Nazir Ahmed Chauhdry, MBE

I came to Scotland in 1961 from Pakistan, to make a better life for myself. Three years later, my wife and children joined me.

Scotland was a very different place in those days.

At that time, a lot of immigrants went to work in transport, as conductors or drivers. You had to take a very difficult test and translate a rule book. It was acknowledged that some very educated people came to Scotland to work in this way, and they were known to be hardworking and honest.

Discrimination was rampant, in housing and employment. I’m sorry to say that it was very hard.

A lot has changed since then – it is absolutely different now.

The Scottish people are good people. They are liberal and friendly, and if you go forward to present yourself to them, they will come running towards you.

When I left Pakistan I was in my second year of law at university but as soon as I arrived I got involved in voluntary work and never went back to my studies.

Good citizens

I joined a Pakistani Social and Cultural Society and later, the Islamic Mission. The job of the Mission was to make us better citizens. We believed that as citizens of a new country, we must behave well and be good people, take responsibility.

Eventually I became General Secretary at the Society and President of the Mission.

Joining hands

Later, a group of friends got together to try and do something about discrimination. We formed CARD, the Campaign Against Racial Discrimination. Many local Scottish people joined us. These were the days before the Race Relations Board and it was important that we all joined hands together.

From that point, things started to change slowly for the better. The Race Relations Board was set up and the Racial Equality Council, on whose committee I have served.

Proud moment

In 2002 I received a Doctorate from Paisley University and this year I was awarded an MBE for my work in race relations. It was a great honour to receive my medal from Her Majesty the Queen, at Holyrood Palace. She asked me how I was getting on with the work and I explained that it is ongoing.

I have three sons and a daughter, thirteen grandchildren and a great-grandchild, who all live in Scotland. Pakistan and Scotland are both home to me but I can safely say that Scotland is first on the list.

When I’m in Pakistan, I always talk of ‘going home’ to Scotland.

Nazir Ahmed Chauhdry, MBE
Nazir came to Scotland in the 1960s and recently received an MBE for his work in race relations.