In conversation with Jassa Ahluwalia, author of Both Not Half

PREACH Inclusion's next live conversation event, with Jassa Ahluwalia.
About this Event

Join us for a special evening with Jassa Ahluwalia, a leading voice on mixed heritage identity, in conversation with Priya Aggarwal-Shah, founder and director of PREACH Inclusion, on rewriting the narrative on race, roots, and representation.

Event Details:

Date: Wednesday 28th January 2026
Time: 5 – 8pm
Location: WSP, 70 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1AF
Dress code: Represent your heritage – something small, something big – whatever takes your fancy!

About the event

To continue our series of powerful live conversations, PREACH Inclusion is proud to welcome Jassa Ahluwalia, award-winning author of Both Not Half.

Born in Coventry and raised in Leicester, Jassa came to prominence as Rocky in BBC Three’s Some Girls, with further roles in Unforgotten, Ripper Street, and Peaky Blinders. In 2019, he created the hashtag #BothNotHalf to explore his own British-Indian heritage and challenge the language used to describe mixed identity. His TEDx talk How Language Shapes Identity has reached over 240,000 viewers, and his BBC One documentary Am I English? won an Asian Media Award in 2022. His debut book, Both Not Half: A Radical New Approach to Mixed Heritage Identity, was published in 2024 and earned him Best Narrator at the Audio Production Awards.

For over twenty-five years, Jassa described himself as “half Indian, half English.” Fluent in Punjabi yet often questioned about his name, he found himself caught between two worlds — until he began asking deeper questions about identity, empire, and belonging. In Both Not Half, Jassa unpacks the legacies of colonialism, the media we grew up with, and the cultural binaries that shape how we see ourselves and each other. Part memoir, part manifesto, his work is a rallying cry for a more inclusive future.

In conversation with Priya Aggarwal-Shah, founder and director of PREACH Inclusion, this conversation will explore the politics of language, the complexities of representation, and the radical act of claiming space as mixed heritage individuals. Expect a bold, honest, and energising dialogue on race, roots, and rewriting the narrative.

A huge thank you to WSP UK & Ireland for hosting and sponsoring this event.

What to Expect:

Interactive Q&A: Engage with Jassa and Priya during the Q&A session and contribute to the discussion.

Book Signing: An exclusive opportunity to have a copy of “Both Not Half” signed by Jassa Ahluwalia. You can purchase a copy of the book at the event itself.

Networking: An opportunity to continue the conversation with industry connections over refreshments.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

This is a ticketed event, with a minimum payment of £15.
You will have the opportunity to purchase Jassa’s book, 'Both Not Half' at the event and have this signed too.
Your name will be shared with WSP for security purposes, and you’ll need to show your ticket on entry. No ticket, no admission.
There will be photography and videography (short reels and vox pops) taking place during the evening. If you wish not to be included in these, please let Priya Aggarwal-Shah ([email protected]) know.
The interview itself will not be filmed in full, and we kindly request our audience members do not either.
There will be no refunds for this event (though you are welcome to pass on your ticket to someone else). Given this is likely to be a popular event, please only register if you are sure you can attend.