Reporter. Producer. Broadcaster.
Gaggan Sabherwal is an award winning investigative journalist currently working as BBC's South Asia Diaspora Reporter.
'Slugs and mould' in quarantine hotels as prices rise (TV version).
Air passengers travelling to the UK from red list countries have slammed their ‘prison-like’ experience in government-approved quarantine hotels.
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The BBC has received reports from across the UK of poor quality food, dirty rooms and a lack of Covid safety precautions in these facilities.
On August 12, the government raised the price of hotel quarantine per adult from £1,750 to £2,285.
Former Gurkhas go on hunger strike in the UK over equal pension rights.
A group of former Gurkha soldiers have been protesting outside PM Boris Johnson’s official residence in London and as a part of these demonstrations three Gurkhas have been staging a hunger strike for nearly two weeks now. They are protesting over equal rights and are demanding for compensation and pension parity.
Gurkhas has been serving and fighting for the British Army since 1815 and are considered some of the best soldiers in the world. But today, they have gathered to protest against their former employer for discrimination and inequality. BBC’s South Asia Diaspora Reporter Gaggan Sabherwal went to meet the hunger strikers to find out more.....
Food banks in the UK see a massive rise in demand due to the soaring cost of living.
Food banks in the UK have seen a drastic increase since the country announced its first corona virus lockdown two years ago in the number of people and families approaching them for food handouts and essentials. This they say is due to the recent steep rise in gas, electricity in the country coupled with the soaring prices of food items, petrol, and diesel.
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In the past, people who were unemployed or on benefits used to access these food banks but now even working people are approaching them for food parcels and charities say that this situation is only getting worse. BBC’s South Asia Diaspora Reporter Gaggan Sabherwal has been speaking to a family who say that due to the recent cost of living crisis they are forced to live in a single room infested with rats as they simply can’t afford moving out.
South Asian family from the UK wins Guinness World Record for most albino siblings.
A South Asian family from the UK has secured a place in the Guinness World Records, for having the most siblings with albinism. The Parvez family, who are originally from Pakistan but currently live in Coventry in England have six siblings who have inherited this rare condition which affects the pigmentation in the hair, skin and eyes.
BBC’s South Asia Diaspora Reporter Gaggan Sabherwal went to meet the Parvez family who told her that after being subjected to vile discrimination and bullying throughout their lives their new record has actually helped them find confidence in their appearance and boost their self-esteem.
85-year-old Indian origin chef takes UK by storm.
In August 1972, dictator Idi Amin ordered Uganda’s Indian, Bangladeshi and Pakistani communities to leave the country within 90 days and accused them of "milking Uganda's money". During that time, Asians owned 90% of the country's businesses and accounted for 90% of Ugandan tax revenues.
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And following this announcement, thousands of people were displaced, and many were forced to emigrate to the UK including 85-year-old Manju Patel and her husband who arrived in London with just 12 pounds in their pockets and their two young boys.
The Patel’s were looking forward to rebuilding their lives in the UK which initially wasn’t very easy but with a lot of hard work, determination, and persistence today Manju and her sons run one of UK’s most popular and award winning Indian vegetarian restaurant. BBC’S South Asia Diaspora Reporter Gaggan Sabherwal has their story.....
Indian origin Army officer returns home to the UK after solo South Pole trek.
Indian Origin British Army officer Harpreet Kaur Chandi has made global headlines after becoming the first woman of colour to complete a solo expedition across Antarctica. Captain Preet, who is a trained physiotherapist, has trekked 1,126 kilometres in 40 days, facing temperatures of minus 50-degree Celsius, poor visibility and fatigue along the way.
She spoke to BBC’s South Asia Diaspora Reporter Gaggan Sabherwal about her enormous expedition that took two years to plan and train for and also spoke about the challenges she had to face and overcome along the way to achieve this incredible feat.
Maharajah Duleep Singh's Exhibition opens in England.
The remarkable life of Maharajah Duleep Singh and his family is being told in a new exhibition in England. Maharajah Duleep Singh was the son of Maharajah Ranjit Singh and was also the last Sikh ruler of the Punjab whose kingdom was taken away from him by the British in the 1840’s. He was later exiled and sent to Britain where he settled down in Thetford in Norfolk where his legacy still lives on.
