Balvinder Saund
Balvinder Saund | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1952 (age 72–73) |
| Citizenship | United Kingdom |
| Alma mater | University of East London |
| Occupation | Human rights activist Councillor |
| Years active | 2001–present |
| Organization | Sikh Women's Alliance |
| Title | Member of Redbridge London Borough Council for Seven Kings |
| Term | 2006–2013 |
| Political party | Labour (until 2012) |
| Other political affiliations | Redbridge Independent Group (2012–2013) |
| Awards | BBC 100 Women (2014) |
Balvinder Kaur Saund (born c. 1952) is a British human rights activist and former politician. She has been the chair of the Sikh Women's Alliance since 2001, and has publicly called and campaigned for the rights of Sikh women in the United Kingdom. In 2014, she was named by the BBC as one of that year's 100 Women.
Activism
Saund is a community activist in Ilford, a town in East London.[1] Born into a Punjabi family, she is a member of the Gurdwara Singh Sabha London East.[2]
In 2001, the Sikh Women's Alliance was founded in Ilford by a group of Sikh men, though shortly afterwards, its leadership was transferred to Saund and four other women, with Saund serving as the organisation's chair.[3][4] Through the SWA, Saund has campaigned for greater awareness of issues including domestic abuse, honour-based violence and female infanticide within the Sikh community. She has called for a return to the gender equality espoused by Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, and has said that the role and status of women in the religion has been negatively impacted by misogyny.[3] Saund has cited evidence of this in the preference within Sikh families for sons over daughters, such as through holding paaths for the births of boys but not for girls, and asking granthis to pray for sons and grandsons, and not for daughters and granddaughters.[5] Saund has called for more significant leadership roles for Sikh women beyond traditionally running langars, community kitchens in gurdwaras.[3]
Saund has stated that honour-based violence is linked to men wanting "control and subservience" from women, and has described it as "old ways of thinking [that] should be left behind".[6] Following the emergence of the #MeToo movement, Saund called for more safeguarding measures to be put in place for girls and women in gurdwaras.[3]
Political career
Saund was formerly a member of the Labour Party, and served as a councillor for the Seven Kings ward on Redbridge London Borough Council between 2006 and 2013.[1][3][7] In May 2013, Saund, alongside fellow Labour councillors Filly Maravala and Virendra Tewari, publicly destroyed their Labour membership cards on the steps of Redbridge Town Hall in response to a change of the borough's local Labour leadership, which had deselected several long-serving candidates, including Tewari. The group established the Redbridge Independent Group, with Saund acting as its deputy leader until her retirement in 2014.[7]
Saund ran as a candidate for the London Assembly in 2008, 2010 and 2012 for Havering and Redbridge, as well as a candidate on the Labour list, though was not elected.[8][9][10]
Recognition
In 2014, Saund was named as one of the BBC's 100 Women.[11] Saund received an honorary degree from the University of East London.[4]
References
- ^ a b Walawalkar, Aaron (26 October 2018). "Ilford faith leader presents award to UK's first female Sikh MP". Ilford Recorder. Archived from the original on 10 December 2025. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
- ^ Munro, Victoria (12 October 2020). "Seven Kings tower block plans will leave Sikh mourners with nowhere to park". East London and West Essex Guardian. Archived from the original on 3 February 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
- ^ a b c d e "DAY FOUR: Invisible Impact: Gender-based Violence and the Sikh Women's Alliance 20 years on". 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign. 28 November 2021. Archived from the original on 30 March 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
- ^ a b "125 UEL Stories: Athletes". University of East London. Archived from the original on 29 April 2025. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
- ^ Ghural, Jasleen (22 August 2016). "Prayers only for the male child everywhere". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 24 August 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
- ^ Hakim, Seema. "Newham has second highest number of reported honour based crime in London". Newham Recorder. Archived from the original on 10 December 2025. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
- ^ a b Shirinian, Zjan (25 May 2013). "Three Redbridge councillors resign from Labour Party because borough leadership has 'lost the plot'". Ilford Recorder. Archived from the original on 10 December 2025. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
- ^ "Labour accused of dirty tricks over 'threat to Freedom Pass'". Evening Standard. 5 April 2008. Archived from the original on 3 December 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
- ^ Brooke, Mike (2 April 2008). "Gloves off as 10 square up for 'London Mayor' title fight". East London Advertiser. Archived from the original on 10 December 2025. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
- ^ "Election 2017" (PDF). Havering Fabian. 2 (31). June 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 June 2024.
- ^ "Who are the 100 Women 2014?". BBC News. 26 October 2014. Archived from the original on 20 September 2025. Retrieved 10 December 2025.