After the Partition: Harjit Singh Kang’s Story

Born in Jalandhar, East Punjab, Harjit Singh Kang was around 10 years old when he experienced the exodus of thousands of Sikhs into his village during the partition of India. He recalls the many families carrying their belongings on “gaddis” as they poured into East Punjab from areas such as Lahore and Rawalpindi. At his young age, he felt a huge sense of helplessness and sympathy, as those who suffered described the onslaught of mobs during their treacherous journey across the border.

In the late 1950’s Harjit Singh saw his brother take his chance by travelling to England to make a living. Not long afterwards, his brother encouraged him to come to the UK in 1961, where he boarded an Air India flight directly to Heathrow Airport at the price of just 1500 rupees. Settling in Barking with anticipation for starting a new life in the East End of London, Harjit witnessed how his brother had shaved his beard and removed his turban due to the covert discriminatory barriers which hindered him from employment. On the suggestion of his brother, Harjit felt he had no choice but to follow, and in 1963, he too shaved his beard and removed is turban. He eventually landed a job as a post man for Royal Mail in the East End, becoming familiar with most streets across Barking, Ilford and Newham, Essex. Only after 15 years when the discrimination of dress code had eased and with the passing of the Race Relations Act in 1976, did Harjit finally feel proud and comfortable to wear his turban again and grow his beard as an East End post man.

He gave a total of 26 years of service to the Royal Mail, and this commitment and hard work granted him promotions throughout his career. He describes how he first would cycle to work every day, until he could afford a car, and then purchasing his first house in Barking, Essex for £4000, where he currently still lives today with his wife Mohinder Kaur Kang.