Correspondence 1991-1999

General correspondence to and from the Indian Workers Association on a wide range of administrative and political matters.
Letters are arranged in chronological order, with undated correspondence placed at the end of the sequence.

/1 from Desh Bhagat Yadgar to the Secretary of the Indian Workers Association expressing sympathy with the organisation following a fire at the Shaheed Udham Singh Welfare Centre, 19 January 1991

/2 open letter to Sir Richard Knowles, Leader of Birmingham City Council, and Roger Taylor, Chief Executive from representatives from a number of organisations and individuals, including the Indian Workers Association. The letter concerns Section 11 Grant Provision 1966 Local Government Act regarding grants for black and ethnic minority communities, 25 February 1991

/3-/4 correspondence between Avtar Jouhl and Clare Short, Labour MP for Ladywood, concerning the murder of a constituent, Gurmej Singh, and his brother, by Khalistani separatists during a visit to India, 25 February 1991

/5 from Birmingham City Council Race Relations Unit to Avtar Jouhl, providing information about the 'Racial Equality in Europe Conference' held at the International Convention Centre, Birmingham 3-6 December 1991, including catering and accommodation arrangements, and a programme of events

/6-/7 correspondence between Avtar Jouhl and Clare Short, Labour MP for Ladywood, concerning the booking of the Grand Committee Room in the Houses of Parliament for a joint Campaign Against Racist Laws [CARL] and [SCORE] conference entitled '1992 and rights of black people in Europe' 27 March 1992

/8-/9 correspondence between the Indian Workers Association and West Yorkshire Police relating to an attack on an Indian man at the Sikh gurdwara in Huddersfield following a conference that the Indian Workers Association participated in, May 1992

/10 copy letter from the Indian Workers Association to Harkishan Singh Surjit, General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), New Delhi, giving details about two people who have agreed to assist the party with the computers in their new offices in New Delhi, 1 August 1992

/11-/12 invitations addressed to Avtar Jouhl issued by the High Commissioner for India and Jahind, the Executive Committee of Indian Overseas Congress (I) UK Nottingham to celebrations to mark the 45th anniversary of India's Independence, August 1992

/13 invitation addressed to Avtar Jouhl issued by the India League to a meeting in honour of Dr Manmohan Singh, Minister of Finance in the Indian government, at Mahatma Gandhi Hall, Indian YMCA, 15 September 1992

/14-/15 letters from Anthony Wilson, Secretary of the Barrow and Geraldine S. Cadbury Trust concerning grants to groups working to raise awareness of the Bhopal disaster in India, and to improve industrial safety, September 1992

/16 invitation addressed to Avtar Jouhl issued by the High Commissioner for India, to meet S. B. Chavan. Home Minister of India at India House, 23 September 1992

/17 from Indrajit Chakrabarty to Avtar Jouhl discussing the campaigning activities of an unidentified organisation which he is a member of, and giving contact details of other officers in this group, 10 October 1992

/18 circular letter from the Committee for Human Rights in Grenada giving information about the health of a female political prisoner and thanking supporters who wrote to protest the conditions she was being held in. The letter also mentions a day school of workshops on Grenada to be held 13 March 1993 to celebrate the 14th anniversary of the revolution and provide an update on the present situation in Grenada and the legal campaign for the 'Grenada 17', 22 November 1992

/19 copy letter from Avtar Jouhl to Makhan Singh Johal, Central Committee member of the Indian Workers Association Nottingham branch concerning Nottingham branch elections, 30 November 1992

/20 newspaper article from 'Metronews' about the concerns of ethnic minority community leaders that violence in India between Hindus and Muslims could be used as an excuse to spark revenge attacks among all Indian communities including the Sikh community. The article includes a quote from Avtar Jouhl, General Secretary of the Indian Workers Association, 10 December 1992

/21 copy letter form Avtar Jouhl to the Assistant General Secretary of the Indian Workers Association concerning a forthcoming day conference on the second review of the Race Relations Act 1976, 20 December 1992

/22 invitation addressed to Avtar Jouhl issued by the Acting High Commissioner for India to a reception at India House on the occasion of the Republic Day of India, 26 January 1993

