Both Not Half

A groundbreaking and revolutionary look at the mixed-heritage experience by actor and filmmaker Jassa Ahluwalia

'This guy has better Punjabi than both of us and he's only half Punjabi.' Only. Half. I stared at those words. The intent behind the comment was in no way malicious, but it hurt. I felt diminished. I felt like I was being robbed of something essential to me. And as I stared at my screen, realisation dawned. '#bothnothalf' I replied.

For over twenty-five years, actor Jassa Ahluwalia described himself as 'half Indian, half English'. His fluent Punjabi always prompted bewilderment, medical staff questioned the legitimacy of his name, and the world of casting taught him he wasn't 'the right kind of mixed-race'. Feeling caught between two worlds, it wasn't long before Jassa embarked on a call to action: we need to change how we think and talk about mixed identity.

'Full of warmth, humour, optimism and sometimes painful honesty' WILLIAM DALRYMPLE
'Anyone who's ever struggled to make sense of who they are and where they belong should read this book' NADIA WHITTOME MP
'An important voice of our generation' PARMINDER NAGRA