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Interview with Shushma Datt and Sudhir Datta
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription19611
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1946- 2023] (interview content), interviewed 20 Jan. 2023
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 2 sound recordings (wav) (90 min., 21 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (90 min., 4 sec.)
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Shushma Datt and her son, Sudhir Datta conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Curator, Jane Lemke and Anushay Malik. 00:00 – 12:47 Interview opens with introductions. Shushma Datt shares information about; where she’s lived in Burnaby sin…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Series
- Museum Oral Histories series
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 2 sound recordings (wav) (90 min., 21 sec.) + 1 sound recording (mp3) (90 min., 4 sec.)
- Material Details
- Interviewers: Jane Lemke and Anushay Malik Interviewees: Shushma Datt and Sudhir Datta Location of Interview: Spice Radio, Norland Avenue, Burnaby Interview Date: January 20, 2023 Total Number of tracks: 2 Total Length of all Tracks: 01:30:21 Digital master recordings (wav) were edited into one recording and converted to mp3 for access on Heritage Burnaby
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a recording of an oral history interview with Shushma Datt and her son, Sudhir Datta conducted by Burnaby Village Museum Curator, Jane Lemke and Anushay Malik. 00:00 – 12:47 Interview opens with introductions. Shushma Datt shares information about; where she’s lived in Burnaby since immigrating in 1972 and her arranged marriage which lead her to immigrate to Canada. Datt provides detailed information about her family background in Kenya and her parent’s decision to move their family from Kenya to India in the 1960s and then to England in the 1965. Datt describes her family’s experiences living in Kenya and India in the 1960s and provides some context on the political unrest that happened in Kenya which lead her family to leave. 12:48 - 28:07 Datt talks about her time living in England and shares information on her family life and her employment experiences. Datt conveys an experience from her childhood that inspired her to become a broadcaster and shares her experiences working for the BBC oversees service in England (1965-1972). Datt describes some of the articles that she's written for various publications and the people that she's interviewed. Datt highlights a particular experience about writing a critical review about the controversial design on Jimi Hendrix’s album “Axis: Bold as Love” that depicted Hindu religious iconography. 28:09 – 34:47 Datt and Datta provide further details about Datt's arranged marriage which lead her to immigrate to Canada in 1972 and to work as a broadcaster in Canada. Datt recalls her experiences working as a radio station operator for CHQM, a radio broadcaster for CJVB and starting her own South Asian radio station Rim Jhim in 1987. 34:48 – 40:01 Datt and Datta share information on where they’ve lived in Vancouver and Burnaby. Datt and Datta recall pivotal family life events that impacted their lives in 1974. 40:02 – 45:53 Datt recalls the travel trunks and contents that she and her family brought with them when they left Nairobi. Datt describes the letters that her parents wrote. Datt and Datta describe photos of their family and convey the impacts to their family after two of Datt’s brothers died at 24 years of age. 45:54 – 50:56 Interview continues chronologically from 1974, after Datt’s son, Sudhir Datta was born. Datt describes how she had to work hard to help pay her bills and support her family. Datta describes his childhood growing up as a South Asian child living and attending school in Burnaby (1979-1992). Datt and Datta recall Datt’s graduation ceremony and Datta’s Order of British Columbia awards ceremony. 50:57 – 58:03 Datt and Datta talk about food and cooking and where they’ve shopped for traditional food supplies. Datta explains her family lineage as Hindus who eat meat and how she’s been a vegetarian for over 30 years. Datt and Datta share stories about Datt’s mother Leela Datta. 58:04 – 1:05:38 Both Datt and Datta reflect on what’s it’s been like living as South Asians in Burnaby. Datt conveys the message that she got from her mom, Leela Datta "not to assimilate but to integrate". They both reflect on how the ethnic and cultural diversity of neighbourhoods has changed over time and Datt describes his experiences as a student in Burnaby. 1:05:39 – 1:16:51 Datt and Datta talk about the role of religion in their lives, describe the purpose of Radio Rim Jhim and reflect on how the South Asian community has grown in Metro Vancouver and the disparities created within. They both recall how their lives were threatened and impacted in 1984 following an interview that Datt did with Indira Ghandhi. Datt talks about the origins of her and her son’s surnames. 1:16:52 – 1:26:11 Datt and Datta talk about and reflect on their own experiences of racism and discrimination. Datt talks about Spice Radio’s annual campaign “Raise your hands against Racism”. Datt and Datta provide background on the radio stations Rim Jhim and Spice Radio including; how they got started, their unbiased approach to broadcast content and their experiences in the complex realm of broadcasting a multi-cultural radio station. 1:26:12 – 1:30:04 In closing, Datt and Datta convey what they think that younger generations of South Asian Canadians should understand about the South Asian Community in British Columbia.