The exhibition is being held at the Norfolk Record Office and is said to be the biggest of its kind ever to be curated on Maharajah Duleep Singh. BBC’s South Asia Diaspora Reporter Gaggan Sabherwal visited Norfolk and the exhibition and sends us this report.
Birmingham gears up for the Commonwealth Games – A sneak preview.
The next couple of days will see the city of Birmingham in England come under the spotlight as it gets ready to welcome thousands of athletes and sport fans from all over the world for the 2022 Commonwealth Games that kick starts on Thursday.
BBC’s South Asia Diaspora Reporter Gaggan Sabherwal has visited Birmingham to capture all the fun and excitement ahead of the games and to see how the city and its locals are gearing up to host one of the biggest sporting competitions on the planet!
New variant that was first found in India causes concerns in the UK.
A new covid variant that first emerged in India is said to be responsible for majority of the new cases seen in the UK in the last few days. Around 3,400 cases of this corona virus variant have so far been identified in the UK and scientists say that this variant is more transmissible than the previous variant that was found a few months ago.
Following this there has been a surge in vaccinations and testing taking place in areas where this B.1.617.2 variant has been found. Besides this, there has been growing fears and concerns about this variant and uncertainty as to how it will affect England’s plan of easing all its covid restrictions next month. BBC’s South Asia Diaspora Reporter Gaggan Sabherwal sends us this report.
Birmingham's famous landmarks we visited during CWG 2022.
With this year’s Commonwealth Games taking place in Birmingham, BBC’s South Asia Diaspora Reporter Gaggan Sabherwal is there, catching all the action and excitement around the games.
She has even been exploring the city of Birmingham and has been visiting some of the city’s famous landmarks and sights. Take a look at this.....
Covid Booster Trial Launched in the UK (English Report).
Millions of people in the UK have so far received two doses of the corona virus vaccine. But in early June some people received a third covid jab thus making them one of the first in the world to receive a covid booster vaccine.
These people are a part of a new clinical trial that has been launched to gather information about how effective third covid doses are and how combining vaccinations could protect us from the covid-19 virus and the new strains that are developing. The Cov-Boost trial has been taking place in 18 centres across the UK. BBC’s South Asia Diaspora Reporter Gaggan Sabherwal has visited one such centre in Bradford where this trial was first launched and sends us this report.....
'I was pregnant and sent to jail after the Post Office falsely accused me of stealing £75,000'. (English Report)
Seema Misra was pregnant with her second child when she was convicted of theft and sent to jail in 2010 in what has been described as "one of the UK's biggest miscarriages of justice".
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For nearly ten years Seema has been fighting to clear her name and is among more than 500 other postal workers who were accused and wrongly convicted of theft and fraud due to failings in the Post Office computer accounting system. BBC’s South Asia Diaspora Reporter Gaggan Sabherwal has been speaking to Seema and her husband Davinder about their ordeal and sends us this exclusive report.
The rise and fall of Nirav Modi.
Nirav Modi was one of India’s most sort after diamond merchants and luxury jewellery brand owners. But today Nirav Modi has gone onto become India’s most wanted man. Nirav Modi is accused of having defrauded the Punjab National Bank of 1.5 billion pounds. He however denies any wrong doing and is currently at London’s Westminster Magistrates Court for the final hearing in his extradition trial. Following this over the next few days he will know if he will be extradited back to India or not.
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BBC’s South Asia Diaspora Reporter Gaggan Sabherwal has been following this story and case closely and sends us this report.....
Indian Farmers Protest Debate at the House of Commons (Hindi).
A number of British MPs are due to meet later this evening to debate on ‘’the press freedom and the safety of farmer protesters in India’’. The debate will take place at the country’s House of Commons and is a response to a petition that was started by an Indian origin councillor Gurcharan Singh who is calling on the UK government to make a public statement on the farmers’ protests and freedom in India.
Such petition debates do not automatically change government policy or the law but it does give MPs an opportunity to raise local or national issues and receive a response from the minister concerned. BBC’s South Asia Diaspora Reporter Gaggan Sabherwal caught up with Gurcharan Singh to find out why did he decide to start this petition and what is he hoping from today’s debate.....
