How Sikhs Saved The Italian Cheese Industry

Words by Nashwa Ansari

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This rare vintage poster was for Lata Mangeshkar's historic 1974 concert at London's most iconic venue, the Royal Albert Hall. In 1974, Lata became the first Indian to perform live at the prestigious venue with a series of three sold-out concerts within a single week. It was also her first performance outside India. (Available Now)

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How Sikhs Saved The Italian Cheese Industry

Photo by Catalina Martin-Chico/Panos Pictures

Parmigiano Reggiano, the pride and joy of Italian cheesemaking, is the food that millions across the world associate with Italy and Italian craftsmanship. But what happens when the work associated with such prestige is no longer appealing to the younger generations of Italians? How then, are the traditions passed on from one artisan to the other? The answer, surprisingly, comes in the form of Sikhs migrants from India. Fleeing the violent upheaval in Punjab, they sought new beginnings and stability for their families in northern Italy—a place both foreign and yet, in a way, familiar. Within the countryside, amongst the rolling hills and dairy farms, they found their calling, stepping in as the dairy farmers who would preserve Italy’s cheesemaking heritage.