/23 anonymous letter expressing anti-semitic views sent to Avtar Jouhl, together with photocopies of newspaper clippings on the election of members of parliament, January 1993

/24 from Louis Ifill, co-ordinator of Workers of Colour Support Network, to Avtar Jouhl thanking him for agreeing to attend a conference on 'Unions and Communities working Together to Fight Racism' and giving information about the structure of the event, 10 February 1993

/25 copy letter from Prem Singh and Avtar Jouhl on behalf of the Central Executive Committee of the Indian Workers Association to Sinn Feinn on the occasion of the Ard Fheis (Conference) being held 20-21 February 1993, expressing support

/26-/27 correspondence concerning the actions and views of members of the 'Birmingham Support Group' set up during the Burnsall strike, including allegations that Avtar Jouhl had helped to spread unrest. A copy letter from Avtar Jouhl addresses this issue, and voices his disagreement, 28 January-4 February 1993

/28 invitation addressed to Avtar Jouhl issued by Mr B. K. R. Rao to lunch at India House, 4 February 1993

/29 copy letter from Challinor Roberts Cooksey solicitors to Messrs Lyon Clark solicitors concerning a proposed Consent Order for the Guru Nanak Gurdwara Sikh Temple in Smethwick , 8 March 1993

/30-/31 correspondence between the Indian Workers Association and Robin Thompson & Partners, solicitors, concerning a case of discrimination in employment against an Asian worker, 18-20 March 1993

/32 copy letter from Avtar Jouhl to Herman Ously, chair of the Commission for Racial Equality, congratulating him on his appointment and giving details about the work of the Indian Workers Association in tackling racial discrimination, 6 April 1993

/33 invitation addressed to Avtar Jouhl issued by the High Commissioner for India to Baisakhi Di Raat cultural evening which will include a Kavi Durbar and Sangeet Sabha, 16 April 1993 at 9 Kensington Palace Gardens

/34 from Commission for Racial Equality [CRE] to Avtar Jouhl confirming arrangements for a meeting between members of the Indian Workers Association and CRE representatives, 27 April 1993

/35 from 'Edina', Prudential Bank, depository of the Philippine and United States Governments, to Avtar Jouhl, giving an account of a May Day celebration in Manila, 7 May 1993

/36 handwritten notes made by Avtar Jouhl during a meeting with Commission for Racial Equality representatives, 18 May 1993

/37 from a member of the Indian Workers Association discussing arrangements for the Indian Workers Association national conference in June 1993

/38-/39 letter from Peter W. Ladkin to Avtar Jouhl expressing his admiration for his work for the Indian Workers Association, with a reply from Avtar Jouhl, September 1993

/40 copy letter from Avtar Jouhl on behalf of the Central Committee of the Indian Workers Association to Clare Short, Labour MP for Ladywood, expressing sympathy on the death of her husband Alex Lyon, 7 October 1993

/41 from M. Gloss, branch secretary of an unidentified organisation, to Avtar Jouhl, expressing concern for his recent ill health, 28 October 1993

/42-/43 programme for Indian Workers Association conference organised by the Indian Workers Association, Huddersfield at the Sikh Leisure Centre 28 November 1993, together with covering letter from Mohinder Chatrik to Avtar Jouhl, 11 November 1993

/44 copy letter from Harpal Brar to Avtar Sadiq discussing agreements made concerning the future of 'Lalkar' at the Indian Workers Association merger conference in February 1991 and the apparent flouting of some of these Central Committee decisions by certain branches, 25 November 1993

/45 from Makahn S. Bajwa, Greenwich Council for Racial Equality to Avtar Jouhl confirming arrangements for him to address the General Council Meeting which will discuss the Rise of the Far Right and racial attacks. Jouhl is to speak on what the trade unions can do to combat this, 6 December 1993

/46-/47 from Harish Patel to Avtar Jouhl questioning his attribution of the phrase 'We are here because you were there' to Jagmohan Joshi rather than Ambalavaner Sivanandan during a meeting in Tower Hamlets, 7 December [1993], with a reply from Avtar Jouhl recommending that he research his speeches, which some people use out of context, December 1993

/48 from Jaspal Jass, editor of 'Surkh Rekha', Ludhiana, Punjab, to the Central Committee of the Indian Workers Association concerning the organisation's support for international revolutionary movements and asking whether it would support a project to publish revolutionary literature in Punjabi, 1 January 1994