Indian Origin Doctors in the UK offer free online help and support to medics in India.
Indian origin doctors based in the UK are helping save lives in India as the covid pandemic continues to ravage the country. They are using their experience in treating the virus to give advice over video calls to medics working in some of India’s hospitals.
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This online project was started by Prof. Parag Singhal from BAPIO which is one of the largest organisations that represent Indian origin doctors in the UK and was started to help and support medics in India in these challenging times.
Organ donation in the UK drops due to the corona virus pandemic and shortage of BAME donors.
One of the many knock downs due to the corona virus pandemic in the UK has been the drop-in organ donations. 50-year-old Bally Sandhu is desperately in need of a kidney and is currently having ten hours of dialysis every night.
And as BBC’s South Asia Diaspora Reporter Gaggan Sabherwal has been finding out, Black and Asian people like Bally even before the corona virus outbreak have had to wait on average, a year longer than white people for a transplant because of the shortage of donors from these ethnic backgrounds.
Period Poverty on the rise due to the corona virus pandemic and lockdown.
The BBC has learnt that the number of women and girls facing period poverty in the UK has dramatically increased since the corona virus outbreak with many charities giving out five times as many free sanitary products since the lockdown began.
BBC’s South Asia Diaspora Reporter Gaggan Sabherwal has been speaking to some of these charities and women affected by this issue to find out more and sends us this exclusive report.....
Grooming of South Asian girls in the UK.
The grooming and sexual exploitation of vulnerable girls by gangs of men has been a massive and growing issue all over the UK with a number of high profile cases been reported and perpetrators jailed over the last few years. For years it was thought that most of the victims were girls from white backgrounds.
But campaigners say there is a group of victims who suffer in silence and these are girls from the South Asian communities who have been abused for decades and have been suffering in silence all in the name of family honour and shame. BBC's South Asia Diaspora ReporterGaggan Sabherwal has been speaking to some of these victims and sends us this exclusive report. (Please note: the names and identities of the victims have been changed to protect their identities).
Century old records of World War 1 soldiers from undivided Punjab made available for the first time.
For the first-time, families of those who fought in World War One from undivided Punjab will have access to the service registers of their ancestors, all thanks to a new website set up by UK based historians.
This year marks the 103rd anniversary of the First World War and around 3,20,000 Punjabi soldiers’ records have been lying in a Museum in Pakistan for almost a century and out of these, 40,000 records have now been made available online for free.
What is and has been happening in the UK around the Indian Farmers Protest?
I explain to our global audience about whatever has and is happening in the UK around the Indian farmers protest in this report. (English)
Period Poverty causes girls in the UK to miss schools.
Now being able to afford sanitary protection should be a basic right for every woman. Yet for some having a period brings with it financial stress. It’s estimated, 1 in 10 girls in the UK have been unable to afford sanitary products and almost 1,40,000 girls miss school every year because of it. Period Poverty is fast becoming a growing issue in the UK
Period Poverty is when people are unable to afford suitable period products due to a lack of financial resources.
I have been been speaking to women affected by Period Poverty to find out just how big an issue is this in the UK and also met up with charities who are trying to tackle this problem and provide menstrual dignity to women.
Knife crime in the UK (Hindi Report).
Now there has been a sudden and sharp increase in violent crime and knife attacks across England and Wales with London especially seeing unprecedented number of stabbings. According to recent figures there has been a 16% increase in knife attacks over the last 12 months (2018-2019) and the highest since 2011.
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So far this year 127 people have been killed in London alone, out of which 72 were caused due to fatal stabbing and out of this over 56% of the victims were under 25. BBC's South Asia Diaspora Reporter Gaggan Sabherwal has been finding out why are young people in England carrying knives and what is the country doing to tackle this growing epidermic?
Forced Marriage on the rise in the UK.
A leading charity which supports survivors of honour based abuse and forced marriage in the UK, says there has been an increase in the number of calls they are receiving from people reporting some form of honour based crime and violence with London, Leeds and Birmingham topping their list of top calling areas.
BBC’s South Asia Diaspora Reporter Gaggan Sabherwal investigates as to why despite the fact forced marriage is a criminal offence under the British law the number of forced marriage cases and honour based abuse is simply increasing. She also spoke to survivors from the South Asian communities about their experiences and asked them why is honour based abuse and violence so rampant within South Asian Communities. (The names and identities of some of the interviewees have been changed to protect their identities).
