Correspondence 1985-1990

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 circular letter from Birmingham and West Midlands branch of the National Council for Civil Liberties to supporters, giving information about the West Midlands Civil Liberties Network, organised jointly with Handsworth Law Centre, January 1985

/2-/5 copy letter from Avtar Jouhl to Andrew Faulds, Labour MP for Smethwick, expressing the opposition of the Indian Workers Association and the Bangladeshi Workers Association to a demand for a separate Black Section of the Labour Party and reserved nominations for black people because they see it as a divisive move, 24 January 1985, with a reply from Andrew Faulds, 29 January 1985. Attached to the letters are copies of a statement on this issue by the Indian Workers Association and a newspaper article about the Black Activists Campaign for all-black shortlists

/6 from David Perris, regional secretary of the Trades Union Congress West Midlands Regional Council, to Avtar Jouhl, with thanks for his participation in a recent conference 'Trade Unions and Race' in December 1984, 25 January 1985

/7-/8 copy letter from Avtar Jouhl, General Secretary of the Indian Workers Association, to Roberta A. McDonald, secretary of the Immigration Aid Unit, Saltley, Birmingham, enclosing a photocopy of an article entitled 'Why the Failure?' printed in 'Outwrite' in December 1984. The article discusses the Kewal Brothers Factory Workers strike and the experiences of the Strikers Support Group, which was largely made up of Asian women. The Indian Workers Association objected to the association of the Immigration Aid Unit with women on the Strikers Support Group

/9 from Peter Cannon, Director of Documentaries, Central Independent Television, to Avtar Jouhl, postponing plans to make a film with him about his life and experiences, 14 February 1985

/10 from Suvendu Chatterjee, Indian People's Front, Calcutta, to the Indian Workers Association, announcing the organisation's intention of maintaining regular correspondence and exchanging views and experiences through journals and other means, 16 February 1985

/11 notice of a planning meeting of the National Council for Civil Liberties [NCCL] Birmingham and West Midlands branch West Midlands Civil Liberties Network at the Trade Union Resource Centre, 20 February 1985

/12 copy letter from Harpal Brar to all branches of the Indian Workers Association discussing the attitude of many branches towards the distribution of and collection of payments for 'Lalkar', and emphasising the need for members to actively support this publication. The letter also gives information about a national conference in London organised by Campaign Against Racist Laws [CARL] and urges members to support the National Union of Mineworkers [NUM] during the 1984-1985 miners strike, 21 February 1985

/13-/21 from Harpal Brar to Avtar Jouhl enclosing copies of letters he has written to various branches asking them to settle their accounts for receiving issues of 'Lalkar', and urging Jouhl to write a reply to an article by Naranjan Noor recently published in 'Des Pardes', 21 February 1985

/22 from Parkash Aulfa to Avtar Jouhl apologising for missing a Central Committee meeting, 29 August 1985

/23 circular letter from the Committee Against Repression & for Democratic Rights in Iraq [CARDRI] and the Committee for the Defence of the Iranian People's Rights [CODIR] to the Indian Workers Association, inviting the organisation to participate in an evening of 'Solidarity with the Iraqi and Iranian people Against Terror and War, for Peace and Democracy' 21 September 1985 at Hampstead Town Hall, London, in protest over the human suffering caused by the ongoing war between the two countries, and the repression of political opponents by the governing regimes in both Iraq and Iran

/24-/25 from Dev Nathan, Bharatiya Shramik Sabha (formerly IFTU), to the Indian Workers Association, inviting the organisation to its Second National Conference to be held in New Delhi 6-9 December 1985, with a reply from Avtar Jouhl on behalf of the Indian Workers Association, 2 September 1985

/26 copy letter from Avtar Jouhl to K. Sital JP, Vice President of the Council of Hong Kong Indian Associations, Hong Kong, giving details about the Indian Workers Association's lobbying of the British government and opposition parties for the achievement of Right of Abode for non-Chinese British Dependent Territories Citizenship [BDTC] in Hong Kong, 3 September 1985

/27 circular letter from Rachel Brooks, Industry and Compliance Equal Opportunities Unit, Greater London Council, inviting representatives from interested organisations to a Womens Conference on Contract Compliance 18 January 1986

/28-/29 from Anne Owers, Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants [JCWI] to Avtar Jouhl, discussing the campaign to achieve British citizenship for ethnic minorities living in Hong Kong, 9 December 1985 and 3 February 1986