/49 copy letter from Avtar to the High Commission of India with enclosing a list of Central Executive Committee members of the Indian Workers Association who are authorised to certify passport photographs 1994

/50 copy letter from Avtar Jouhl to West Bromwich Councillor Tarsem King regarding council elections to take place in May 1994, 18 April 1994

/51-/52 programme and associated promotional papers for a West Midlands Workers Memorial Day in Birmingham organised by the Trade Union and Labour movement to highlight health and safety at work issues, 28 April 1994

/53 copy letter from Harpal Brar to Harsev Bains confirming that H. S. Surjeet will speak in Southall on the invitation of the Southall branch of the Indian Workers Association, 17 July 1994

/54 from Clare Short, Labour MP for Ladywood, to Avtar Jouhl, thanking him for his letter of sympathy following the death of her husband Alex Lyon, September 1994

/55-/56 letter from Dave Spencer, Coventry Socialist Alliance, to Avtar Jouhl enclosing information about a conference entitled 'Towards A Working Class Politics' to be held at Barras Green Social Club, Coventry 24-25 September 1994 and asking whether he would be able to introduce a session at the conference on the issue of fighting racism

/57 invitation addressed to Avtar Jouhl issued by the Indian Community Centre Association of Nottinghamshire to the Inaugural Opening of the Indian Community Centre, 30 October 1994

/58 invitation addressed to Avtar Jouhl issued by the High Commissioner for India to a reception in honour of Finance Ministers of the provinces of Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, 25 January 1995

/59 from Ajit K. Doval, Coordination Minister, High Commission of India, to Avtar Jouhl giving an account of the activities of the High Commission to serve the interests of Indians living in Britain during 1994 and asking for his suggestions for future work, 30 January 1995

/60 from the Indian Workers Association confirming that members will make contributions to Birmingham Trade Union Council towards the purchase of freehold of the Union Club, 1 February 1995

/61 from Ajit K. Doval, Coordination Minister, High Commission of India, to Avtar Jouhl giving details about a condolence meeting on the death of Giani Zail Singh ji, former president of India, at India House, 17 February 1995

/62-/64 circular letter from the Society for Friendship with Korea giving information about the aims and objectives of this group and providing details about its inaugural meeting 24 March 1995 in London, together with a blank membership form and a copy of the constitution of this group

/65 report of a meeting between the Deputy Chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality and the Indian Workers Association in Birmingham 22 March 1995, with a covering memorandum dated 20 April 1995

/66 from Ajit K. Doval, Coordination Minister, High Commission of India, to Avtar Jouhl giving details about a condolence meeting on the death of Shri Morarji Desai, former Prime Minister of India, at India House, 5 May 1995

/67 circular letter giving details about a 'Six-day Marxist-Leninist Seminar' 24-25 July 1995 organised by the Association of Indian Communists

/68-/69 correspondence from the National Association of Probation Officers concerning Avtar Jouhl's attendance at the organisation's Annual General Meeting in Derby to speak on the topic of Health and Safety legislation and the ways in which it can be used to tackle racism and deal with racist offenders, October 1995

/70 copy letter from Doreen Price, Chairman of the West Midlands Oral History Group to Bruce Epps discussing Birmingham's current application for Millennium funding, and the development of the City Sound Archive which should reflect the lives of all the minority communities within Birmingham, 8 November 1995

/71 copy letter from Avtar Jouhl to Bruce Epps expressing the support of the Indian Workers Association for Birmingham's application for Millennium funding, and mentioning the support of the organisation for the Birmingham Black Oral History Project that took place in the early 1990s, 12 December 1995

/72 copy letter from Avtar Jouhl to the Editor of 'The New Worker' protesting against the New Communist Party's policy against setting a legal minimum wage, and asking for space to be given to a report on the anti-racist and anti-fascist work of the party, 11 December 1995

/73 invitation addressed to Avtar Jouhl issued by the Consul General of India to a flag hoisting ceremony and communal rendering of the National Anthem in Birmingham to celebrate the 46th anniversary of the Republic Day of India, 26 January 1996

