Time Line
1612 East India Company formed
1612 - 1757 The East India Company is formed for trade with India.
1757 - 1858 The British East India Company takes over rule in India.
1854 - Maharaja Duleep Singh settles in England.
1857 10th May - Indian Mutiny, Indian Sepoys revolt against the East India Company.
1858 – British Raj Starts
1858 1st November - After the Indian Mutiny, the “British Raj” starts, with Queen Victoria’s proclamation Act, East India Company rule ends and passes to the British Monarch.
1858 India Act – The British Monarch, passes assurances to Princes of Indian states against encroachment of land, this marks the transfer of authority from East India Company to Crown.
1865 - London India Society founded - (Further research in progress).
1870 - National Indian Association (NIA) formed by Mary Carpenter in Bristol to encourage female education in India.
1877 1st January - Queen Victoria becomes Empress of India.
1889 - Shah Jehan Mosque in Woking, Britain’s first Mosque is established.
1892 - Dadabhai Naoroji first Indian to be elected to Parliament in Britain campaigned for Liberal Party.
1894 - Merchant shipping Act introduced.
1895 - Mancherjee Merwanjee Bhownaggree second Indian to be elected to Parliament, won as Conservative MP for Bethnal Green.
1889 - Cornelia Sorabji Studies at Somerville College Oxford, first Woman and Indian to study law and sit law exams in UK.
1896 - K.S. Ranjitsinhi plays cricket for England.
1805 18th May - Surat Alley Born.Founder of Indian Society and Indian Workers Union.
1906 - London Muslim League formed.
1910 - Indian Society Formed in London to bring attention to Indian Art.
1913 - Shepherds Bush Gurdwara opens 79 Sinclair Road, London.
1914 1st January - Inayat Noor Khan born.
1914 - First world War Indian troops start arriving for despatch to France.
1914 - Brighton Royal Pavilion converted to Hospital for wounded Indian troops.
1914 31st October - Khudadad Khan, awarded Victoria Cross for bravery, first Indian to be awarded this ( Indian as classified before Partition)
1915 - King George V visits Brighton Pavilion hospital and presents soldiers with military awards.
1915 January - Gandhi returns to India from South Africa.
1915 - Battle of Neuve Chappelle in France.
1918 - World War I ends.
1919 13th April - Jallianwala Bagh (Amritsar Massacre).
1919 - British Race Riots.
1921 26th October - India Gate memorial opened at Brighton Pavilion.
1923 - Indian Merchants Shipping Act - setting working conditions for Indian Sea Men.
1928 1st January - India League formed in London to campaign for full independence of India.
1929 8th January - Saeed Jaffrey OBE, actor born, starring in many British films and TV shows, first Indian to receive the OBE.
1930 April - Gandhi salt march in India.
1931 Gandhi - attends second round table conference in London.
1934 - Hindustani Social Club established to provide social and education work for Sea Men.
1935 - British Shipping Act – Discriminatory act against Indian Sea men / lascars.
1936 - Dr Jainti Dass Saggar – First Indian councillor elected in Scotland, representing Labour.
1937 - Indian Workers Union (Later IWA) begins in Coventry.
1938 - Dr Chuni Lal Katial the first ever Indian Mayor in the UK, elected for Finsbury.
1939 - World War II Starts, Indian troops arrive in England for deployment.
1940 - 26th May - Indian troops evacuated from Dunkirk as part of Operation Dynamo.
1941 - East London mosque opens.
1942 25th November - Swaraj House Formed, a place for Indians to discuss political ideas.
1943 16/17 June - Inayat Noor Khan Noor flown into France to aid resistance, first British female radio operator sent to France.
1943 13th October - Inayat Noor Khan arrested and detained in France.
1943 31st December – Sir Ben Kingsley actor born (born as Krishna Pandit Bhanji)
1944 13th September - Inayat Noor Khan executed at Dachau concentration camp.
1945 8th May - VE day Germany surrenders.
1946 16th January - Inayat Noor Khan post humously awarded Croix de Guerre.
1946 25th March – Blair Peach born.
1947 - British Raj Rule ends
1947 14th August - Pakistan independence.
1947 15th August - India independence.
1948 - British Nationality Act defines national citizenship of UK.
1949 5th April - Inayat Noor Khan post humously awarded George Cross.
1951 - R Woolf and Co Rubber Factory Hayes opens, employing many workers from India.
1957 - Southall Indian Workers Association (IWA) founded in to protect interests of Indian workers who had migrated to the UK.
