Ninder Johal has had a working-class upbringing in Smethwick, therefore, revealed that he was surprised when he was approached to take on the honour, adding “It was a surprise to receive this appointment, but a delightful surprise. It’s nice to know that there is a collection of people out there who think you’re worthy of such a position.
“I’m from a working-class background, and I went to a comprehensive school when I grew up in Smethwick. So if anyone had said to me at any stage of my childhood that I would be, in some way, related to The Queen, who was such a distant figure to me as a child, I would never have believed it in a million years.”
Ninder’s new role as Deputy Lieutenant got over one million reactions on Twitter and went viral after he posted a picture in his ceremonial uniform. The position which now makes him one of The Queen’s representatives in the West Midlands.
He stated, “I didn’t realise until I put the photo of myself in my uniform that it would get the reaction it did. It’s gone past one million reactions on social media and a lot of social media coverage.”
The 56-year-old began studying finance at Leeds University, then completed an MBA at Aston University as he started work in management consultancy. During this, Ninder was touring with his band Achanak as a table player where he realised that his heart and passion was in his music, leading him to quit his job and establish his own record company which aimed to promote and sell bhangra music.
“I had this vision that, one day, bhangra music would pass into the charts, which most people thought, quite rightly, was mission impossible. But we reached number five in the UK charts in 2003 with Mundian to Bach Ke [released by Punjabi MC], and it was a great feeling when I switched on Top of the Pops and the track came on.”
Shortly after this success, he shifted into event and video production with his company, Nachural, an organisation that has seen significant events created in the Midlands with the ambition of moving their events into London and Manchester. This then led to his non-employment roles with the University of Wolverhampton, the West Midlands Growth Company, Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership and the Albion Foundation where he aspires to give back.
“I was 10-years-old when my father lost his sight from working in the foundries and spent a lot of time in and out of the hospital. I got to see close how the NHS looked after him, and I got a free education, so I always thought, when the time was right, to give something back.
“The driving force is that I was fortunate, and if there are people less fortunate than you, you should do everything you can to help them. I did a stint for about two or three years where I lectured in business, and that’s where I saw the importance of having an education, and the importance of how it can liberate an individual. I suppose it was that two or three years that I did that, really gave me the real belief about skills and education.”
Ninder is a practising Sikh which he feels helps him in all the areas he works in. He stated, “Sikhism is a very practical and pragmatic religion, and there’s no element of it that would stop me doing what I’m doing on a regular basis. It’s an open religion that doesn’t discriminate against anyone, whether it’s gender, sexual orientation or religion.
“I think Sikhs are proud that one of theirs is a Deputy Lieutenant and that for those who didn’t know much about Sikhism, which was quite apparent from Twitter, they now have a much better understanding of the faith and that we, as Sikhs, are pretty integrated and part of British life.”
He concludes on a message to anyone who has a dream they want to follow.
“My message to everyone is that if someone tells you that you can’t do something, I think you should ignore them. If someone tells you that you haven’t got the skills set to do something, you should ignore them, and if someone says that you shouldn’t dream, then you should ignore them.
“I think we’re all born equal and while we don’t all get the same opportunities, we all have talents, and if we all think positively, I think anything is achievable.”
Navkiran Bains
