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I am now in my sixties, but I was just a young lad of 12 when I came to Scotland from a small town near the city of Multan in Pakistan. Obviously it was a huge change of culture and environment, but the local kids were very friendly, and it didn’t take long for me to settle in to life in Glasgow.

When I started to write about my cultural identity in terms of an independent Scotland, I was initially flummoxed as I have a plethora of identities rolled into one. Along with being female and having multiple roles as a daughter, sister, wife, mother and mother in law, I strongly identify with being a Scottish Muslim. I am also a student, researcher, teacher, activist and a firm believer in an independent Scotland.

I have always admired my dad. There are a whole host of reasons for my respect but chief amongst them is that he has always stood by the principle of his conviction. My father joined the SNP in 1974, he was the first Asian to join the party in Glasgow which went very much against the grain of the local Pakistani community he grew up in.

As an Italian-born Scot I’ll be voting yes to an independent Scotland in 2014. I’ve always been immensely proud of my mixed heritage. It influenced my politics, my values and ideals and ultimately my way of life, in many different ways.

As a Canadian born Scot I will be voting YES in the referendum for an independent Scotland. Scots have played key roles in many independent countries around the globe not least in the country of my birth.

Ben Rogers, originally from Lincolnshire, is a Director of Attacat, the Edinburgh-based search engine and internet marketing firm.  He's recently decided to give his support to the Yes campaign.