/30 copy letter from Avtar Jouhl on behalf of the Central Committee of the Indian Workers Association to Clare Short MP, with condolences on the death of her father, 16 March 1986

/31 copy letter from Avtar Jouhl to Harpal Brar listing decisions taken at a meeting of Campaign Against Racist Laws [CARL], 16 March 1986

/32 copy letter from Avtar Jouhl to F. A. Richardson, General Manager Walsall Community Project Ltd discussing the running of the project and the organisation of the Willenhall branch of the Indian Workers Association. The letter also points out that there is another Indian Workers Association unconnected with this group, 17 March 1986

/33-/35 circular letter from the Asian Forum to all members of the steering committee; Asian organisations and Asian councillors enclosing a draft constitution of the Asian Forum, a confederation of Asian organisations formed to work together against racism and discrimination, together with a statement from a conference held by the organisation entitled 'Asians in Britain - Present and Future' in November 1985. The circular letter is dated 18 March 1986

/36 from Felix Robertson, Appeals for Claimants Team, Birmingham Tribunal Trust, asking whether the Indian Workers Association wants to be included on a list of agencies offering advice and representation, 2 April 1986

/37 copy letter from Avtar Jouhl to Councillor R. Davies, Chairman of the Planning Committee, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, in support of an application for planning permission for an extension to the Muslim Community Centre in Smethwick, citing the work done by the centre for the local community, 9 June 1986

/38-/40 correspondence from the Korea Friendship Committee to Avtar Jouhl, including a message of solidarity to the Indian Workers Association (GB) on their national conference in Woolwich, 8 June 1986, and a press statement giving details of some of the recent activities organised by the Korea Friendship Committee during the 'International Month of Solidarity with the Korean People and Against US Imperialism' 25 June-27 July 1986

/41 from G. A. Hadley, Town Clerk and Chief Executive, Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell, to 'Lalkar' publication, asking whether people at the Shaheed Udham Singh Welfare Centre will undertake some translation work from English to Punjabi, 30 July 1986

/42-/43 copy letter from Avtar Jouhl on behalf of the Indian Workers Association to Margaret Thatcher, Prime Minister, asking the government not to impose visa requirements for visitors to Britain from the Indian sub-continent and other countries, with an acknowledgement from the Prime Minister's office, 1-4 September 1986

/44 photocopy of statistics issued by Sandwell Court on juvenile offenders 1986

/45 from Korea Publications Export & Import Corporation Editor Department informing supporters that Kim Il Sung's recent policy speech 'For the Complete Victory of Socialism' has been published in several languages and is available for order, 8 January 1987

/46 press release issued by the Committee for the Defence of Democratic Rights in Turkey giving information about a rally in Istanbul 31 January 1987 attended by workers of the NETAS company who have been on strike since 18 November 1986

/47 copy letter from Avtar Jouhl on behalf of the Indian Workers Association (GB) Avtar Jouhl; Indian Workers Association (GB) Prem Singh; Bangladeshi Workers Association; and the Kashmiri Workers Association to P. Waddington, Department of Sociology, Birmingham Polytechnic, expressing the opposition of these organisations to proposals for the establishment of a separate course for black social work students taught by black tutors, and asking him to do all in his power to reject the proposal 7 February 1987

/48 from Kathy Tait, Heath And Safety Advice Centre [HASAC], Frederick Street, Birmingham, to the General Secretary of the Indian Workers Association, Avtar Jouhl, asking supporters to make a donation to the family of Ravi Sharma, HASAC's Asian Language Project worker, who had recently died of a heart attack, 4 March 1987

/49 photocopy of a letter from the Assistant High Commissioner for India, Birmingham, to the Chief Constable of West Midlands Police, regarding the disruption of Indian Workers Association meetings and attacks on members by Sikh separatists, 25 March 1987

/50 from 'Godfrey' to Avtar Jouhl discussing payment for an unidentified leaflet, 31 March 1987

/51-/55 correspondence and associated papers relating to Sandwell Council for Community Relations, including an agenda for a meeting of the Policy (Race Relations) Sub-Committee 10 June 1987; copy of resolutions passed at the Annual General Meeting of the Sandwell Council for Community Relations on immigration legislation and the use of Thomas Telford High School by ethnic minority organisations for community activities; nomination papers for the election of Honorary Officers and members of the Executive Committee at the 1987Annual General Meeting; and a membership list October 1986

/56 from Clare Short, MP to unidentified recipient addressed as 'comrade', probably Avtar Jouhl, with thanks for supporting her in the recent General Election campaign, and inviting supporters to a social event, 23 June 1987

