From Chandigarh to Scotland, remembering Saroj Lal — son’s tribute

Vineet Lal

Saroj Lal, who died at the age of 82, was a pioneering force in Scottish race relations during the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. A committed feminist and trailblazer for equal opportunities, she remained director of the Lothian Racial Equality Council (LREC).

Always impeccably dressed in her trademark sari, she rose to the challenge with characteristic verve and determination, becoming an authoritative — and inspirational — figure in the struggle for equality, justice and fairness for all.

Never afraid to challenge the establishment, she engaged with a daunting range of public and third sector agencies — including the Home Office, NHS and police forces — to champion the rights of the disadvantaged and the voiceless. It was a mark of her stature that she became the first Asian woman in Scotland to be appointed as a Justice of the Peace.

Saroj Chanana was born in Gujranwala (then in British India) and her early years were marked by the turmoil of Partition. In 1962, she graduated with an MA in Economics from Panjab University in Chandigarh (Dr Manmohan Singh was one of her lecturers) and taught briefly before her marriage to Amrit Lal, who had studied engineering in Glasgow in the 1950s.

In the late 1960s, the couple migrated to Edinburgh, where she combined raising a young family with furthering her education. From 1969 to 1970, she trained as a teacher, becoming Edinburgh’s first Asian primary school teacher at South Morningside Primary. In 1973, she began volunteering with YWCA, leading to the post of community worker with the Roundabout International Centre. Engaging with minority ethnic groups honed her innate sensitivity to their issues, and in 1980 she moved to LREC, becoming Senior Community Relations Officer in 1988 and eventually Director in 1990.

Her groundbreaking work with Lothian and Borders Police remains arguably her greatest legacy: defining the nature of racial attacks, implementing reporting systems and encouraging the recruitment of black and Asian officers.

Her achievements were all the more remarkable given what was predominantly a male world and an often sexist environment. Yet, she clung to her principles, winning the trust of more orthodox Sikh families and encouraging girls to pursue higher education by creating the Asian Cultural Girls’ Club and Telford College’s Continuation Course.

She was the powerhouse behind numerous initiatives to improve the lives of Edinburgh’s ethnic communities: she won funding for Milan, a support group for older people from South Asia, and was the driving force behind the Edinburgh Hindu Temple. She also set up the city’s first-ever interpreting and translating service and its first dedicated ethnic library.

A passionate advocate for minority arts, she led the development of sitar and classical dance classes, and helped in programming the 1986 Commonwealth Arts Festival.

Among the many tributes, Kaliani Lyle, former head of Citizens Advice Scotland, said: “It was on her shoulders that many of us stood in the fight against racism in Scotland. We listened to Saroj and we learnt.”

Saroj Lal is survived by her husband Amrit, daughter Kavita, granddaughter Isha and myself.

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