In Conversation With Mishal Husain

On 26 September, the University of Westminster, in partnership with the Partition Memorial Trust and the project Everyday Muslim, hosted an engaging evening with BBC journalist and author Mishal Husain and barrister and social activist Jasvir Singh CBE. Centred around her book Broken Threads: My Family from Empire to Independence, the event offered a unique exploration of the British Empire and the Partition of India through a deeply personal lens.

Beginning with a book signing, Husain captivated the audience with stories of her grandparents’ experiences, linking their journey to the broader historical narrative of the Partition, which was the division of British India into the independent countries of India and Pakistan. Her talk highlighted the lasting impact of these events on families and communities, sparking meaningful reflections among attendees. Alongside the discussion was a photograph exhibition, providing visual context and oral history testimonies, with art pieces designed by university student Khizra Ahmed and oral history transcripts curated by the Everyday Muslim Archive.

A panel discussion followed, where Everyday Muslim community members delved into the enduring legacy of Empire, migration and identity, offering insights into the ongoing relevance of these histories. Everyday Muslim focuses on creating a central archive of Muslim lives, arts, education and cultures from across the UK. Organiser from the University of Westminster and Senior Lecturer in Law Sobia Razzaq said: “One of the most touching parts of Mishal’s story about the Partition was the realisation that we, as people of the subcontinent, have always been more alike than different. We must not let internal and external forces divide us again as they did in the past.”

Founder of Everyday Muslim and event and exhibition curator, Sadiya Ahmed, said: “Everyday Muslim were honoured to have hosted a thought-provoking evening at the University of  Westminster with Mishal Husain and Jasvir Singh CBE, where Mishal discussed her powerful book Broken Threads, which explored the Partition stories of her grandparents. We also shared our plans for the first-ever memorial to commemorate the 1947 Partition of India, as a tribute to the millions affected. The most significant moment was the overwhelming support for this memorial, which was truly heartening. More updates to come on this important journey."

By Westminster University and Saarah Ahmed Feroze

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