Anji Sansi

Thank you to all the teaching and support staff at @LivUni , and the great city of #Liverpool for everything you did for our daughter. Yesterday was one of the proudest days for our family seeing Aman graduate. Aman never met her Grandfather, who died eight years before she was born. She starts her post graduate journey at @SWBHnhs on the same site a factory stood where her Grandfather worked when he arrived in Birmingham from India in the 1960s. Liverpool is right, in this world, you never walk alone. Congratulations to everyone from the class of 2024 graduating this year.

It takes a city to raise a child. Yesterday, I posted on my daughter’s graduation sharing the sense of pride we feel as a family. I’m overwhelmed with the messages about Aman and each of them fill me with joy. However, it was only half the story in what has been quite a week; 48 hours after Aman, my son Jovan donned a cap and gown, and graduated from The @uniofleicester Law School It takes a city to raise a child, from the medics who were there at his birth, his nursery, primary and junior school teachers, the incredible @PrioryEdgbaston School that steered him through GCSEs, @QMHSOFFICIAL where he earned the grades for Law School and the academic and support staff at the University of Leicester. Jovan has been shaped by the blood ties of his wider family, by friends who have his back, my associates and clients who’s trust kept the lights on at home so he could study late into the night (or that’s what he told me), retailers that dressed him, the football teams that inspired him (West Bromwich Albion and England ), the artists who laid down the soundtrack for his life (always at too loud a volume) and the infinite list of service providers who kept him fed, watered and happy; the collective efforts of the city that raised him. He has been shaped by his sister Aman. Jovan has never failed to celebrate every one of her wins whilst comforting the losses, in the knowledge she always flies the flag for him. But ultimately, the one person who cut a diamond out of carbon and wax stamped Jovan with the seal of unconditional love, his mom, @anjisansi , the nucleus of our family. She is the script writer, scene director and curtain call maker of our family. I thank God every day, our children have her counsel, support and strength. She even captured that picture of me and Aman in front of @thebeatles which attracted more likes and comments than I have ever received. Fuming…! Being a parent is theoretically impossible, but faith shines a light on that path. Thank you to everyone who played a part on the path of these two young people. It takes a city to raise a child, God knows, a parent alone can not do it. Jovan Sansi LLB, always remember who made you. Dad x

Last week our Y3 children went to our local @LidlGB to find out about the different departments within a supermarket. Thank you, Steve at the Hamstead branch for putting together a box of fruit and veg for us - we're looking forward to seeing what the children make out of it!

A pleasure to join national Law Firm @GTStewartSols for their Christmas Party @SearcyStPancras Thank you for hosting a fabulous night. #christmas2023 #BrumHour The images: flickr.com/photos/jassans…

Today is a special day for the global population of 26 million Sikhs. We are celebrating the birth of our religion's founder, Guru Nanak dev Ji Guru Nanak dev Ji spoke about equality at a time caste and gender inequality were ingrained deeply into society. The values he taught; equality, love, selfless service, human dignity and respect are universal and sewn into the fabric of the Sikh religion, the religion I am very proud to be a member of. Here's an image painted by the artist, Sobha Singh I found at my family farm in India. Many of the paintings depicting our founding father are iconic and take pride of place on the walls of Sikh homes around the world. You may not have seen this painting before. Very best wishes on the most special of days to the global Sikh population and all who are celebrating the day. Jas Sansi #Sikh #Sikhism #GuruNanakdevJi #Gurpurab #Equality

#BrumHour My abandoned story board for #ABCCAwards23 after sustaining an injury whilst setting up for the @AsianbizChamber Awards event Rushed back to Brum, got bandaged up & back to @TheNMMUK Enjoy the images: flickr.com/photos/jassans…

Lighting a candle to mark #BandiChhorDivas & #Diwali @NishkamCentre @SohoRoadBID A symbolic day for the international community of Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists Sending you all very best wishes in the journey to light over darkness #BrumHour

Countdown to #Diwali, the festival of light celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists in India and around the world. I'm posting images this week about #India to cast a light on this annual celebration. One of the key tenets in the #Sikh religion, 'seva' means Selfless Service. This is demonstrated in Sikh Gurudwaras (temples) around the world which provide free, nourishing vegetarian meals to visitors, irrespective of their religion. On a recent visit to Sri Harmandir Sahib (The Golden Temple) in Amritsar, India, I asked if I could see the operation delivering 100,000 meals a day to visitors. It was INCREDIBLE. Entire halls are allocated to the production of each element of the meal service. This image illustrates just one of the spaces where volunteers prepare food in huge cooking vessels that require stirring with instruments as large as oars. The experience filled me with enormous pride in being part of the Sikh community. A community that during Diwali celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas, which means 'Prisoner Release Day.' This occurs on the same day as Diwali, so the two are combined. There are 169,000 registered charities in the UK, selfless service is a universal calling for humanity. Diwali - Sunday 12th November 2023

