Britain likely to have a Hindu Prime Minister in Rishi Sunak

by Jul 22, 2022Diaspora0 comments

Rishi Sunak, the Indian-origin former UK Chancellor of Exchequer, has now conclusively proved that he has got the maximum number of Conservative law-makers as his supporters in his bid to become the country’s next Prime Minister. Now he has to get the approval of the Conservative party cadres to succeed Boris Johnson as leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister in September. The race has now come down to just two, with UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss battling against Mr Sunak.

If Mr Sunak is chosen as the Prime Minister, the UK will become the sixth country where a person of Indian descent will be holding the highest position. If he does become the PM of Britain, then he will be the first person of Indian or even Asian origin to hold the post.

This trend of Indian origin people holding powerful positions is not confined to the UK.

According to Indiaspora, a US-based non-profit organisation representing the community globally, the following are some prominent persons of Indian origin occupying high posts:

1. Antonio Costa, prime minister, Portugal

2. Mohamed Irfaan, president, Guyana

3. Pravind Jugnauth, prime minister, Mauritius

4. Prithvirajsing Roopun, president, Mauritius

5. Chandrikapersad Santokhi, president, Suriname

6. Kamala Harris, vice president, United States

In Mauritius, nine heads of state, including Mr Jugnauth and Mr Roopun, have been of Indian origin. Similarly, Suriname has seen five presidents from the community. Also, four heads of state in Guyana and three in Singapore were of Indian descent.

Apart from these countries, Trinidad & Tobago, Portugal, Malaysia, Fiji, Ireland and the Seychelles too have chosen an Indian-origin head of state.

As Nitin Mehta, the Founder of Indian Vegetarian Society UK, produdly says, and he is right, more than 200 members of the over 550 million-strong Indian diaspora has risen to highest positions globally, including heads of state, with sheer dedication, commitment, honesty and sincerity. His research suggests that in Australia, Lisa Singh was the first woman of Indian origin to be selected as a senator from the state of Tasmania. Her great grandparents were from Bengal and came to work on sugar cane farms in Fiji. Lisa is now the director of Melbourne based Australia-India Institute. She played a supporting role in the formation of Quad which is a security dialogue between Australia, India, Japan and the US.

In neighbouring New Zealand, Sir Anand Satyanand is a former lawyer, judge and ombudsman who served as the 19th Governor-General of New Zealand from 2006 to 2011. His grandparents came to Fiji in 1911. Sir Satyanand has said: ‘For 200 years, people of Indian descent have lived in New Zealand and for 200 years they have embodied India’s traditions and values. That heritage is one that New Zealanders have increasingly come to appreciate and cherish’.

In Canada there are many politicians of Indian origin and Anita Anand is Minister for National Defence.

In Fiji almost 38% of the population is of Indian origin. Mahendra Chaudhry was the first Fijian Prime Minister of Indian origin. There are many more politicians of Indian origin in Fiji.

In Guyana almost 40% of the population is of Indian origin. There are many Indian origin politicians and the present vice president is Bharat Jagdeo. Trinidad and Tobago has an Indian origin population of 37%. Kamla Persad Bissessar was the Prime Minister of the country from 2010 to 2015. Suriname has an Indian origin population of 27.4% and it makes up the largest ethnic group. Pretaap Radhakishun was a former Prime Minister. Ramsewak Shankar was a former president of the country. Chan Santokhi is the present President of Suriname.

Mauritius has had several Prime Ministers and Presidents including Sookdeo Bissondoyal one of the founding fathers of independent Mauritius. Wavel Ramkalawan is the President of Seychelles from 2020. In Malaysia there are dozens of Indian origin politicians. Singapore has had several Presidents of Indian origin.

In South Africa Pravin Jamnadas Gordhan is a politician and anti-apartheid activist who has held various ministerial posts in the Cabinet of South Africa. He served as Minister of Finance from 2009 until 2014 and again from 2015 until 2017, as Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs from 2014 until 2015, and as Minister of Public Enterprises from February 2018.

In the East African countries of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania the Indian community has deep roots. One individual of Indian origin who has impacted many countries of the world is Yash Pal Ghai. He has advised over twenty countries on constitution making and other issues, including Iraq, Afghanistan, Papua New Guinea, Nepal, Fiji, Somalia, Libya, and Kenya (where he chaired the Constitution of Kenya Review Commission (CKRC) from 2002-2004, as well as the National Constitutional Conference (“Bomas”).

The United States of America: President Joe Biden has appointed around 17 people of Indian origin to the key positions in the country. Kamala Harris the vice President is one of them. Vinay Reddy is the director of speechwriting for president Joe Biden. Dr. Madhu Lika Guhanthakurta is leading the world’s first mission to the Sun. Dr. Suresh Kulkarni, ‘Rocket Man’ has successfully launched 55 rockets and has designed several rocket and missile components for the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile System. Rush Doshi is a senior China director on the National Security Council. Pritesh Gandhi is Chief Medical Officer, Department of Home Security. Mili Gosar is Deputy Chief of Staff -Operations in the Department of Interior. Anil Menon a lieutenant colonel with US air force and SpaceX’s first flight surgeon has been selected among the 10 new astronauts who could fly to the Moon in future. He was the first responder during the 2010 earthquake in Haiti and to the 2015 earthquake in Nepal. Sharmila Bhattacharya is a Nigerian born Director of Research in the Biomodel Performance Laboratory of the Space Bio-Sciences Division NASA.

Some Indian origin Ambassadors and High Commissioners are:

– Suriname’s Ambassador to the US: Niermala Badrising

– Australia’s High Commissioner to South Africa: Gita Kamath

– Suriname’s Ambassador to India: Aahna Kanhai

– Fiji’s High Commissioner to India: Namita Khatri

– Singapore’s Ambassador to the US: Ashok Kumar Khatri

– Canada’s High Commissioner to India and Ambassador to Nepal and Bhutan: Nadir Patel

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