The Crisis Within Our Communities: Identity, Belonging and Responsibility | Mina Parmar

What does community mean if people show up for celebrations but disappear when someone needs support?

In a world increasingly shaped by identity politics, social division and the pursuit of status, one uncomfortable question deserves our attention: are the communities we rely on for belonging contributing to the very isolation we claim to oppose?

In this “Topical” episode, as part of our Member stories, Cllr Mina Parmar, Deputy Mayor of Harrow and Belmont Ward Councillor, confronts the contradictions within British Asian communities and explores what it truly means to belong. Drawing on her personal experiences and years of public service, Mina challenges us to look beyond the language of faith, heritage and unity, and examine how those values are practised when it matters most.

Her story is not simply one of resilience. It is also an account of what happens when society judges people by their circumstances rather than their character.

As a young, divorced mother, Mina faced financial hardship, limited support and the weight of social stigma while working to build a future for herself and her son. Despite her determination, she experienced institutions and community structures that did not always respond with the understanding she needed. Those experiences shaped her perspective on fairness, responsibility and the gap between the values communities profess and the people they actually support.

This conversation raises a difficult question: when defending our values becomes inconvenient, do we still stand by them?

Communities can be quick to judge a divorced woman, a single parent or someone who takes an unconventional path, yet remain silent when that person needs solidarity. Faith can be publicly celebrated while compassion is withheld in private. And collective causes can become opportunities for recognition rather than genuine change.

The conversation moves beyond individual experiences to examine a wider crisis of connection. Across families and communities, status, wealth and educational achievement can become measures of worth. Meanwhile, difficult realities, including mental health struggles, domestic violence, arranged-marriage pressures and family conflict, are pushed behind closed doors. The result is a society that may appear successful from the outside while leaving people profoundly alone within it.

That loneliness is particularly visible in the treatment of older people and vulnerable residents. Mina highlights the need to look beyond appearances and ask what support people actually receive when they face housing insecurity, illness or neglect. Places of worship and cultural institutions can provide belonging, but their responsibilities should not end at rituals and gatherings. They must also ask a more fundamental question: Is someone in our community struggling, and what are we doing about it?

Heritage cannot survive on ceremony alone. It must be reflected in how families communicate, how communities treat their most vulnerable members and how individuals contribute to the places they call home.

For younger generations especially, preserving cultural identity should not mean inheriting silence, judgment or division. It should mean building communities where difficult conversations are possible, support is accessible, and belonging is not conditional on wealth, marital status or social standing.

The challenge is not simply to preserve our traditions. It is to restore the human responsibility at their heart.

If you believe stronger communities are built through action, not appearances, join the conversation. Listen to the episode as Cllr Mina Parmar and Rajan Nazran reflect on what responsibility looks like in your own community, and ask yourself: what is one practical step you can take to make the people around you feel less alone?

Disclaimer: The perspectives expressed by the guest are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of our platform. This discussion is intended solely for knowledge sharing and should not be interpreted as an endorsement.

Produced by Global Indian Series for the Global Indian Network.

Script by Rajan Nazran
original idea: Rajan Nazran

Introduction music: (https://freesound.org/people/Timbre)