Statue to honour the 21 heroes of the Battle of Saragarhi has been unveiled in the UK.
A statue of Havildar Ishar Singh who led 20 Sikh soldiers and took on 10,000 Afghan tribesmen in the Battle of Saragarhi, has been unveiled in the UK.
The ten-foot-tall bronze statue is the country’s first-ever monument that specifically honours the fallen heroes of this battle that was fought between the British Indian army's 36th Sikh Regiment and Afghan tribesmen. The fight took place on 12th September 1897, in what is now Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan.
Non-essential retail shops, beauty parlours, pubs and restaurants re-open as UK eases covid restrictions.
Now with the successful covid vaccine roll out programme well underway and the significant drop in the number of corona virus cases, covid restrictions are gradually being eased across England. And from the 12th of April, all non -essential shops, gyms, beauty salons, hair dressers, and restaurants gardens have re-opened after being shut for nearly three months due to UK’s lockdown that was announced in early January.
BBC’s South Asia Diaspora reporter Gaggan Sabherwal has been speaking to South Asian business and restaurant owners in Bradford to find out how has the corona virus pandemic affected them and how have things been ever since they have re-opened for business.
UK's Indian Diaspora raise thousands of pounds for India's covid crisis.
The Indian diaspora and charities in the UK have come out in full support of India during these difficult times and also to help the country win its deadly covid-19 battle. Together they have raised thousands of pounds in the last few days to buy urgent and essential items such as oxygen cylinders and oxygen concentrators. BBC’s South Asia Diaspora Reporter Gaggan Sabherwal has been speaking to a few of these charities and sends us this report.
Indian-Origin Boy Swept To Sea Survives With Floating Skills.
10-year-old Ravi Saini from Leeds in Northern England was swept out to the sea during a family trip to the beach. But luckily, he survived the tragedy after he applied a floating technique he had seen on a BBC TV documentary.
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BBC’s South Asia Diaspora Reporter Gaggan Sabherwal went to meet Ravi and his family to find out exactly what had happened that day and sends us this report. (Hindi report)
Schools in the UK re-open post Corona virus lockdown.
Schools across England have finally re-opened since the national lockdown was announced by UK’s PM Boris Johnson in March. And just like how everyone has had to adopt to new changes, even schools have had come up with new ways of working to ensure the safety of their students and staff.
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BBC’s South Asia Diaspora reporter Gaggan Sabherwal visited a school in one of the country’s most diverse areas with a very high South Asian population and sends us this report.....
World War Two secret agent Noor Inayat Khan becomes the first woman of Indian origin to receive a Blue Plaque.
Noor Inayat Khan, an Indian origin British spy Noor will be honoured for her heroism and bravery during the Second World War at an event in the UK later today.
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Inayat Khan is one of the six women to receive a Blue Plaque this year and is the first Indian woman to receive this honour. BBC’s South Asia Diaspora Reporter Gaggan Sabherwal has more.....
UK’s Powis Castle’s deep links to India and Tipu Sultan.
The East India Company was founded during the rule of Queen Elizabeth the first, for trading purposes, but very quickly grew into a dominating global player with its own army that went on to fight numerous wars and colonise a number of countries including India, thus making the British Empire one of the richest and the most powerful institutions in the world. The employees of the East India Company too made a lot of money in this process with many of them investing their colonial earnings in sprawling country homes and mansions back in Britain.
One such property is Powis Castle in Wales, where thousands of treasures and objects from India are displayed and out of these hundreds belong to one of India’s most famous and valiant rulers of all times – Tipu Sultan. BBC’s South Asia Diaspora Reporter Gaggan Sabherwal has visited Powis Castle to find out more about this magnificent building and its links with India and Tipu Sultan.....
National Trust charity reveals Indian colonial links with UK’s historic homes.
Britain’s stately homes have recently come under the spotlight following the launch of a new report that has linked many of these properties to colonialism and slavery. The study was commissioned by UK’s National Trust, a charity that runs hundreds of such heritage buildings.
