2026 Release

Altab Ali Foundationed – Community Memory, Struggle, and Recognition by Mayar Akash is a landmark publication documenting the history of the British Bangladeshi community, the anti‑racist movement in the East End, and the long fight for justice following the 1978 murder of Altab Ali. This book stands out as one of the most comprehensive accounts of racism in 1970s Britain, the Battle of Brick Lane, and the grassroots activism that reshaped Tower Hamlets.

From the opening dedication to the final chapters, Akash grounds the narrative in authentic community testimony. The book recalls how “throughout the 1970s racist attacks on the Bengali community were widespread… much of Tower Hamlets was a ‘no go area’ for Bengalis,” a line that captures the urgency and danger of the era. Drawing on archival material, interviews, and historical records, Akash reconstructs the events that led to the mass mobilisation after Altab Ali’s murder on 4 May 1978.

The book’s Foreword and Preface provide essential context, describing how British Bengalis faced far‑right violence, social deprivation, and institutional neglect. Akash highlights the pivotal role of youth who “mounted a formidable resistance movement,” as well as the elders, women, and allies who shaped the community’s survival strategies. This multi‑layered approach makes the book invaluable for researchers studying migration history, race relations, and community organising in Britain.

A major strength of Altab Ali Foundationed is its commitment to correcting historical distortions. Akash documents how early memorial efforts were grassroots, noting that “the earliest memorial event… was organised by the Whitechapel Anarchist Group together with Shamsuddin Shams and Mohammad Haque.” This challenges simplified narratives and restores credit to the activists who preserved the memory of 1978 long before official recognition.

The book’s extensive structure — including thematic chapters on racism as structure, youth identity, cross‑community alliances, trade union solidarity, faith networks, and transnational Bengali history — makes it a rich resource for educators, students, and community historians. Its detailed timelines, maps, and archival references offer a rare depth of documentation on the evolution of British Bengali activism.

Akash also traces the political struggle over the naming of Altab Ali Park, showing how memory itself became contested. The formation of the Altab Ali Foundation in 2010 is presented not as the beginning of remembrance, but as the institutionalisation of decades of community-led work.

For anyone researching East End history, anti‑racist movements, or the legacy of Altab Ali, this book is essential reading. It preserves testimonies, honours frontline defenders, and provides a meticulously researched account of how a community “refused to disappear” despite violence, marginalisation, and political neglect.

Altab Ali Foundationed is more than a historical record — it is a vital contribution to Britain’s collective memory and a powerful reminder of the ongoing importance of justice, solidarity, and community heritage.

Coming soon