Naresh arrived in England with just £5 in his pocket, marking the beginning of a new life full of challenges and adaptation.

Initially planning to pursue a career as a bookkeeper, he quickly realized that better wages could be earned through unskilled work. He took on a role as a bus conductor in Southampton, a surprising move for his family at the time. Naresh recalls the cultural shift spending evenings at the pub, picking up smoking, and adjusting to a lifestyle vastly different from his roots.

He reflects on how speaking up as a young Indian man in those days was rare, and how he gradually built his confidence. Eventually, his family joined him in the UK, expecting a better life. Naresh broke cultural norms by choosing his own partner and together they raised three children. He recalls facing racism, especially when he became one of the first Indians to own a convenience store in his area. In 1971. He was part of a small Indian community that laid the foundations for the local Hindu temple. Naresh’s story highlights perseverance, cultural integration, and the early struggles of the Indian diaspora in Britain.