Removing the name of a notorious colonialist from one street in Southall is clearly of symbolic significance. But for many, taking down a statue or a street sign is just the beginning of decolonising 21st-century Britain
Addressing the legacies of colonialism and slavery has been a prominent narrative throughout 2020. A number of calls to recognise, remove, rename, repatriate, and redress have underlined the extent to which Britain’s history of slavery and colonial exploitation are woven into, and layered over, the built environment.
Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara. Photo – i.ytimg.com
One such call has made a breakthrough. On November 25, Ealing Council in London’s west London officially announced that it was renaming Havelock Road in Southall. It is one of the dozens of places around the world named after one of Britain’s most prominent military leaders in colonial India. Havelock Road will now become Guru Nanak Road, after the founder of the Sikh faith.