London Letters: Desi students to be impacted by restrictions on bringing spouses; Blue plaque for Princess Sophia Duleep Singh goes up

“Boys in Punjab struggle with their IELTS or other English language tests that are mandatory for higher studies in the UK and other countries. Therefore, they prefer marrying a girl who has that qualification. It is good if it is a genuine case like ours. This new rule will be a disappointment for many who would have been planning to come to the UK next year,” says Sonia.

Meanwhile, the Verma couple’s distant relative from a village near Jalandhar, talking to The Indian Express on condition of anonymity, revealed, “I am glad that I landed in the UK last year. The agent set me up with a girl who also wanted to come to the UK. We came to an agreement and showed we were “married”. Our families divided the cost. I found studying difficult, so we split costs and switched to work permit a few months after. For now, it is working for us. New changes will make things difficult for students who couldn’t afford coming on their own.”

Manavjot Singh, who had come to this country as a student years ago and was able to marry a UK national says, “Student visa route will be used by genuine students any way. Non-genuine desi students will also find agents that will get them into research-based master’s degree, where the dependents can come. Not many care what happens afterwards.”

“Immigration remains a big concern and was the reason behind Brexit. Sadly, Brexit also meant losing a lot of manpower. The students bring in a lot of money, the dependants work and fill the gap. I think the pressure is being felt on local primary schools where the additional children are to be admitted and are being provided education at the cost of tax payer’s expense. Also, rogue people have made a lot of money trying to make for shortages in the care work sector,” says Ramesh K., who has been renting out his properties to students coming from India.

Amrik Singh Mujral, who runs a renowned Indian sweet factory and shop Noormahal Sweets, however, feels, “There’s no life without wife. The decision of the government is against basic human rights. It is a wrong decision. The government should look at other ways to cut net migration.”

Blue plaque for Princess Sophia Duleep Singh unveiled

The English Heritage’s commemorative blue plaque for Sher-e-Punjab Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s granddaughter and Maharaja Duleep Singh’s daughter Princess Sophia Duleep Singh, was unveiled at Faraday House on Friday.

“Our latest blue plaque is up!” tweeted English Heritage that had bestowed the plaque on the suffragette and women’s right campaigner, last year. “Princess Sophia Duleep Singh, suffragette, daughter of the last Maharajah of the Punjab, and goddaughter to Queen Victoria, has been commemorated with a blue plaque by English Heritage,” the charity announced, adding, “The plaque marks Faraday House, which was granted to Princess Sophia and her sisters as a grace and favour apartment in Hampton Court by Queen Victoria.

Anita Anand, journalist, writer and biographer of Sophia Duleep Singh, in her tweet said, “Forgive me…but this is one of the happiest days of my life! Princess Sophia Duleep Singh gets her blue plaque at Hampton Court! And sisters from everywhere came to celebrate her in the blazing sun!”

Anita Anand at the unveiling of the plaque. (Twitter photo)

“An absolute honour to see the unveiling of a blue plaque for suffragette and Sikh princess Sophia Duleep Singh. I spoke about Sophia in my maiden speech, and called for more recognition of her contribution to Britain as part of the “Hidden Heroes” campaign,” said Preet Kaur Gill, MP from Birmingham Edgbaston.

Also present at the unveiling was Slough MP Tanmanjit Singh Dhesi, who said, “Great to be part of English Heritage’s blue plaque unveiling for Princess Sophia Duleep Singh…she was an inspirational suffragette, advancing women’s rights and I’m glad she is finally getting due recognition.

(The writer is a freelance journalist based in London contributing content to digital, print, radio and TV platforms)