British Asian and Overseas Socialist Fellowship

British Asian Socialist Fellowship

The British Asian Socialist Fellowship (BASF) was founded in 1953 by the Labour Party National Executive Committee and was formalized during a conference held at Garlick Hill in London on 11 July 1953. Its purpose was to represent the interests of socialists in Britain and Asia through an annual delegates' conference, lectures, social events and exchange trips between Britain and Asia. BASF disseminated its work through a magazine titled East and West and a bulletin titled Labour Links. Its founding President was former Labour Prime Minister Clement Attlee.

Several South Asians were part of the organization’s founding committee. For example, the barrister Nath Pai, who would go on to lead India’s Praja Socialist Party, was elected Vice-Chairman in 1953 alongside Lady Hilda Alice Selwyn-Clarke. Other leading members included politician Fenner Brockway. According to its founding constitution, which cemented BASF’s commitment to socialist solidarity and knowledge exchange between Britain and Asia, all members of the fellowship were also required to be members of the Labour Party or a socialist party in their respective countries.

The British Asian Socialist Fellowship established links with South Asian organizations in Britain. For example, it forged links with the Indian Socialist Group in 1956 and supported them as they opened hostels for Indians in London. It also built connections with the Indian Workers’ Association and the Indian Journalists’ Association. BASF established branches in places such as west London and Leeds. It often held local events with socialist organizations and student societies. Examples include a talk held in Cambridge on 31 May 1958, in conjunction with Eastern Region of the Labour Party and the Pakistan Students’ Federation, and a symposium on ‘Race Relations’ held in Nottingham on 21 September 1958.

Given the organization's growing scope to connect with socialists in places such the Caribbean and South America, BASF was renamed the British Asian and Overseas Socialist Fellowship in 1956. By 1958 the fellowship was affiliated with 208 organizations. The London branch alone, which was led by Krishna Kurti, had 400 members. Their events included a discussion group on how to combat racism and racial violence in response to the Notting Hill Riots in 1958.

The fellowship operated until around 1972.