My father, Jasmer Singh Rai, who has died aged 94, was a businessman who tackled racism and worked for employment rights.
Son of Jaswant Singh and Tej Kaur, he was born in Moranwali, in the Punjab region of India, of Jat Sikh parentage, and arrived in Britain in 1955. He had, like his father, worked under the British Raj; his fluent English and quick mind had led to promotion as a civil supplies inspector.
On arrival in the UK, he worked in a foundry and was horrified at the racism, low wages and working conditions of fellow Indians. He became their spokesperson and re-established the Indian Workers’ Association (IWA). By the early 1960s he had become president of the Birmingham branch and a leading light nationally.
My parents opened the second Asian grocery shop on the Soho Road in Handsworth. Our house became a base for Dad’s “comrades”, as the IWA had affiliated with the Communist party. We overheard debates about the Free Cuba Movement and Mao’s revolution. This was the time of Enoch Powell, the attempted Marshall Street housing colour bar and the election in Smethwick of Conservative Peter Griffiths, whose campaign was dominated by race. Our house became the HQ for planning action, cultural events and helping a steady stream of visitors with bureaucracy. Dad also acted as interpreter in the Birmingham courts, giving his services freely as always.
This took a toll and the shop closed. He went to work as an agent for an insurance company, becoming its top salesman. The Times wrote a libellous article on his selling methods and for more than a year, living on meagre savings, Dad fought this mighty newspaper, winning a full retraction. The compensation paid for machines to start a hosiery business, which continues successfully under his sons, Rajinderpal and Sukhdev.
When Dad retired, his first project was to build a house in Jalandhar, Punjab. He taught himself architecture and garden design and created a beautiful home for future generations. He lived here for six months of the year and continued to be known for his community action, building facilities and paying for education and medical expenses for the poor. If his pocket had money in it, it was usually empty by the end of the day, given to someone in need. Dad inspired in us a socialist outlook and Sikhism was central to his being. He also extolled the value of education and self-belief. His positive outlook helped him to combat insulin-dependent diabetes for 60 years; doctors were incredulous.
His wife, Mohinder Kaur, whom he married in 1943, died two years ago, just before their 70th wedding anniversary. She provided the love, support and hard work that enabled all of us to thrive. Dad is survived by six children, 14 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
