The ten portraits were taken as part of Citizen UK, a partnership project with
the National Portrait Gallery and Citizen Researchers which aimed to
document, explore and share the experiences, histories and achievements of
Wolverhampton’s Punjabi Community. The project also explored how each
sitter’s activism and sense of community shaped the city, feeding into national
conversations about UK citizenship. The portraits are all accompanied by oral
history recordings of the individuals featured, which will become part of the
‘Wolverhampton Voices’ oral history project at the City Archives.

Just some of the local stories of courage and integrity conveyed through the
project and in the portraits include that of former bus driver, Tarsem Singh
Sandhu, who fought for two years for the right to wear his turban to work; Cllr
Bishan Dass Bains, the first South Asian Mayor of Wolverhampton whose
campaigns for equality and human rights improved the lives of thousands
suffering discrimination; and Dr Kuli Kohli, Wolverhampton Poet Laureate and
a leading figure within the city’s creative community. Kuli was born with mild
cerebral palsy and has used writing to powerfully express her observations on
life, she is passionate about supporting other Punjabi women in the city to find
their creative voices.

At the heart of the Citizen UK project was the work of seven Citizen
Researchers from the city who worked with staff from the National Portrait
Gallery, Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Anand Chhabra and Dr Kuli Kohli to first
explore Wolverhampton and the National Portrait Gallery’s collections,
identifying just some of those many people they felt should be represented
and whose stories are vital for understanding the city’s identity and history
today.

The portraits were displayed as part of the Citizen UK: Punjabi Migration
Histories exhibition a Wolverhampton Art Gallery from May-July 2023.
The ten portraits are of:

 Harbans Singh Heera, Founder of the Ad Dharm Brotherhood UK and
former Shop Owner

 Rajesh Mair, Owner of Mairs boutique and fashion design

 Mak Singh, Former Bollywood Actor and Councillor for Spring Vale
Ward

 Dharam Pal, Powerlifting Champion

 Bishan Dass Bains, Wolverhampton’s first South Asian Mayor

 Tarsem Singh Sandhu, Former Bus Driver who campaigned
successfully against the Turban Ban for employees of Wolverhampton
Transport

 Harjinder Kaur, former specialist community psychiatric nurse who
was central to bringing greater knowledge of mental health and
dementia to the South Asian community

 Dr Kuli Kohli, Wolverhampton Poet Laureate (2022-2024)

 Sathnam and Surjit Sanghera, Sathnam Sanghera is the author of
books including Empireland: How Modern Britain is Shaped by its
Imperial Past, and The Boy with the Topknot, which documents his
own experiences growing up in Wolverhampton. He was photographed
with his mother Surjit at her home in Wolverhampton

 Jaspal Kohli, Builder, Community Member, and Presiding Officer for
City of Wolverhampton Council

The three portraits that have been acquired for the National Portrait Gallery
Collection are of:

 Bishan Dass Bains, Wolverhampton’s first South Asian Mayor

 Tarsem Singh Sandhu, Former Bus Driver who campaigned
successfully against the Turban Ban for employees of Wolverhampton
Transport

 Dr Kuli Kohli, Wolverhampton Poet Laureate (2022-2024)

City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for Visitor City, Councillor,
Bhupinder Gakhal, said: “The voices of the Punjabi community are so
important. The people mentioned have been involved in major movements
and milestones within the city.

“Citizen UK has enabled these iconic people of Wolverhampton to share their
stories so that they can be held at the City Archives for future generations to
learn and to add to.”

Dr Kuli Kohil said: “I have always longed for a sense of belonging, and
although it has been a challenging journey, it has been one that is worth the
effort. I have made it a priority to uplift and enlighten others so that we can
come together and form a strong, understanding and supportive community. I
am proud to be a shining member of the Punjabi community in
Wolverhampton. I am truly overwhelmed to be featured at both
Wolverhampton Art Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery, and I would like
to thank Anand Chhabra for taking amazing portraits of local Punjabi people
who have contributed to making Wolverhampton what it is today.

Liz Smith, Director of Learning and Engagement at the National Portrait
Gallery, said: “Throughout our recent period of closure and since reopening in
2023, we’ve been working hard to ensure our visitors return to a Gallery that
presents a wider range of voices telling a broader story of national culture.
This is why we are particularly delighted that the ambitious Citizen UK project
– delivered in partnership with Wolverhampton Arts and Culture, Citizen Researchers, Anand Chhabra and Kuli Kohli – has resulted in such awonderful series of photographs, and three new acquisitions for the NationalPortrait Gallery’s Collection. These new works will help us share the storiesand significant impact that Wolverhampton’s Punjabi community has had onboth local and national life.”

For more information visit www.wolverhamptonart.org.uk