Atos celebrates South Asian Heritage Month

On Thursday 20 August the Together Network held a Lunch and Learn session to reflect on the importance of South Asian Heritage Month (SAHM). The event invited employees to learn more about South Asian history and culture and how this is intertwined with that of the UK.

South Asian Heritage Month ran from 18 July to 17 August. This was the first time the event was celebrated in the UK. With the aim of celebrating South Asian identity and to commemorate the anniversaries that led to the independence of the 8 countries of South Asia – namely India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Bhutan, Afghanistan, the Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. 1 out of 7 London residents are from a South Asian background, so it is significant to understand the history that links both South Asia and the UK. Throughout the month various webinars were held to celebrate South Asian culture including fashion, food, music and film. To find out more visit the official South Asian Heritage Month website.

Laith Gharib, Co-Chair of the Together Network, said: “It was fantastic to see so many people attend and engage with a Lunch & Learn, leaving us all with a fresh perspective on why the month came to be and the importance behind it.”

Simran Soomal, Customer Experience Designer at Atos, said: “Celebrating our first SAHM marks the start of a legacy tradition in the UK, and in Atos, to celebrate our South Asian communities and their contributions in society. It was great to see the engagement in our session and raise awareness of this transformative project.”

The objective of the Together Network is to help ensure that every employee, regardless of their cultural background or beliefs can thrive and reach their full potential and to build a collaborative community and address the issues faced by diversity across the UK.