The College of Cambridge in England is understood for a lot of issues – its tutorial credentials, its world-class standing of studying, its vibrant pupil life and its alums – the creme de la creme of world elites. However few would have thought {that a} recitation of the Ramayana in Cambridge would additionally generate world headlines. India’s famend non secular chief, Morari Bapu, performed a nine-day Ram Katha at Jesus Faculty, College of Cambridge final week, and it noticed the participation of Britain’s first Hindu Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, on Independence Day.
Sunak, who has by no means been shy of his religion, spoke eloquently about the way it guides him in probably the most difficult jobs on this planet. “I’m right here as we speak not as a Prime Minister, however as a Hindu,” stated Sunak as he sought Bapu’s blessings and underlined that his Hindu religion guides him in each facet of his life and provides him the braveness to do his finest because the Prime Minister of Britain. He talked about how a “golden Ganesha sits gleefully on my desk at 10 Downing Road” as a “fixed reminder to me about listening and reflecting on points earlier than performing”. Sunak even chanted “Jai Siya Ram” and took part in an aarti on stage. Bapu’s response has been equally heat as he underlined how “the humility with which PM Sunak approached the Vyaspeeth and conveyed his respect solely underscores the virtues of his tradition”.
Sunak has at all times been unequivocal in embracing his Hindu id. Way back to 2017, he had declared: “I’m now a citizen of Britain. However my faith is Hindu. My spiritual and cultural heritage is Indian. I proudly say that I’m a Hindu and my id can also be a Hindu.” He not solely took his oath in 2020 on the Bhagavad Gita, he has carried out gau puja and has been seen sporting the kalawa (sacred purple thread). He has celebrated Indian festivals like Diwali and Janmashtami with fervor. When Sunak as Chancellor had lit candles to mark Diwali on the doorstep of No 11 Downing Road, he had described it as certainly one of his “proudest moments.”
Not surprisingly, Sunak stays the favourite of the Indian diaspora within the UK, which is among the largest ethnic minorities within the nation, coming near 1.5 million folks. This diaspora is now additionally changing into politically aware and in Sunak it sees its personal rise as a assured confident constituency which is more and more keen to form the future of their nation extra actively.
Sunak’s rise is as a lot a tribute to his personal grit and willpower and the success of the Indian diaspora as it’s to the quickly evolving nature of the British politics. That the primary ethnic minority Prime Minister of the UK can be a Conservative would have been unthinkable only a few years again. However the Conservative Occasion has managed to modernize itself by reaching out to ethnic minorities in a sustained method for the reason that days of David Cameron and this has paid dividends. Sunak’s consolation along with his spiritual id in some methods gels with values that the Tories maintain pricey – cultural rootedness. And his Prime Ministership has definitely introduced some calm to the rank and file of the Tories, which was getting torn asunder by the shenanigans of Boris Johnson.
However the Conservatives are dealing with a troublesome political surroundings. Only a month again, Sunak’s social gathering took a beating and rival Labour Occasion and Liberal Democrats made some severe good points within the England native elections. The Tories additionally misplaced two protected seats in by-elections with enormous margins to their political opponents, underscoring the deep electoral bother the social gathering finds itself in. The price of dwelling is spiraling and there may be pessimism about the way forward for the British economic system. The Tories are not seen because the social gathering of governance with the famed British public companies dealing with an all-round collapse. And the emotive concern of Brexit is not producing political dividend for the social gathering. The truth is, it’s quick changing into a legal responsibility with some voters questioning how issues might go this flawed so quickly.
For Sunak, it’ll be a tall order to construct a profitable coalition earlier than subsequent yr’s election. There are already predictions concerning the Tories dealing with a cataclysmic defeat within the 2024 common election. Regardless of falling far behind the Labour Occasion in opinion polls, Sunak continues to take care of that the Conservatives can nonetheless win the subsequent common election and that the subsequent election was not a “accomplished deal” for Labour. He has delineated 5 key priorities of his authorities – bringing down inflation, rising the economic system, lowering debt and NHS ready instances, and stopping small boat crossings to manage immigration. However he has not been capable of ship on most and time is working out for him.
For all of Sunak’s achievements up to now, he faces powerful political challenges forward. And it’s in instances like these that religion turns into an anchor, serving to to navigate the turbulence round and inside. Whereas his religion could also be deeply private for Sunak, its public demonstration can also be a message to the broader Indian diaspora that its assist will likely be key for the British Prime Minister as he enters the previous few tough months of his premiership.
Harsh V. Pant is a Professor of Worldwide Relations at King’s Faculty London. He’s Vice President – Research and Overseas Coverage at Observer Analysis Basis, New Delhi. He’s additionally the Director (Honorary) of the Delhi Faculty of Transnational Affairs at Delhi College.
Disclaimer: These are the non-public opinions of the creator.
