Taraki, a Birmingham-based men's group founded in 2017 by Soho and Jewellery Quarter Ward councillor Shuranjeet Singh, is quietly shattering taboos around male mental health through its unique 'shoulder to shoulder' approach. The organisation focuses on creating safe spaces for South Asian men to discuss their feelings, one conversation at a time.
From Self-Hate to Self-Love: Taimour Ahmed's Journey
Taimour Ahmed, the men's health lead at Taraki, began his involvement as an attendee, visiting the group so often that he was eventually invited to join the team. Reflecting on his transformation, he shared with BirminghamLive how he moved from years of self-hatred to a place of peace and pride. 'I grew up during the 9/11 era,' he said. 'Just that journey of hating your own self and your own brown skin to now being at an age where you like appreciate your brownness and South Asianness, I think that's incredibly important.' He added: 'It was such a long journey of hating myself for so long. Now it's so nice to say I love myself, and I love my communities and I want to support my communities. That's a very peaceful place to come to.'
Chai in the City: A Non-Judgmental Space for Men
Taraki hosts monthly 'Chai in the City' events across the UK, including in Birmingham, where men can gather in a non-judgmental environment to chat or play sports, all aimed at supporting mental health. Taimour explained: 'Men can come to the space and just be themselves, have a chat with other people. One of the things that someone said to us in the training programme was that in this space, they don't feel any pressure to perform. It's really important because we all need spaces like that.'
Breaking the Cycle of Shame and Masculinity
Taimour highlighted the cultural barriers South Asian men face, particularly the concepts of 'sharam' (shame) and rigid masculinity. 'When it comes to South Asian men, I think you have sharam, but also in the context of masculinity. We have to be strong, stable men all the time. It creates a vicious cycle where men don't speak out and seek support and then they continue to have negative behaviours or addictions.' He emphasised that sitting and talking about feelings can be a 'foreign concept' for many men, making the 'shoulder to shoulder' approach essential for breaking down taboos. 'I think for South Asian men, and just men in general, we need that shoulder-to-shoulder approach beyond that accustomed sitting down opposite someone and just talking about feelings. That's still a foreign concept to us.'
Expanding Reach and Resources
Taraki runs numerous events across the UK and internationally, including in Canada, and maintains a dedicated resource hub for those seeking support. The group's work continues to challenge stigmas and provide vital mental health support within the South Asian community.