- History
- Interviewees biographies: Shushma Datt was born in Nairobi, Kenya in 1946 and is the second eldest of six children. In the 1960s during the unrest in Kenya, her family moved to India. After about nine months of living in India, Datt's family decided to return to Kenya, leaving Datt and her brother to complete their education in India. While living in India, Datt studied at Delhi University and worked at the Indian newspaper. In 1965, Datt, her parents and five siblings decided to leave Kenya and immigrated to England. While living in England, Datt got work as a broadcaster with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) overseas service, producing her first program in 1969. During her time with the BBC, Datt has interviewed many influential artists including Jimi Hendrix and the Beatles as well as the Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi. In 1972, Datt immigrated to Canada and settled in Burnaby. In late 1973, Datt sponsored her mother who joined her in Burnaby. Datt joined the CJVB radio station in Vancouver working as the Punjabi and Hindi language broadcaster. Datt worked here until 1978 when she started her own radio station, Radio Rim Jhim. In 2005, Datt obtained her own AM radio band license for a multicultural radio station RJ1200 which was later rebranded "Spice Radio". In 2015, Datt launched Spice Radio's annual "Hands Against Racism" campaign which has won awards from the Government of British Columbia and the B.C. Association of Broadcasters. Datt has also been a producer for Omni TV and Shaw TV and was the first woman to obtain a broadcasting license from the Canadian Radio- Television Telecommunications Commission. In 1992, Shushma Datt was awarded the Order of British Columbia and is also the recipient of the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal. Datt has been listed by the Vancouver Sun newspaper as among the 100 "most influential Indo-Canadians" and has been recognized by the Royal British Columbia Museum as one of the 150 "most influential British Columbians". Sudhir Datta is the only child of Sushma Datt and was born in Burnaby. Datta graduated with a computer science degree from Capilano University in 1995. Datta is the Vice President of Media Broadcasting (founded in 1984) creating television and radio programming for Canada's South Asian Community and has been the General Manager and Program Director of Spice Radio since 2006. Datta is also the author of many articles highlighting the South Asian community in Vancouver. Interviewers biographies: Anushay Malik is labor historian with a geographical focus on South Asia. Anushay studied at the University of London and was a research fellow at the International Institute of Social History in Amsterdam, Netherlands. In 2014, Anushay moved back to her native Pakistan and joined Lahore University of Management Services as an Assistant Professor. In 2023, Anushay is a visiting scholar at Simon Fraser University and lives in Burnaby with her family. Anushay was a co-curator of the Burnaby Village Museum exhibit “Truths Not Often Told: Being South Asian in Burnaby”. Jane Lemke has worked in various museums in the Lower Mainland and has been the Curator at Burnaby Village Museum since 2019. Her educational background includes a Master of Arts degree in History and a Master of Museum Studies degree. Her research focus has been on trauma and memory and its role in shaping Canadian identity. She loves sharing memories and stories of Burnaby with the public. Jane sits on the Council of the BC Museums Association and is the Chair of the BC Museums Association Professional Development and Education Committee.
- Creator
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Subjects
- Migration
- Occupations - Broadcasters
- Occupations - Entrepreneurs
- Occupations - Journalists
- Persons - South Asian Canadians
- Radio Stations
- Religions
- Religions - Hinduism
- Religions - Sikhism
- Social Issues
- Social Issues - Racism
- Responsibility
- Malik, Anushay
- Lemke, Jane
- Accession Code
- BV023.1.3
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1946- 2023] (interview content), interviewed 20 Jan. 2023
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
- Transcript available upon request
Audio Tracks
Interview with Shushma Datt and Sudhir Datta, [1946- 2023] (interview content), interviewed 20 Jan. 2023
Interview with Shushma Datt and Sudhir Datta, [1946- 2023] (interview content), interviewed 20 Jan. 2023
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2023_0001_0003_003.mp3
Winners of Burnaby's best baby contest
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15656
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- September 1989
- Collection/Fonds
- Century Park Museum Association fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 20.5 x 25.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of winners from the "Burnaby's Best Baby" contest for 1988 and 1989. 1988, winner Kerstyn Etherridge is holding a trophy while seated on the lap of her mother, Terry Etheridge (on the left) and 1989, winner Tanessa Shears is seated on the lap of her mother Karen Shears (on the right). T…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Century Park Museum Association fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 20.5 x 25.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of winners from the "Burnaby's Best Baby" contest for 1988 and 1989. 1988, winner Kerstyn Etherridge is holding a trophy while seated on the lap of her mother, Terry Etheridge (on the left) and 1989, winner Tanessa Shears is seated on the lap of her mother Karen Shears (on the right). The contest was held on September 17, 1989 at Burnaby Village Museum.
