Target age range: SEND focus; Year 8 students (12–14 years old)

‘Tumhara paggar kya hai?’ An enquiry into the importance of lascar labour, in comparison to other Asiatic and British seamen, for British merchant ships, c. 1918–1939. 

This resource is a series of PowerPoints set to answer the enquiry question: How important was lascar labour for British merchant ships during the interwar years? The enquiry is crafted to suit the needs of SEND students but can be – and has been – adapted for use in any Year 8 classroom. Through the use of current-day examples, students will encounter the concepts of the gig economy, supply chains and equity in employment. The aim is to balance historical complexity with accessibility, challenging traditional narratives while aligning with broader empire studies. 

This enquiry was written by Jasmine Kaur TFHA, Teacher of Humanities and Citizenship and Teaching & Learning and Assessment Lead at the Centre Academy London.

Every effort has been made to trace all image copyright holders and permissions in these resources, although occasionally it has not been possible to identify them. Please contact Maheema Chanrai at maheema.chanrai@history.org.uk with any queries.

Image: Lascars at the Royal Albert Dock in London, By Port of London Authority,1936 - Port of London Authority Magazine,1936, CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons).