Asian
While the majority of Asians migrated to Scotland after 1945, migration began during the 18th century as a result of Scotland's colonial involvement with the Indian sub-continent.
Indian seamen, known as Lascars, were hired in Indian ports as cheap labour. Many became stranded in Scottish ports unable to find return voyages home. Small colonies developed in dock areas throughout Scotland.
They worked as peddlers, traders and itinerant salesmen, and developed the social structures that later assisted future migrants.
Indian servants also arrived, accompanying colonial administrators on their visits home. Indian noblemen travelled to Scotland on business. Students arrived to study in the schools and four universities of Scotland, some of them the mixed-parentage sons and daughters of Scots living in India
By 1920, people had begun to settle and small communities developed initially in Glasgow and Edinburgh as economic migrants arrived, seeking a better life.
In 1947, at the end of British rule, Muslims in India demanded a separate state and the north western and eastern provinces became Pakistan. The majority of those who had migrated to Scotland were from these areas.
The communities continued to develop during the 1950s and 60s as growing British industries encountered labour shortages and migrant workers arrived from the Commonwealth countries.
New Pakistani migrants came to work in the jute mills of Dundee. Glasgow Corporation employed both Pakistani and Indian workers on the buses and trains of Glasgow. Many more however encountered racism in the labour force and were unable to find paid employment.
Instead they engaged in small-scale retail trading, working long hours and gradually opening small shops and businesses.
East African Asians also arrived during this period from the newly independent countries of Kenya, Malawi and Uganda, and later in 1972 when many were expelled from Uganda.
Asians now work in many professions in Scotland, notably as doctors, nurses and teachers. Today, the performance of Indian students in many areas of education is higher than that of other groups, including the majority population.
The Pakistani community is the largest Asian community in Scotland. They have contributed to many areas of Scottish life, creating employment and introducing new foods into the Scottish diet.