- History
- The first contest for Burnaby's Best Baby was held in September 1930. It was sponsored by the Burnaby Broadcast newspaper, with arrangements made by the Victorian Order of Nurses and judging by the Medical Health Officer and School Board doctor. The first winner was Lois Smith, who was presented with the Broadcast Trophy. A few years earlier, in 1922, a province wide "Better Babies Contest" was held at the New Westminster Exhibition. The babies were judged on their health, nutrition and physical form. Margaret Louise Lovell of Vancouver was the first prize winner of a five dollar coin. Burnaby's own Catherine Corker was another provincial winner in the nineteen twenties. In the early nineteen eighties, Burnaby Village Museum revived the contest as "Burnaby's Better Baby Contest" . The contest was run annually by Burnaby Village Museum until 1994 and was also known as "Burnaby's Best Baby Contest" and "Best Baby in Burnaby". The contest was limited to Burnaby residents who were twelve months and younger.
- Subjects
- Events - Competitions
- Accession Code
- BV020.5.1760
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- September 1989
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scale
- 100
- Photographer
- Erikson, Glen
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Note on verso of photograph reads: "1989"
Images
Winner of best baby in Burnaby contest
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15658
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- September 1988
- Collection/Fonds
- Century Park Museum Association fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 25.5 x 20 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of "Best Baby in Burnaby" contest winner, Kerstyn Etheridge seated on the lap of her mother, Terry Etheridge. Baby Kerstyn is holding a trophy as the winner of the contest for 1988. The contest was held in September 1988, at Burnaby Village Museum.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Century Park Museum Association fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 25.5 x 20 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of "Best Baby in Burnaby" contest winner, Kerstyn Etheridge seated on the lap of her mother, Terry Etheridge. Baby Kerstyn is holding a trophy as the winner of the contest for 1988. The contest was held in September 1988, at Burnaby Village Museum.
- History
- The first contest for Burnaby's Best Baby was held in September 1930. It was sponsored by the Burnaby Broadcast newspaper, with arrangements made by the Victorian Order of Nurses and judging by the Medical Health Officer and School Board doctor. The first winner was Lois Smith, who was presented with the Broadcast Trophy. A few years earlier, in 1922, a province wide "Better Babies Contest" was held at the New Westminster Exhibition. The babies were judged on their health, nutrition and physical form. Margaret Louise Lovell of Vancouver was the first prize winner of a five dollar coin. Burnaby's own Catherine Corker was another provincial winner in the nineteen twenties. In the early nineteen eighties, Burnaby Village Museum revived the contest as "Burnaby's Better Baby Contest" . The contest was run annually by Burnaby Village Museum until 1994 and was also known as "Burnaby's Best Baby Contest" and "Best Baby in Burnaby". The contest was limited to Burnaby residents who were twelve months and younger.
- Subjects
- Events - Competitions
- Accession Code
- BV020.5.1763
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- September 1988
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scale
- 100
- Photographer
- Erikson, Glen
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Images
Winner of best baby in Burnaby contest
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription15662
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- September 1986
- Collection/Fonds
- Century Park Museum Association fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : col. ; 9 x 12.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of winner of the Best Baby in Burnaby contest, Jesse James Pugsley Cooper seated on the lap of his mother Cheryl Cooper and next to his father, James Cooper. Cheryl is holding the trophy that baby Jesse James won in the contest. The contest was held in September 1986 at Burnaby Village M…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Century Park Museum Association fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : col. ; 9 x 12.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of winner of the Best Baby in Burnaby contest, Jesse James Pugsley Cooper seated on the lap of his mother Cheryl Cooper and next to his father, James Cooper. Cheryl is holding the trophy that baby Jesse James won in the contest. The contest was held in September 1986 at Burnaby Village Museum. Judges at the event included Gladys Moore, Jean Mowbray and Marge Eccles.
- History
- The first contest for Burnaby's Best Baby was held in September 1930. It was sponsored by the Burnaby Broadcast newspaper, with arrangements made by the Victorian Order of Nurses and judging by the Medical Health Officer and School Board doctor. The first winner was Lois Smith, who was presented with the Broadcast Trophy. A few years earlier, in 1922, a province wide "Better Babies Contest" was held at the New Westminster Exhibition. The babies were judged on their health, nutrition and physical form. Margaret Louise Lovell of Vancouver was the first prize winner of a five dollar coin. Burnaby's own Catherine Corker was another provincial winner in the nineteen twenties. In the early nineteen eighties, Burnaby Village Museum revived the contest as "Burnaby's Better Baby Contest" . The contest was run annually by Burnaby Village Museum until 1994 and was also known as "Burnaby's Best Baby Contest" and "Best Baby in Burnaby". The contest was limited to Burnaby residents who were twelve months and younger.
- Subjects
- Events - Competitions
- Accession Code
- BV020.5.1767
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- September 1986
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scale
- 100
- Photographer
- Erikson, Glen
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Images
