Scotland’s Lascar Heritage: Investigating the Lives of South Asian Mariners

In 1992 Glasgow Museums was given a cast iron plaque which had ‘LASCARS ONLY’ written on it in English and Bengali, rare evidence of the first South Asian community in Glasgow. For the last two years the Bangladesh Association Glasgow, Our Shared Cultural Heritage, and Glasgow Life Museums have been leading a research project to find out more about lascars – South Asian seamen – and their connections to Scotland. This book brings together contributions from many different perspectives, including in art and poetry, investigating and commemorating the lives of these mariners.

Contents

• Preface: Duncan Dornan, Head of Museums and Collections, Glasgow Life
• Foreword: Jane Batty, Learning, Interpretation and Engagement Manager, Glasgow Life Museums
• Introduction: Dr Aaron Jaffer, Curator of World History and Cultures, Royal Museums Greenwich
• A History of the World – The 101st Object, a personal reflection: Dr Saif Khan, Trustee, Bangladesh Association Glasgow
• Glasgow’s Lascar History: Isobel McDonald, Curator, Social History, Glasgow Life Museums
• Reclaiming the ‘Lascar’: Malini Chakrabarty, Interdisciplinary artist and media researcher
• Watirullah Anis Mohammed: Emily Malcolm, Curator, Transport and Technology, Glasgow Life Museums
• Glasgow, Barlinnie and the ‘Lascars’' Strikes of 1939: Dr David Featherstone, School of Geographical and Earth Sciences, University of Glasgow
• Hidden in Plain Sight? South Asian Seamen on Film 1922–1944: Emily Munro, Curator, Moving Image/Learning & Outreach Officer, National Library of Scotland
• Lascars and the Asylum: Exploring the experiences of Ackumsha Allumsha in Broadmoor Hospital: Hasaam Latif, PhD student, Durham University
• From Goa and Gujarat to Greenock: The Sinking of the SS City of Benares: Derek Law, Emeritus Professor, Information Services, University of Strathclyde
• Interview with Mr Asif Shakoor – The legacy of Mahomed Gama: Kulsum Shabbir, Our Shared Cultural Heritage
• Scotland, Bangladesh, the Sea and the Future: Sarwar Hassan, Fleet Manager, V. Ships UK, Trustee Chair, Bangladesh Association Glasgow and Emily Malcolm, Curator, Transport and Technology, Glasgow Life Museums
• LASCARi at the Glenlee: Dr Tareq Abdullah, Playwright and producer, LASCARi
• ‘The Mountain of Light’: Aqsa Arif, multi-media artist

• Publisher: Glasgow Museums Publishing
• Authors: Isobel McDonald, Emily Malcolm, Saif Khan, Tareq Abdullah, David Featherstone, Malini Chakrabarty, Emily Munro, Aaron Jaffer, Hasaam Latif, Derek Law, Kulsum Shabbir, Sarwar Hassan, Aqsa Arif, Malini Chakrabarty