/57-/58 from the Indian Peoples Association in North America [IPANA] giving information about a Conference on India to be held in Vancouver during the Conference of Commonwealth Countries in October 1987 at which India's Prime Minister will be present, and inviting the Indian Workers Association to participate in and support this event, 26 June 1987; copy letter from Avtar Jouhl in reply to this letter, declining to sponsor the conference, 24 September 1987

/59 copy letter from Avtar Jouhl to 'comrade Sidhu', with a draft motion for the Labour group and full council meeting on proposals made in the Queen's speech regarding a new immigration bill, 8 July 1987

/60 from the District Health Education Officer, Sandwell Health Authority, inviting leaders of ethnic minority groups to a meeting at Kingston House in West Bromwich to discuss ways of educating different communities about AIDS, 10 July 1987

/61 copy letter from Avtar Jouhl to A. Sealy, First United Church, West Bromwich, asking for further information about the use of the church hall to hold a conference on Immigration and Nationality Laws, 6 August 1987

/62 copy of a circular letter sent by Avtar Jouhl and Sohan Singh Sandhu on behalf of both Indian Workers Associations (GB) inviting organisations to participate in a National Conference against communalism, separatism and for the unity of the Indian people, at West Bromwich Town Hall on 23 August 1987

/63 copy letter from Avtar Jouhl to J. Montgomery, Assistant Secretary of the Barrow Cadbury Fund, discussing the aims of a conference on new immigration legislation and nationality laws to be held 25 October 1987, giving details of the expenses, and referring to a bid for a grant to cover these expenses, 6 August 1987

/64 copy letter from Avtar Jouhl to the Assistant High Commissioner of India, Birmingham, with a copy of the resolution on visa requirements for people of Indian origin, passed at the national conference held by both Indian Workers Associations (GB) 23 August 1987

/65 press release issued by 'the black community of Sandwell' on the apparent failure of Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council's Equal Opportunities Policy, November 1987

/66-/72 correspondence and associated papers relating to a One Day Conference on Black People and British Politics organised by the Centre for Research in Ethnic Relations at the University of Warwick, 26 November 1987, including programmes, and details of groups, individuals and members of political parties attending the event. Avtar Jouhl attended on behalf of the Indian Workers Association

/73 from Nick Hay, Secretary of Birmingham Public Services Union Liaison Committee to Avtar Jouhl, discussing a donation towards transport costs associated with the Campaign Against Racist Laws demonstration 10 December 1987, enclosing a cheque payable to the Indian Workers Association

/74-/75 letters from Bhikhu Parekh, Deputy Chairman, Commission for Racial Equality, and Andrew R. Lee, Senior Employment Officer, Commission for Racial Equality, to Avtar Jouhl, referring to unspecified campaigns, 17 December 1987 and 7 January 1988

/76-/77 from the African National Congress, London, inviting the Indian Workers Association to a conference to be held in London 9-10 January 1988 to mark the end of the 75th Anniversary Year of the founding of the organisation, and providing a draft programme

/78 copy letter from Avtar Jouhl to Mick Rice, secretary of Birmingham Trades Union Council [BTUC], congratulating the organisation for electing a black president, but urging affiliated branches to elect black delegates as well as white delegates in order for BTUC to organise better campaigns. Jouhl also requests that BTUC invite Bhagat Singh Bilga to speak at their next meeting, while he is visiting Britain at the invitation of the Indian Workers Association, 14 January 1988

/79 copy letter from Avtar Jouhl to Z. Hassan, Race Relations Advisor, Town Clerk Department, Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell, West Bromwich, expressing concern about the privatisation of school and welfare meals and the possibility that private contractors will ignore the dietary needs of people of Asian origin, 28 January 1988

/80 appendices of a report by Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council on the implementation of Race Relations and Equal Opportunity policies by local authorities, in the areas of Education, Employment, Housing, Environmental Health and Planning, Recreation and Amenities, and Social Services

/81-/84 correspondence between Avtar Jouhl, Keith Vaz MP and Doug Carnegie, series producer of 'Central Weekend' for Central Independent Television, concerning the 29 January 1988 programme which included a segment on dowry violence and another on life sentences for murder. Keith Vaz was a participant on the programme.

