Rishi Sunak is the First Indian-Origin to Be British Prime Minister
Rishi Sunak officially became the first Indian-origin to be the new British Prime Minister on Tuesday (Oct. 25) after receiving the blessing of King Charles II. He was appointed following the resignation of Lizz Truss who only served for 45 days.
Rishi Sunak was the only candidate to replace Lizz Truss due to his rival (Boris Johnson and Penny Mordaunt) didn’t come forward. And after being appointed, Sunak is ready to face the challenges ahead.
“The United Kingdom is a great country, but there is no doubt we face a profound economic challenge. We need stability and unity, and I will make it my utmost priority to bring our party and our country together.” said Rishi Sunak as reported on CNN.
Who is Rishi Sunak?
Rishi Sunak’s parents are Indian immigrants who came to the UK from pre-colonial Kenya and Tanzania. They lived in Southampton where his father’s occupation is a doctor and his mother ran a pharmacy.
Sunak studied philosophy, politics, and economics at Oxford University, UK. Then he earned a master’s degree in business administration from Stanford University, US.
The 42-year-old man’s early political career was entering the parliament in 2015, representing the Richmond constituency in North Yorkshire, Northern England. And in just five years, he went from a simple MP to Finance Minister under prime-minister Boris Johnson.
An Indian-Origin Who Makes History
As a Hindu, the appointment felt special for Rishi Sunak because it coincided with Diwali Day, the festival of light celebrated by millions of Hindus. This historic moment isn’t only special for Rishi Sunak, but also for the people of the UK, especially many British Asian.
“It was a historic moment that simply would not have been possible even a decade or two ago. It shows that public service in the highest office in Britain can be open to those of all faiths and ethnic backgrounds. This will be a source of pride to many British Asians – including many who do not share Rishi Sunak’s Conservative politics.” said Sunder Katwala of the British Future thinktank, which focuses on identity and race, as reported by the Guardian.
It’s interesting to see an Indian-origin became the prime minister of UK. Because as we know, India used to be ruled by Britain. “Indian son rises over the empire. History comes full circle in Britain,” an NDTV headline said as cited on CNN.