/74 invitation addressed to Avtar Jouhl issued by the Consul General of India to a reception in Birmingham to meet Mr P. K. Singh, Deputy High Commissioner, 1 February 1996

/75-/76 correspondence to Avtar Jouhl from members of the 'Towards Peace in Ireland' group including Ken Livingstone MP, Anni Marjoran and Clive Soley MP discussing his sponsorship of a one-day conference looking at the process by which peace can be achieved in Ireland, due to take place 2 July 1996 and including speakers from the British Labour and Trade Union movement, as well as economists, lawyers, members of human rights organisations and historians

/77 letter from the Indian Overseas Congress to councillor Roy Benjamin, drawing attention to the rise in racist propaganda in Birmingham, and the threat of violence against black and Asian people, 5 May 1999

/78 from 'Graham' to Avtar Jouhl giving information about a conference organised by Communist trades unionists on the theme of 'The Labour Movement and the New World Order' and asking whether Jouhl would take place in a workshop on Asylum Rights and Refugee matters, undated

/79 from Satish Kumar Rao to Avtar Jouhl asking whether he could help him to gain employment so that he can take part in further medical training in Britain, undated

/80 from Nick Wright to Avtar Jouhl discussing the possibility of him taking part in a Communist trade unionists conference and asking whether he would write an article for a newsheet to be distributed at the Trades Union Congress [TUC] conference, undated.

The file also contains correspondence in Punjabi:

/81 from Harjit Daudharia to Avtar Jouhl and members of the Co-ordination Committee of the Indian Workers Association setting out suggestions for a better organisation, future activities and cultural and literary events, 25 January 1991

/82 from Harjit Daudharia to the Central Committee of the Indian Workers Association about the role of Lalkar magazine and the problems of regular publication, 11 February 1991

/83 from Nirmal Sondhi, Bedford branch, to the Indian Workers Association Secretary about sending financial assistance to families in Punjab who had been victims of terrorist violence, 5 March 1991

/84 letter printed in 'Punjabi Guardian', written by Ajit Sandhu, Leicester branch, about the approach of the Indian Workers Association leadership towards the Communist Party of India (Marxist), 15-30 June 1991

/85 from Avtar Jouhl to Prem Singh about a correction in a newspaper report, 25 November 1991

/86 condolence letter from Avtar Jouhl to Mr Charan, 13 May 1992

/87 to Avtar Jouhl from Kharval Vir, Coventry, informing him that one of his friends could not bring books from India due to excess luggage, 29 June 1992

/88 from Santokh Singh Santokh, member of the Central Committee of the Indian Workers Association to Avtar Jouhl about new membership, 26 June 1992

/89 from Santokh Singh Santokh, Secretary of the Reading branch of the Indian Workers Association, sending his apology for not being able to attend the Executive Committee meeting 22 November 1992

/90 from Harjit Daudharia to Avtar Jouhl about his activities in Canada, 20 January 1993

/91 from Mr Mukhtiar, Winnipeg, Canada, to Avtar Jouhl, 19 April 1993

/92-/96 from Harjit Daudharia to Avtar Jouhl about his life and activities in Canada and recent trip to India, 1993-1994

/97 from Avtar Sadiq to Avtar Jouhl, 30 August 1994

/98 from Avtar Jouhl to the manager Nishkam Sewak Jatha, Soho Road, Handsworth, Birmingham with condolences on the death of Naurang Singh, 5 July 1995

/99 from Nirmal Sondhi, Bedford branch, to Avtar Jouhl, 18 March 1995

/100 from Avtar Jouhl about a telephone conversation with Avtar Sadiq about planning a meeting in January 1996, 23 November 1995

/101 from Jagtar Singh Ajimal about a programme to type Punjabi in different font sizes and styles, undated

/102 from Kirti Kisan Union Punjab, monthly magazine Hiraval Dasta and Communist Party of India (Marxist Leninist) thanking Avtar Jouhl for allowing the use of his property. It also includes the agreement made between these two parties, 1 September 1998

/103 from Avtar Jouhl to Sarwan about the collection of funds for 'Lalkar' magazine, undated

/104 from Avtar Jouhl to the editor of 'Punjabi Darpan' about publishing news of decisions taken by the Central Committee, undated