Hummingbird News Desk
NEW DELHI, 25 OCT: It was no forecast when Robert Clive, who laid the foundation of British East India company rule in Bengal/India in 1757 that one day son of an immigrant of Indian origin will become the prime minister of the once most powerful nation in the world. It took 265 years to happen; but it has happened.
History has turned upside down. Rishi Sunak is the 57th prime minister of United Kingdom (UK) and Indians all over the world are rejoicing. This is indeed a proud moment for Indians. Britain is home to a vibrant and diverse community of people with roots in India; a nation which the Britishers ruled, rather ruthlessly, for nearly two centuries. Sunak’s triumph is a significant milestone for not only the Indians in UK but for all the Indians living in and outside India.
The new Conservative Party leader Rishi Sunak officially becomes the British prime minister following his meeting with King Charles III, where he was asked to form the next government.
Earlier on Tuesday, Liz Truss tendered her resignation to King Charles III, after having addressed the nation from 10 Downing Street before proceeding to Buckingham palace to tender her resignation.
The announcement for Sunak’s PMship came shortly after Liz Truss, the shortest-serving British PM tendered her resignation.
Rishi Sunak, UK’s youngest leader in modern history addressed the country outside Downing Street at about 11.35 am before he begins building a new Cabinet in a bid to unite a fractious Tory party.
In his first address, he says the UK is facing a “profound economic crisis” and that he has been chosen as the new Tory leader to fix some of Liz Truss’s mistakes. He further added, “This govt will be about integrity, professionalism and accountability at every level. Trust is earned and I will earn yours.”
Sunak added, “My government will build an economy that makes the most of the Brexit opportunities.”
Sunak won the Tory leadership contest without a vote being cast after rivals Penny Mordaunt and Boris Johnson dropped out of the race, in a stunning turnaround from his loss to Liz Truss just weeks ago.
Rishi Saunak’s paternal grandparents hailed from Punjab, Gujranwala, now in Pakistan. His grandfather moved to Kenya and Rishi’s father Yashvir was born in Kenya. The family moved to Britain in 1960s.Sunak is a practicing Hindu and when he took his oath of office as a member of parliament he did so on Bhagwat Gita. As chancellor of Exchequer, he celebrated Diwali by putting lights outside his official residence at 11 Downing Street. It’s a rare and nice coincidence that Rishi Sunak won the leadership of the conservative party and hence the Prime Minister ship, on the most important day of Diwali. Diwali is the festival of light marks the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance.
In the eyes of many Indians Sunak’s new job is rich in symbolism and hols good for India. His elevation and acceptance can be seen pointing to new narratives. This speaks of the multicultural tolerance among the British people and the political class.
So far, we had a Satya Nadella running Microsoft or a Sundar Pichai at the helm of google or a Parag Agrawal as CEO of twitter we have gone beyond Satyam Shivam and Sundaram.The above and other successes overseas are seen as vindicative of Indian excellence.
More than 200 persons of Indian Origin have been elected to positions of political power in 25 countries. People from Indian origin are heading Govt in different parts of globe; Mauritius, Seychelles, Trinidad a and the likes. But Sunak’s elevation and achievement arguably is more important because he has become Prime Minister of a country its own messy colonial past. They are still a society where the existence of racism can be found.
Tags: #RishiSunak #BritishPrimeMinister #IndianOrigin #KingCharlesIII #BorisJohnson #ConservativeParty