#BrumHour Chloe Barry pays tribute to @Adele in an intimate concert by candlelight @bhamcathedral in @ColmoreBID in aid of @NSPCC Enjoy an evening of dazzling numbers from all four of Adele's record breaking albums. Thursday 23rd November 2023 Tickets start at £15 giving.give-star.com/event/nspcc/ch…

.@diwalibrigade volunteers gather to assemble 1500 hampers of food I witnessed a remarkable feat of human compassion in Birmingham’s inner city this morning. An army of Diwali Basket Brigade volunteers giving up their time for others. Hundred and hundreds of hampers were packed for delivery to vulnerable individuals and those struggling to provide healthy nourishing meals for their families, along with a handmade card, signed by children, addressed to ‘A Friend’ offering Diwali wishes. Diwali Basket Brigade is a grassroots initiative Chaired by @deeparekh and led by Deepak, Kishen Pattani, Vaidehi Pattani and Rupinder Cheema, that delivers thousands of hampers of food to those in need at a special time of year for Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists. The movement began in #Birmingham and now reaches out to #London, #Manchester and #Leicester. Diwali is a festival Indians have carried to all corners of the planet. Diva candles illuminating the battle against darkness, a community coming together empowering good to banish evil, and people wiping blackboards to dispel ignorance by sharing knowledge. Diwali lights up November at a time of the year when Winter sets in, daylight is rationed and plummeting temperatures make us reach for an extra blanket. Our ancestors understood the need to share blessings with those less fortunate by setting festivals like Diwali into calendars. This mantra has been adopted by Deepak who along with the trustees have created something special in the creation of Diwali Basket Brigade. This is the set up; volunteers gather in a community centre to pack grocery items purchased at cost price from donations made from individuals and organisations. These hampers of food are then delivered to charity groups who oversee the distribution to the vulnerable and struggling families. Light over darkness, hope over despair, good over evil. Really well done to my kindhearted friend Deepak and the Diwali Basket Brigade Trustees and Volunteers. My admiration and respect for him and his team has elevated higher than the Diwali fireworks that illuminate night skies with noise and colour. They remind us there is always light in darkness and in the most bleak of circumstances, there is always hope. Happy Diwali Dear Friend #DiwaliBasketBrigade2023

Light 'em up @jazzyb The Punjabi mover from Vancouver lights up Soho Road #Birmingham with a fabulous set in front of 30,000 fans who throng the iconic road in Handsworth to enjoy the hottest ticket in town. The lights celebrate the #Hindu festival of Diwali and the #Sikh celebration of Bandi Chhor Divas, which means 'Prisoner Release Day', which occurs on the same day as Diwali, so the two are combined. It is a time of good over evil and hope over despair, messages that are as relevant now as they ever were. Incredible work from the @SohoRoadBID team to bring this incredibly popular star to Brum. Wishing everyone very best wishes for Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas Jas Sansi

Fabulous to see @jazzyb and @BrumLordMayor light up the #Diwali lights on Soho Road #Birmingham to welcome in this key festival for Hindus and Sikhs around the world. Great work from @SohoRoadBID team in hosting this annual event and bringing one of the biggest global stars to #Brum Soho Road will be forever known as Jazzy B21 for a lot of people on a night great memories were captured. Huge thanks Jazzy B 🙏🏽🙏🏽❤️❤️👊🏽👊🏽

I would encourage everyone to go see the Grunwick Strikers Mural on Soho Road in Handsworth. Painted by Pakistani artist Haider Ali Truck Artist, it is curated by @DESIblitz with the support of @SohoRoadBID, @networkrail & @AstonUniversity It now has the addition of being bathed in #Diwali lights that were switched on by global music artist @JazzyB to symbolise the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance." Reflect on how many different cultures have collaborated to produce this mesmerising work of public art under the glow of Diwali lights. I would say representation from every major religion and those without. So whether you go by day or night, try and pay a visit.

#BIFF2023 Launches with a Spectacular Opening Gala @mac_birmingham with a welcome address by @dharmesh_rajput and @CGI_Bghm Indian actor @Aparshakti was at the launch to meet fans of Indian cinema check out the full programme showing at @mac_birmingham, @mockbirdcinema, @TheLight_UK #Walsall, @cineworld in @westsidebid @STEAMhouseUK and @eprjcts, and book your tickets at birminghamindianfilmfestival.co.uk

