Ethnicity Differences in Britain: Integrated Indians and Segregated Pakistanis

Abstract

Britain has always been described as a multi-ethnic society receiving people from all over the world with different cultures, beliefs, and traditions. Indian and Pakistani ethnic groups were among the first to migrate to the U.K. mainly due to previous colonial relationships, and in search for better living conditions as well. There is much evidence that the Indian community and the Pakistani community experience different levels of cohabitation into the British society. Whereas Indians could prosper and achieve considerable levels in different arenas, Pakistanis remained severely segregated. Many factors have contributed to such stark differences between the two groups, however, religious affiliation tends to be the main reason. The basic of this research paper is to identify the main reasons behind these unequal levels of integration between the Indian and Pakistani groups in Britain, and to examine which of these reasons tends to be the most influential. To do so, I’ve tackled in my dissertation the historical background the British and Indians shared; where and when did they first meet, and how their relationship became stronger through time. The dissertation includes the creation of the British Raj and how it ended up leading to the creation of the new seperate Muslim state of Pakistan. In addition to the migration history of the Indian and Pakistani groups to Britain. Furthermore, it illustrates how hugely is the difference between the Indians’ level of cohabitation in the British society and that of the Pakistani community. It demonstrates the high rates of educational qualifications, labour opportunities, and political participation that Indians have. Contrastingly, it shows the poor and limited level of integration whether in education, employment chances, or social cohabiation that Pakistanis suffer from. To clarify the reasons behind these stark differences between these two groups, a number of factors are taken into consideration including: English fluency, educational qualifications, social and cultural constructions, political discourse, and more precisely religious affiliations. I have concentrated more on the main reason standing against Pakistanis’ integration in the British society which is the religious affiliation. By recalling a number of terrorist attacks which are basically attributed to Islam, it shows how badly is the Pakistani community, and the Muslim community in general, affected by their religious affiliation