Hi my name is Shantel Leghari, I’m a UAL BA Graphic Design Student (right), I am joined with my mother Laila Khan (left), on this fascinating history through Bangla Town (AKA Brick Lane), to reflect and discuss the background of the Bengali community that first immigrated to this area since the 70’s-80’s, and the issues they’ve faced such as immigration, discrimination and gentrification.
I found myself connecting and understanding them as a community reflecting my Pakistani background to theirs, especially in this historical and political time of Brexit in the UK. The psycho-geographic map below will help guide you through our podcast as you scroll through this website, and the podcast will tell you where to go as you do.
As the map shows, Aldgate Station is the starting point of this podcast, however when you arrive the station, be sure to head to Altab Ali first to begin the podcast.
We start at this location where my mother and me found ourselves observing a protest by the Bengali community, we felt this was a strong message and representation of them as a community, showing their strength against discrimination towards Hindus in their homeland.
Also here’s the song name I couldn’t pronounce: ‘Amar bhaier rokte rangano Ekushe February’.
Once you leave Altab Ali Park from where you walked in, head to Brick Lane across the street, you’ll see your next landmark as you walk near the corner of Wentworth Street.
We explore the origins of Brick Lane and how business and trade began and how this connects with the Bengali community.
On our next landmark, we head to the Brick Lane mosque, which I think is the culmination of the waves of immigration history Brick Lane has seen.
It was first a church for the Irish, a synagogue for the Russian Jewish community, and when this community left the area, the Bengali immigrated to this area and this became a mosque for this community.
In our final landmark, we explore the past of this old brewery warehouse, and how the Bengali community also contributed to the past labour in this building.
We concluded and wrapped up the podcast on the way back to the station, you can listen in as we walk back or preferably listen at the station, as we discuss and talk about the Bengali community living in this area and the issues they’ve faced over the last few decades in Brick Lane.
We thank you for joining this educational journey with us, and I hope it intrigues you as much it did for us.
Credit and thanks goes to everyone who helped and made this project possible and all outer sources used is for educational purposes and non-profited reasons.