According to the report over 90 of the National Trust’s properties have had past owners who had either profited from slavery or been involved in colonial expansion and as BBC’s South Asia Diaspora Reporter Gaggan Sabherwal has been finding out some of these properties even have links to India and the British Raj.
UK media's reaction to India's controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
I did this rant in english for BBC World Service on the reaction of people and media organisations in the UK and Europe on India's controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
Kashmir Protests in London (Hindi and Punjabi Report)
Demonstration over Kashmir took place again in London. The protesters were demanding lifting of sanctions on Kashmir. The protest march began at the Parliament Square and spread outside the Indian High Commission building in London.
The protesters hurled bottles, eggs and tomatoes at the High Commission building. At least two people have been arrested in connection with the violent protest. BBC's South Asia Diaspora Reporter Gaggan Sabherwal was at the protest and sends us this report.
How are the places of worship in the UK adapting to the new covid safety regulations?
On 4th July, places of worship in England re-opened for services for the first time since the strict lockdown was announced by UK’s PM Boris Johnson at the end of March. And just like how everyone has had to adapt and adopt to new changes, even places of workshop have had to abide and follow new ways of working and surviving during this global pandemic.
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BBC’s South Asia Diaspora reporter Gaggan Sabherwal has been finding out about the safety measures the various faith groups in the UK have put in place to protect their worshipers from covid19.
UK announces special flights to bring back stranded British nationals in India.
Seven charter flights have been announced by the UK government to bring back Britons currently stranded in India due to the international lockdown over the corona virus outbreak. The announcement comes after the authorities faced severe criticism for failing to bring its citizens back home sooner.
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But the British nationals say they feel betrayed and let down by the way their government has handled the crisis with many complaining about the exorbitant ticket prices they have been asked to pay for these repatriation flights. Our reporter Gaggan Sabherwal has been speaking to a few of them and sends us this exclusive report.....
Mahatma Gandhi's spectacles sold for £260,000.
A pair of spectacles that were owned and worn by one of the world’s most famous men and India’s Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi has been sold for thousands of pounds at an auction in the UK.
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The glasses were mailed to an auction house in South West England by a local resident. BBC’s South Asian Diaspora Reporter Gaggan Sabherwal has been speaking to the auctioneers to find out more about this rare find and the story behind these historic glasses.
MP Sajid Javid's constituency profile.
As the UK gears for yet another election, third in just under four years, I have been profiling Sajid Javid, the country's Chancellor and the first South Asian to hold such a presitigious post.
MP Priti Patel's Constituency Profile
As a part of our UK elections coverage, I also did a profile piece for BBC World Service on Indian origin Priti Patel, who also happens to be UK's Home Secretary and the first South Asian woman to hold such a powerful post.
UK finally leaves the EU
Finally after 3.5 years since the Brexit referendum vote, the UK is all set to formally leave the European Union today thus ending a 47 year old partnership between the UK and the EU.
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Now the last 1307 days has undoubtedly been a roller coaster ride for the people living in the UK all thanks to Brexit as well as the uncertainty around it and to find out how the people are feeling, I met up with some Indians living in the UK to find out just how has Brexit affected them and what are they hoping from a post Brexit UK moving forward and how will India benefit from all this.
The second phase of Nirav Modi's extradition trial begins in London.
Indian businessman Nirav Modi has appeared at a London court in connection with his extradition trial.
The 49 -year -old diamond merchant is wanted in India for an alleged bank fraud of 2 billion dollars. Mr. Modi left India in 2018 and has been in London since then. BBC’s South Asia Diaspora Reporter Gaggan Sabherwal has been following the case and has more.....
Interview with Vijay Mallya outside UK's High Court (English and Hindi Report).
I managed to get an exclusive interview with the owner of King Fisher airline and Indian businessman Vijay Mallya just before his oral appeal hearing against his extradition order at UK's High Court.
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Mr Mallya, arrived in the UK in March 2016 after defaulting on debts of more than $1bn (£785m) and since then the Indian government has been trying to get him extradited back to India to face legal proceedings.
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UK dads write children’s book to combat racism and educate people about Sikhism.
A group of fathers from West Midlands in the UK have recently released a children’s book they have written to help fight racism and educate people about Sikhism and its customs.