1957 - East African Asian from Kenya arrive.
1961 - The NHS begins to recruit Asian doctors to fill shortfalls.
1961 27th June - Meera Syal MBE born in Wolverhampton.
1962 - Commonwealth Act introduced to restrict migration to UK, Indians now needed a voucher to migrate and work in the UK.
1963-1978 - Bussing policy introduced in Southall.
1963 31st October – Sanjeev Bhaskar born in Ealing.
1965 - Race Relations Act, first act to address racial discrimination.
1965 - Shakespeare Wallah film released, early British film containing many Indian characters including Shashi Kapoor and Madhur Jaffrey, directed by James Ivory.
1965 10th October - First Indian TV program on BBC One, In Logon Se Miliye.
1966 - Race Relations Board formed.
1966 - Apna Hi Ghar Samajhiye Indian TV program launched on BBC One.
1968 20th April - Enoch Powell Rivers of Blood Speech.
1968 - Nai Zindagi Naya Jeevan popular Indian television show launched, ran until 1982.
1969 - New Shepherds Bush Gurdwara 62 Queensdale Road London.
1969 – The Guru film released, early British film containing many Indian characters.
1969 - Sikh Busmen win right to wear turbans from Wolverhampton Transport Committee.
1971 - Immigration Act introduced with more restrictions on migrating to the UK.
1972 - Ugandan Asians arrive forced out of their country.
1974 - It Ain’t Half Hot Mum, comedy TV show released, set in India during World War II.
1976 - Motor-Cycle Crash Helmets Religious Exemption Act, Sikhs exempt from wearing Crash Helmets when riding a motorcycle.
1976 - Murder of Gurdip Singh Chaggar.
1976 - Race Relations Act expanded to include direct and indirect discrimination.
1977 - BBC Radio Leicester Asian show launched (later to develop into BBC Asian Network)
1977 Mind your Language TV show launched.
1975 – Autobiography of a Princess. One of the first British / Asian style films, starring Madhur Jaffrey.
1978 - Hullabaloo Over Georgie and Bonnie's Pictures. Early British film containing many Indian characters starring Peggy Ashcroft and Saeed Jaffrey. Directed by James Ivory.
1979 - National Front March in Southall, results in violence and rioting.
1979 23rd April – Blair Peach dies after attack in Southall riot.
1979 - Southall monitoring group set up to monitor racist attacks and police activity.
1981 - Hambrough Tavern in Southall burns down after race related violence.
1981 - Handsworth Riot.
1982 - Alaap - Bhangra band release their first album.
1982 - Sunrise Radio UK’s first Asian radio station launches.
1982 - Eastern Eye TV show launched.
1982 - Gandhi Movie released starring Ben Kingsley, produced and directed by Richard Attenborough.
1984 – The Jewel in the Crown TV series launched.
1985 - Handsworth Riot.
1985 - My Beautiful Laundrette released, controversial Asian film written by Hanif Kureshi and Directed by Stephen Frears.
1988 30th October - The Asian Network Radio Show launches on BBC Radio WM and BBC Radio Leicester. (later to develop into BBC Asian Network)
1990 31st August - Diana Princess of Wales visit Southall to open Southall Alcohol Advisory Centre.
1991 - The Real McCoy TV Black and Asian TV show launches on BBC 2.
1991 - Handsworth Riot.
1993 - Bhaji On The Beach movie released, written by Meera Syal, directed by Gurinder Chadda.
1994 - Glassy Junction opens in Southall, first pub to take Indian Rupees.
1995 - Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Neasden Temple opens, the largest Hindu temple outside of India.
1996 - Goodness Gracious Me comedy show launches on BBC Radio 4.
1998 - Goodness Gracious Me comedy show launches on BBC Two.
1999 - East Is East movie released, written by Ayub Khan-Din, directed by Damian O’Donnell.
2002 March- First UK Asian Music Awards held in London.
2002 Anita and Me movie released, based on novel by Meera Syal.
2002 12th April – Bend It Like Beckham Movie release ( although it had previewed earlier) directed by Gurinder Chadda.
2002 28th October - BBC Asian Network launched on DAB as national station
2005 - Birmingham Race Riots.
2012 8th November - Inayat Noor Khan Memorial unveiled by at Gordon Square London, after campaign by Shrabani Basu.
This document was completed by Kuldeep Ahir, you may reference the document or use it freely for non-commercial and educational use. For commercial use please contact us. Please reference asianmemories.org as a source if you do use content. The dates are based on records, discussion and external references, we do not warrant historical accuracy
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