/85 copy letter from Avtar Jouhl on behalf of Tony Huq, President of the Bangladeshi Workers Association; Shirley Joshi; Bob Carter; and Clive Harris to Martin Jacques, editor of Marxism Today enclosing a contribution by the named individuals entitled 'No to Racism, No to Immigration Control' for publication in Marxism Today in response to 'A Race to Exclusion' by Dave Cook and others in the January 1988 issue, 15 March 1988

/86 from Salma Ahmad on behalf of SOS Racism UK to Avtar Jouhl inviting him to participate in a European Day of Action against Racism and Fascism on 23 April 1988, the eve of the French Presidential elections in which Jean Marie Le Pen is standing. The letter includes details about campaign activities organised for that day, including a debate/discussion on the immigration bill in Manchester, to which Jouhl is invited. The letter also includes a copy of a statement of the European Anti-Racist Conference in Stockholm 5-7 February 1988

/87 copy letter from Avtar Jouhl to G. Egan, co-ordinator of the Trade Union Resource Centre [TURC], Frederick Street, Birmingham, concerning cuts to voluntary sector funding by Birmingham City Council and an Indian Workers Association campaign for the continuation of funding, 2 August 1988

/88 from a group campaigning in support of Martina Shanahan, Finbar Cullen and John McCann who were arrested and charged with conspiracy to murder Tom King, the Northern Ireland secretary. The letter gives information about the detention of these people, and details about a booklet produced following their trial which will describe the treatment of Martina Shanahan while in detention, entitled 'Waiting for Justice', 26 August 1988

/89 newspaper article from 'Birmingham Evening Mail' reporting on the support of Clare Short, Labour MP for Birmingham Ladywood, for the campaign to withdraw British troops from Northern Ireland, and claims by Conservative MP for Selly Oak, Anthony Beaumont-Dark, that this support was treasonable, 30 September 1988

/90 copy letter from Avtar Jouhl to Mick Rice, Secretary of Birmingham Trades Union Council [BTUC], requesting that the management committees of both BTUC and the Trade Union Resource Centre [TURC] work towards providing staff who can communicate with non-English speaking trade union members of Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi origin, 3 October 1988

/91-/93 incomplete copy of a letter from the Commission for Racial Equality Birmingham Regional Office, to Angela Griffin, Chief Executive, Sandwell Metropolitan District Council, concerning Sandwell council's policy on equal opportunities, 29 November 1988, with a copy reply from Avtar Jouhl discussing the Commission for Racial Equality's report on Sandwell Council's implementation of its race relations policies, 2 February 1989, enclosing a report describing the Indian Workers Association response to the Commission for Racial Equality's report

/94 from Maureen Davis, Birmingham Trade Union Resource Centre [TURC] to Avtar Jouhl, giving information about an event she is organising for the Women's festival called Black Women in Education, and asking whether he will make a donation to sponsor the event, 26 January 1989

/95-/105 correspondence and associated papers concerning meetings of 'Whose Europe?' and the publication and distribution of the 'Whose Europe?' broadsheet, March-May 1989

/106 from the Acting Town Clerk, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, to Avtar Jouhl regarding the use of premises at Thomas Telford High School by the Indian Workers Association, 3 March 1989

/107 copy letter from Avtar Jouhl to J. S. Ajimal concerning his fee for speaking as General Secretary of the Indian Workers Association at the Kamyabi conference in June 1989, 6 April 1989

/108 copy letter from Avtar Jouhl to Kathy Tait, Health And Safety Advice Centre [HASAC] concerning job applications to HASAC in non-English languages, 14 April 1989

/109 from Virginia Heywood for Clare Short MP, to Avtar Jouhl, thanking him for agreeing to speak in a session on the black community and Ireland at a conference organised by the 'Time To Go' campaign at City University in June 1989, and giving further information about the event, 17 April 1989

/110 from Nigel Blanche, branch secretary of the Nazis Out the Union campaign, to Avtar Jouhl, discussing recent developments in the campaign and expressing regret that no speaker from the Indian Workers Association was available to address a recent meeting, 18 May 1989

/111 copy letter from Avtar Jouhl to Clare Short MP, apologising for now not being able to speak at the 'Time To Go' conference in June 1989, but proposing that the Indian Workers Association national organiser Harpal Brar attend in his place, 24 May 1989

/112 copy of a letter from successful candidate for a job on the welfare project run by the Indian Workers Association (GB) Willenhall branch, requesting his contract of employment, 25 May 1989

/113 from Jack Reedy, Midlands Regional Officer, Independent Broadcasting Authority, to Avtar Jouhl following his participation in a regional consultation on 'races and cultures as portrayed or reflected on television', summarising the main points made at this event, 6 June 1989

