaps in the existing literature through my writings. Some appreciated my work and supported me whereas others took advantage of my expertise without valuing it e.g. I gave 13 years of my active retirement age working on an honorary basis but was denied entry into the profession in spite of my professional qualifications and filing the gap in the literature. It took me half-century to settle in this country. I served on the bench for nearly 20 years. I am content and have no worries as my children are well-settled and enjoy luxurious life. I travel and do what I like and have the confidence to raise my voice against unfair practices