Bishan Dass

Bishan Dass is a British politician who became the first British Asian Lord Mayor of Wolverhampton in 1986. He was first elected as Councillor of Ettingshall Ward on 1 May 1975.

Life

Bishan Dass was born in Ravidassia family of Village Shaffipur in the North Indian state of Punjab. In 1963, he came to the UK. He was elected for the first time to the Metropolitan Borough Council of Wolverhampton in 1979.

Opposition to Racism and Caste Discrimination

He faced bitter experiences of casteism when Jat men of the left-wing Indian Workers Association, active in Britain since the 1950s, challenged his candidature in the local council elections in 1979.

Publications

He published a book named Pride Vs Prejudice, in which he penned down his lifelong struggle against inequality, discrimination, and prejudice. There are a number of horrifying and distressing stories about caste-based untouchability still practising in India and racial prejudice in the UK.