Celebrating 25 years of Goodness Gracious Me at the launch of the Literature Festival at @BMusic_Ltd .@DESIblitz Literature festival 2023 launch celebrated the 25th anniversary of Goodness Gracious Me with a panel discussion chaired by @TommySandhu . Tommy spoke to the team behind the show @Nina_Wadia @kulvinderghir & @govindajeggy who collectively hurled a brick through the glass ceiling of British Comedy, and had the intelligence to get out the way when awards and applause came showering down. The illuminating conversation offered insight into the power of writing as a force for social change. One of many take aways was the need to cast a spotlight on lazy assumptions about culture, religion and people highlighting to wider society that yes, we are all guilty of engaging in behaviour like that, for example the Jonathan sketch in Goodness Gracious Me. The conversation kicked off the Desi Blitz Literature Festival which is running here in Birmingham from the 20th to 29th October 2023 Take a look, get involved and never ever order the blandest thing on the menu. Thank you to @rts_mids for supporting the event. desiblitz.com/literaturefest…

Chloe Barry pays tribute to @Adele in an intimate concert by candlelight @bhamcathedral in @ColmoreBID in aid of @NSPCC Enjoy an evening of dazzling numbers from all four of Adele's record breaking albums. Thursday 23rd November 2023 Tickets start at £15 giving.give-star.com/event/nspcc/ch… Please Share

The Past Calls to the Present I was in Manchester last week photographing the @Conservatives Party Conference. Outside the Conference venue stands a statue of Suffragette Emily Pankhurst. I took a moment to stand and reflect in front of it. It was there, I unexpectedly bumped into an old friend from Brum who now lives in the North West. She introduced me to her friend, Helen Pankhurst, great grand-daughter of Emily. It was a pleasure to meet her, especially in front of the statue raised in honour of her great grandmother. It was a reminder the past constantly calls to us. We are ourselves sculpted by our history. Back in Birmingham, I was kindly invited to the @DESIblitz launch of the Grunwick Strikers Mural on Soho Road in Handsworth. It’s a mesmerising tribute to Female Asian workers who stood up for themselves in a factory dispute at the Grunwick Film Processing Laboratories, London in 1976. The mural was painted by Pakistani Artist, Haider Ali and is on public display along the Railway Bridge on Soho Road near the intersection with Thornhill Road. There are 108 different languages spoken in Birmingham. What better way to share a historical story than through painted images? The media labeled the women ‘Strikers in Sari’s.’ They were poorly treated by Union Leaders, the incumbent Labour Government, Police and their Employers. The action though ultimately unsuccessful continues to be celebrated as a victory and a turning point in anti-racist, labour and pro-feminist politics. It is said the fate of glass is to break. If it’s the fate of public art to fade away, try and visit the area to see the work, especially whilst its colours remain vivid. I spoke to @networkrail who kindly granted permission for the mural to be painted on their bridge. There’s no scheduled limit on how long the art will be available to enjoy. If the passage of time does erode the work, the call of the past will continue to echo along this beautified bridge and inspire future artists to do what Haider Ali has done in this eclectic neighbourhood , to honour the past. Thank you to Indi Deol from Desi Blitz, Deputy Lord Lieutenant Prof @monderram DL and Céline Benoit from @AstonUniversity , Jagwant Johal (son of Indian Workers Association’s Avtar Johal), Raghib Ahsan and Dr Janet Bailey (who both participated in the strike action back in 1976) and Steven Ireland from Network Rail for speaking at the launch event. Mural painted, speeches delivered and ribbon cut, all that was left was to raise a toast to the commissioned artwork with Chai provided by our friends at @Dishoom. Don’t miss it.

Images from the @NSPCC Greater Birmingham and Black Country Business Board fundraiser @ICC_Birmingham in @westsidebid The countdown for #LaughterBall24 has begun. Get those green bow ties and dresses ready. Enjoy the images this year, be in the images next year

Garry Peal passes the Chair of @NSPCC #Birmingham Business Board over to Emily Allen Great job Garry on your incredible tenure and congratulations Emily on talking the helm Link to the images from last night's NSPCC #LaughterBall23 @ICC_Birmingham @westsidebid hosted by the incredible @sportsmimic are below Great work Amanda Synnott and your team on hosting a fabulous evening raising funds for the NSPCC and raising awareness of why Every Childhood is worth Fighting For Thank you to all sponsors without whom nights like these would not be possible Lamborghini Birmingham, @ClementsChurch , @BCFC, James Mayor Home, @PaulOz and @MySugarWatch Thank you to @JakeMalbasa from Birmingham City FC who dashed over from St Andrews to share why the Club is working closely with NSPCC and their commitment in keeping children and young people safe. Thank you to the tireless volunteers who steered the evening from start to finish, the ICC staff and the entertainment. And finally to all the guests who's kindness and generosity made this a night to remember. The countdown for #LaughterBall24 begins today, get those green bow ties and dresses ready. Enjoy the images this year, be in the images next year: flickr.com/photos/jassans…

.@jogideon speaking @Fit4_Purpose & @StaffsUni launch of Student Basic Needs Survey with @JustineGreening and Prof Annabel Kiernan addresses the question of the cost of living challenge to students “You cannot have social mobility if you are hungry.” #cpc23