South Asian Heritage Month 2026
This year’s South Asian Heritage Month theme is Unity in Diversity. We are pleased to highlight a range of events organised by local authors and artistic partners across the community. See below for details of what’s taking place and how to attend.
If you are hosting South Asian Heritage Month events and would like your event listed, please contact events@newham.gov.uk
Thirukkural: The Ancient Tweet
Saturday 11 July, 11-12pm, East Ham Library
Can "4 words + 3 words" equal an eternal truth? Find out in this South Asian Heritage Month presentation hosted by Tamil children’s writer Prabhu Rajendran.
Discover the Thirukkural, a classical Tamil masterpiece of 1,330 bite-sized couplets. Functioning just like modern-day tweets, these short, rhythmic verses offer timeless guidance on everyday ethics, education, and friendship.
For millions worldwide, this text is woven into daily life—taught in schools, featured on public transport, and printed on wedding invitations. It also holds a deep, historic connection to the UK. Learn how an Oxford scholar first translated these verses for the West, and why a statue of the poet stands proudly in London today. Come explore how an ancient poetic structure still serves as a universal guide for humanity.
Book tickets here
I Was Born Here, Shahed Saleem
Meet the Artist
Saturday 11 July, 6-8pm, V&A East Storehouse
Shahed Saleem's current installation at the V&A Storehouse under a 15th century Spanish Ceiling comprises of three large textile tapestries.
The tapestries question how anti-immigration policies and language draw on longer histories of exclusion. The first tapestry, Queen’s Market, celebrates the diversity, creativity and commerce of Newham’s Queens Market. The second tapestry, Home Office, references the Home Office vans that circulated east London in 2013 encouraging self-deportation. The third tapestry, For God and Gold, combines political references from late fifteenth-century Spain with racialised struggles in east London.
https://www.vam.ac.uk/event/jW9w0wBZbwN/i-was-born-here-shahed-saleem
Join Maryam Abdullah in conversation with Shahed Saleem to discuss his work and take part in a conversation about migration, memories and change in East London.
Book a free ticket here
Muslim Europe: A Journey in Search of a Fourteen Hundred Year History
Monday 13 July, 6-7.45pm, Stratford Library
Tharik Hussain's new book is a journey through Europe uncovering and exploring its rich Muslim past. Join this conversation between the author and artist Shahed Saleem where they will discuss what it means to be Muslim in Britain today with the hindsight of Islam's European legacy. Learn more about the author: https://www.tharikhussain.co.uk
Book a free ticket here
I Was Born Here: Queen’s Market Drawing Workshop
Saturday 18 July, 2-4pm, Queen’s Market
For his current textile tapestry installation at the V&A East Storehouse, Shahed Saleem sourced his materials from Queen's Market. In this drawing workshop led by the artist you will explore the market and draw what you find in whatever way you feel comfortable. There is not one way to draw, and you will be encouraged to find your own way of depicting what you see through drawing.
You will be able to speak with long-standing traders and those who have helped shape what the market is today.
Open to all ages, paper and pencils / pens will be provided but you are welcome to bring your own.
Book a free ticket here