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On becoming new dads Pritpal, Pritesh and Harnek felt there was a lack of diversity in books after seeing very few characters of Sikh faith especially in children’s books. And so, they decided to write the Guru Song adventure book to help educate people about the Sikh faith and culture. BBC’s South Asia Diaspora Reporter Gaggan Sabherwal has been speaking to one of them and sends us this report.....
The role London played in shaping Mahatma Gandhi's life. (Hindi Report)
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi first visited England in 1888 as a young law student. He lived and studied in London for three years where the 19 year old fully immersed himself in the city’s life and culture and it was his time here that helped in shaping Gandhi and his philosophy.
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I have been visiting those places in London where Gandhi lived and stayed that not only helped to shape him but also made him an household name outside India and one of the greatest leaders of all times.
The Indian Diaspora in the UK come together to help others during the Corona Virus outbreak.
The global Corona Virus pandemic has affected tens of thousands of people in a number of profound ways including being stuck indoors in isolation, to not being able to meet family and friends, to the loss of work and the lack of food supplies and medical care.
But as our South Asia Diaspora Reporter Gaggan Sabherwal has been finding out, that despite all this the Indian community living in the UK are putting their differences and personal challenges aside and are coming together during this crisis to help each other and those less fortunate or able than themselves.
Sachin Tendulkar and the Yorkshire Connection.
Mr. Solly Adam who is originally from India is a former cricketer from Yorkshire who over the years has helped bring many Indian and Pakistani cricketers to play league cricket in England. But his most historic connection with cricket is his vital role in Sachin Tendulkar becoming the first non-Yorkshireman to play for the county in its hoary cricketing history.
I got the opportunity to meet Solly and learn about Sachin's time in Yorkshire. I hope you all cricket fans will enjoy my exclusive report!
Breaking barriers through cricket.
Cricket has always been a male dominated sport and something not associated with girls especially from South Asian backgrounds. But this is slowly changing in the North English city of Bradford where two girls Sabeha and Jasmin are breaking stereotypes and are inspiring young people especially women to take up this sport which is slowly dying in the UK.
BBC’s South Asia Diaspora Reporter Gaggan Sabherwal went to meet the girls to find out what made them pick up a cricket bat and ball and also asked them about the kind of barriers they had to overcome to pursue their dreams
Rishi Sunak is UK's new Chancellor (Hindi Rant)
Breaking news about Indian MP Rishi Sunak being appointed as UK's new Chancellor.
Meet the World's 1st Female Chutti Artist
This is a story of a young girl from the English city of Rochdale in Lancashire who went on to become the first Non-Indian Chutti artist in the world. Chutti is the three dimensional makeup used in the ancient Indian dance- drama called Kathakali which originates from Southern India.
Kalamandalam Barbara Vijayakumar has been specialising in Chutti for the last 45 years when she first accidently discovered this male-led dance drama in Kerala. It was here where she also met and fell in love with her husband Kalamandalam Vijayakumar, a Kathakali actor. The couple have been bringing Kathakali and chutti to the UK audiences for over 30 years. This is their story about their journey into the magical and fascinating world of Kathakali.
Brexit Rant (Hindi).
I did this rant in Hindi on Brexit for BBC World Service's Hindi team. Here I spoke about the pressures PM Theresa May was facing due to Brexit and about a South Asian MP who postponed her cesarean delivery so that she could take part in a crucial Brexit vote at the Houses of Parliament in the UK.
Muslim women prisoners being ostracised by their community
My report on the shocking realities of sexism within the Muslim community that was revealed in a ground breaking new report. The study into the lives of female Muslim offenders found that many face a double sentence once they are convicted.
The research carried out at two Yorkshire women's prisons show many Muslim women are disowned by their families, shunned by their communities and some have had their lives threatened. In this report I spoke to some of these women about their experiences. (Actors were used to protect these women's identities).
Ramadan 2017
Now, another warm day with temperatures rising and as it's the summer solstice too so our longest day of the year as well - a particularly tough time if you are fasting for Ramadan and observing the holy month. For thirty days, more than three hundred thousand Muslims here in Yorkshire have stopped drinking and eating from dawn to dusk. That's nineteen hours of going without. Our reporter Gaggan Sabherwal has more.