London:
A west London council stated that it has been agreed to rename a road in its heavily Punjabi suburb of Southall as Guru Nanak Road, with the announcement coinciding with Guru Nanak’s 551st birth anniversary becoming marked as Gurpurab across the planet on Monday.
The proposal to rename Havelock Road right after the founder of the Sikh faith came to the fore in the wake of London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s new Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm to evaluation the UK capital’s landmarks in response to the Black Lives Matter protests, which have targeted memorials to historical figures with hyperlinks to slavery and colonialism.
Havelock Road is named right after Major General Sir Henry Havelock, the British common behind the quashing the Indian rebellion against the East India Company in 1857, referred to as the initially war of Indian independence.
Ealing Council stated the element of Havelock Road to be renamed lies amongst King Street and Merrick Road, and incorporates the place of the Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Southall, 1 of the UK’s most effectively-recognized and biggest gurdwaras.
The name transform will come into impact in early 2021 as the council is in the course of action of writing to households, enterprises and organisations impacted in advance of the transform.
“I welcome this change. Ealing’s diversity is our strength and we have to make sure that the places we live reflect that diversity through our street names and buildings,” stated Councillor Kamaljit Dhindsa, Ealing Council’s cabinet member for organization and neighborhood solutions.
The neighborhood Ealing Council Leader, Councillor Julian Bell, welcomed the London Mayor’s evaluation and stated he has launched a parallel action inside the borough of Ealing — which covers Southall.
“The decision to rename one of Ealing’s roads reflects the importance of celebrating the borough’s diversity and is a timely celebration of Guru Nanak’s birthday on November 30,” stated Bell.
“Ealing’s independent equality commission will explore what residents and businesses believe can be done to reduce inequality while improving outcomes. It will look at education, employment, crime and justice, health and housing, among others,” he stated.
Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Southall moved to its present place at Havelock Road, quickly to be Guru Nanak Road, in 1997 and was inaugurated by Prince Charles. Its langar, or free of charge kitchen, provides thousands of free of charge meals seven days a week to neighborhood residents in will need.
The road naming choice follows a consultation course of action launched in June and the council stated it has been taken in accordance with the Street Naming Protocol, which confirms that any transform proposal must “respect and balance cultural and historical identities, sensitivities, and heritage”.