India ink – a play by Shahida Rahman

An Indian nanny who travels to Britain in 1905 with the family that employs her, but has to fend for herself when she is cast out.

Shahida Rahman co-wrote this audio play, adapted from the screenplay titled India Ink.

Shahida was born and raised in Cambridge where she still lives.

“I’m author, writer and publisher. I am married and have four children. I’m also on the board of trustees at Cambridge Central Mosque. My family has been part of the fabric of Cambridge for over 60 years. My late father arrived in Cambridge in 1957 and my mother in 1964.”
Their story ‘From East Pakistan to Cambridge’ is here.

India Ink is set in 1905 – the story of an Indian nanny who travels to Britain with the family that employs her, but when her affair with the husband is revealed, she is cast out.

She must learn to fend for and trust herself among British suffragettes struggling to take hold of their destiny. The period drama is set against an historical background, and utilises strong real-life characters, including some of the most famous women in the suffragette movement, the founder of the Daily Mirror, and Sir Winston Churchill.

India Ink was shortlisted for the Circalit Story Department Contest and reached the finals of the WriteMovies International Writing Contest 2011.

In April 2013, Shahida was awarded a Channel S ‘Special Acknowledgement Award’ for her work drawing attention to the forgotten Bangladeshi cultural history and heritage.

More details about Shahida’s work can be found at www.shahidarahman.co.uk 

Cambridge South Asian History Month was launched by Cambridge City Council on 15 June 2020. Join the conversation on our facebook page @CamSouthAsianHistory