Oral History Interview with Amin Pirani
This interview was conducted as part of SAADA's ACFP 20/21. The interviewee discussed his father's migration from India to Uganda and the few memories of his early life in Uganda. He also discussed his life in Spartanburg, South Carolina where he moved to at a very young age when Asians were kicked out of Uganda.
Oral History Interview with Asha and Surendra Toprani
This interview was conducted as part of SAADA's ACFP 20/21. The interviewees are married and discussed their early lives in East Africa, their marriage, life in Uganda, their departure from Uganda as a result Idi Amin's expulsion of Asians from the country. They also discussed their settlement and early life in South Carolina - kids, home and work.
Photograph Of Asha and Rupa Toprani At Refugee Camp
Asha Toprani left Uganda in November 1972 with her new born daughter Rupa. They traveled to the UK without Surendra, Asha's husband and Rupa's father, because of bureaucratic restrictions that rendered him stateless, while Asha was a British subject. Upon their arrival to the UK, Asha and Rupa were sent to the Ugandan Resettlement Camp in Newberry UK.
Birth Certificate From Uganda
Uganda refugees were not permitted to take much out of the country, so most of the materials that tell their stories are official documents, such as this birth certificate.
Photograph of Sikinabhai's Wedding Ring
Uganda refugees were not permitted to take much out of the country, so only the most important items were carried to the US. This wedding ring was given to Sikinabhai in India upon her marriage, and she carried it with her to Uganda and then to the US.
Photograph of Naz Merali's Ring
Uganda refugees were not permitted to take much out of the country, so only the most important items were carried to the US. This ring was given to Naz by her father and was engraved with her name. Her father gave a similar ring to her sister.
Ronikali Merali's certificate of Naturalization to the US
The process of gaining citizenship for Ugandan parolees in the US was long because they were not technically refugees, but were parolees, which did not grant them the same path to citizenship as refugees. This is Ronikali's certificate of naturalization to the US, and feature of a photo of him in 1984 at the age of 34.
Ronikali Merali's Property Compensation Letter
In Idi Amin's expulsion of Asians from Uganda, they were not permitted to take much money with them, nor keep ownership of their property. The UNHCR worked for years to get compensation for lost property by Uganda refugees. This letter was sent to Ronikali's father for the store he lost to Idi Amin's expulsion. Ronikali said he did not take the money offered to him.
