Is this for Muslims only?
5th December, 2007
On Monday the Media Guardian supplement published a short article by AIM magazine editor Sunny Hundal on the way some journalists treat minorities patronisingly because of their race or religion. For the article we interviewed playwright Parv Bancil. These are his comments in full.
by Parv Bancil
Once we were all known as black, then Asian, then South Asian and finally British Asian.
Since 9/11 and particularly 7/7 we have yet been divided further but now into religious groups. As a playwright I have seen many trends come and go but have always felt alienated and sat on the fringes.
Once I was not Irish enough, then I wasn't female enough and now I guess I'm not Muslim enough. But as a brown-skinned man living in the UK I empathise with the alienation and the prejudice many Muslims face today; but somehow I feel that I am being squeezed out of the mainstream debate.
Very recently, a fellow playwright had a meeting at a prestigious new writing venue in London. Some new plays were being commissioned for Muslim writers. The playwright is of South Asian origin but not a Muslim asked if he could contribute as he had something to say about the current situation.
Although disappointed, he was not too surprised when told that he did not fit the remit. Having many years experience as a playwright, he then offered his services as a reader but was shocked when he was told that as a non-Muslim, his point of view was not appropriate.
Like my friend, I have something to say about post 7/7 Britain but I do not want to necessarily jump on the Muslim bandwagon. However, I feel that non-Muslim British Asian stories are now being ignored even to the point where a BBC researcher told me that they were passé. Passe? I didn't realise that they were ever en vogue!
So where is my voice in this important debate? I guess I'm neither Muslim enough or white enough to let you know what I think.
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Parv Bancil is a playwright. His previous works include Made in England.
by Parv Bancil
Once we were all known as black, then Asian, then South Asian and finally British Asian.
Since 9/11 and particularly 7/7 we have yet been divided further but now into religious groups. As a playwright I have seen many trends come and go but have always felt alienated and sat on the fringes.
Once I was not Irish enough, then I wasn't female enough and now I guess I'm not Muslim enough. But as a brown-skinned man living in the UK I empathise with the alienation and the prejudice many Muslims face today; but somehow I feel that I am being squeezed out of the mainstream debate.
Very recently, a fellow playwright had a meeting at a prestigious new writing venue in London. Some new plays were being commissioned for Muslim writers. The playwright is of South Asian origin but not a Muslim asked if he could contribute as he had something to say about the current situation.
Although disappointed, he was not too surprised when told that he did not fit the remit. Having many years experience as a playwright, he then offered his services as a reader but was shocked when he was told that as a non-Muslim, his point of view was not appropriate.
Like my friend, I have something to say about post 7/7 Britain but I do not want to necessarily jump on the Muslim bandwagon. However, I feel that non-Muslim British Asian stories are now being ignored even to the point where a BBC researcher told me that they were passé. Passe? I didn't realise that they were ever en vogue!
So where is my voice in this important debate? I guess I'm neither Muslim enough or white enough to let you know what I think.
-------------------
Parv Bancil is a playwright. His previous works include Made in England.
