Growing up as the son of two, or three if you count my step-mother, devout Muslim parents in Britain had its challenges. Especially if you add 9 siblings to the mix. However, I set out to become not only the best person, but the best British person I could be. Why wouldn't I, this is the greatest country in the world.
As a British Asian I have had to work three times as hard as those around me, not only to fit in but to get on in life, regularly suffering mental, physical, and verbal abuse. And whilst early on in life it wasn’t something that I thought about, as my white friends called the local shopkeeper a Paki and then turned to me and said “we don’t mean you Ammar, you are one of us”, however reflecting on this it was absolutely wrong. And it is even more shocking to continue to experience such abuse later on in life.
The recent focus on gender equality, seems only right that everyone should be treat equally and fairly, but if we are going to make things more inclusive then we should extend this to the whole of society, including the Black and Ethnic Minority (BME) community together with those less abled too.
Having devoted the last 20 years of my life to voluntarily make a difference, becoming the youngest Asian chair of governors at a primary school, chairing various committees representing the private sector, launching numerous educational initiatives, becoming the first Asian David Goldman visiting professor at Newcastle University, joining various charitable boards and helping raise millions of pounds, to then become the youngest Asian recipient of a CBE in the North East, amongst various other achievements and accolades, I continue to experience the same challenges I have all my life. Being treat inequal. Imagine devoting, supporting and promoting a system for nigh on half of your life that then fails you.
Having broken barriers to become the best, and at times better than those around me, it is sad to see people around you revel in failure. I read a recent study which suggests that bad news receives up to 10 times as much attention as good. How sad is it to consider that we are a world filled with such negativity.
However, I remain motivated to continue to make a difference and focus on the positives in life.
Motivation requires motive, and my motivation is to simply provide those around me with the support that I did not have, and to help people become the best they can be. My response to setbacks is to learn from them and do all you can to try and make sure they don’t happen again, if they do, get up, brush yourself down with your head held high and get on with it. This to me is the best of British way of life that I have not only adopted but love and cherish. I believe and I will achieve my ambitions and aspirations, and so can you.
Ammar Mirza CBE is the founder and chairman of Asian Business Connexions, Board member of North East LEP and holds various other positions across the private, public and third sectors.