/114 from V. N. Naid, Second Secretary, Assistant High Commission of India, to Avtar Jouhl, discussing proposals to organise India Club in Birmingham, and enclosing a copy of the constitution of this club, aimed at bringing different communities of Indian origin together, 13 June 1989

/115 from Nana Henrietta Moabi, c/o Sheena Duncan, The Black Sash, Johannesburg, to Avtar Jouhl, reminiscing about her visit to Birmingham and the Indian Workers Association, and referring to campaign activities of womens groups in South Africa, 14 June 1989

/116 copy of a letter from Tommy Harte, to Sarwan Bhart, Indian Workers Association welfare centre, Willenhall, with copies to Avtar Jouhl and the No More Bhopals Steering Committee, in reply to a complaint that the Bhopal delegation failed to include the Indian Workers Association on their list of organisations at the head of their letter of solidarity, 23 June 1989

/117 copy of a letter from Simon Hinds, Chief Regional Reports, The Voice, Vice-Chair Birmingham Black Sections, to the Head of Midland Network, BBC Pebble Mill, Birmingham, expressing concern about the appointment of a white person as the producer of a series of documentaries concerning black (Asian and African Caribbean) immigration into Britain and citing his reasons for this concern. The letter was copied to the Afro-Caribbean Resource Centre; Association of Black Churches; Huddersfield Caribbean Association; Black Rights UK; Indian Workers Association; and the Asian Resource Centre

/118-/119 from Martin Collins, 'Time To Go!', to Avtar Jouhl, asking whether he is still intending to address the pre-march rally at an event organised by the group on 12 August 1989, together with a flyer for this event which focuses on the withdrawal of British troops from Northern Ireland

/120 copy letter from Avtar Jouhl to the editor of the 'Punjabi Guardian' refuting allegations made in a recent article about Jagmohan Joshi, General Secretary of the Indian Workers Association between 1964 and his death in 1979, 26 July 1990

/121 copy letter from Avtar Jouhl to the High Commission of India, Birmingham, setting out the views of the Indian Workers Association on the Mandal Commission's report on the treatment of 'Dalits' in India, and its implementation, to be conveyed to the Indian government, 20 September 1990

The file also contains correspondence in Punjabi

/122 from Rajinder Dulai to the General Secretary of the Indian Workers Association about the attitude of the convenor of the Editorial Board Sub Committee concerning a telephone conversation between Rajinder Dulai and Tara Singh about whether to publish his article, 26 May 1986

/123 from Harjit Daudharia, secretary of the Reading branch of the Indian Workers Association to Avtar Jouhl with condolences on the death of his mother, 2 October 1986

/124 from Avtar Jouhl to Kulwant Singh, village head Rurka Kallan expressing solidarity, 23 May 1988

/125 from Ajmer Singh to Avtar Jouhl, 23 May 1988

/126 from Avtar Jouhl to Dhido about business proposals, 23 May 1988

/127 from Avtar Jouhl to Onkar about his family circumstances, 23 May 1988

/128 from Avtar Jouhl to Prem Singh, General Secretary of the Association of Indian Communists about the forthcoming visit of Harkishan Singh Surjit, Polit Bureau member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), 11 June 1988

/129 from Avtar Jouhl to Prem Singh making arrangements to call a joint meeting of both Indian Workers Associations, 11 June 1988

/130 from Nirmal Sondhi to Avtar Jouhl about printing errors in a leaflet issued to commemorate Jagmohan Joshi, 27 June 1989

/131 letter printed in 'Punjabi Darpan' written by Bhupinder Singh Saroya about the leadership of the Indian Workers Association, 18 August 1989

/132 from Harjit Daudharia, Secretary of the Indian Workers Association to Avtar Jouhl about his apology for not attending the last meeting, and an article on the Soviet Union and the crisis in Eastern Europe to be published in 'Lalkar', 22 January 1990

/133 from Avtar Jouhl to Mr Kaushil and Mr Sarwan about a memorandum of Desh Bhagat Yadgar Committee and two news items, 5 March 1990

/134 from Avtar Jouhl to Mr Karnail about 'Lalkar' subscriptions, 15 March 1990

/135 report on a cultural evening organised by Lok Sabhiachark Manch, Calgary, Canada on 6 May 1989

/136 undated letter of warning from Secret Sikh Freedom Fighters to the Indian Workers Association

/137 from Sarwan Singh about an incident in Willenhall where a Congress Party supporter, Tarlock Sandhar, started speaking in favour of the high fees that Asian people had to pay to hire school halls for social functions