Diversity to divinity

In the fortnight in which nail bombs tore through ethnic minority neighbourhoods in Brixton and Brick Lane and brought mayhem to Soho, a little known, relatively unpublicised event took place in the Midlands that should give hope to all who wish for harmony between Britain's communities.

This event was the consecration of a new Hindu temple on 13 acres of derelict land set in the bleak industrial landscape of Tividale in Sandwell.

Sitting out in the unexpected sunshine of a May bank holiday weekend we contemplated a scene that represented everything that a tolerant multicultural society stood for and that defied the perversely logical potential of nail bombs to spread fear and discord. The need for tight security—after all, a government minister was among the …