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Bashir Maan

Bashir Maan arrived in Glasgow from his native Pakistan in 1953 at the age of 27 and as well as developing a rewarding career in business, he has contributed over thirty years of public service to his adopted home.

Identifying a requirement for a better understanding of the needs of the new community of Asian-Scots, Bashir entered local politics in 1964 and has advised various bodies and police groups on race relations.

In 1970, he was elected the UK’s first Pakistani politician to serve Glasgow's Kingston ward and is currently Scotland's representative on the Muslim Council of Great Britain.

Bashir says: "I am proud to have broken the race barrier as it showed the way for many others. Asian people have integrated well and are now proud Asian-Scots and several factors have contributed to this."

Recognising the openness of the Scots, Bashir firmly believes a large part of integration comes down to the warm welcome Asian immigrants received from the nation, coupled with economic independence.

Bashir continues: "Asians did not come here to take Scottish jobs, they created their own industries and many pursued self-employed careers. Nowadays, we are seeing Asians break into professional circles, achieving in academic fields like law and medicine.

"Immigration has also helped integration within the Asian community too. When I first moved to Glasgow I was surprised to see Indian people living together, sharing accommodation. These were people who would never have interacted with one another in India. Yet in Scotland, they shared common goals and helped each other, instilling a sense of community which spread to the wider Scottish community."

Integration is an ongoing issue for Bashir and although he has retired from local government he maintains an active role in promoting the understanding of the needs of Scotland’s Asian communities.

He adds: "Integration continues to evolve. Third and fourth generation Asian-Scots have assimilated themselves to local customs and have retained elements of their own culture and we are seeing Asian culture become part of the mainstream."