On Tuesday, Rishi Sunak created history by becoming the first British prime minister of Indian descent. After Liz Truss resigned as leader of the Tories, he was chosen as the leader of the Conservative Party. The 42-year-old former investment banker and politician assumed office as the UK's first Hindu prime minister. He is the country's youngest prime minister in 210 years. Sunak, who was appointed to deal with a worsening economic crisis and a fractious political party, became Britain's third prime minister in two months.
The 42-year-old Sunak is a wealthy descendant of East African and Indian immigrants. Here's all you need to know about UK Prime Minister's Indian connection:
Facts About UK Prime Minister's Indian Connection
Sunak's grandparents were British Indian nationals. They were born in Gujranwala, now located in modern-day Pakistan.
Ramdas Sunak, Rishi Sunak's grandfather, was the one who moved to Nairobi in 1935 to work as a clerk.
Raghubir Sain Berry MBE, Sunak's maternal grandpa, worked as a tax official in Tanzania until 1966 when he and his wife and three kids decided to emigrate to the UK.
Usha Sunak, Rishi Sunak's mother managed a pharmacist shop, while Sunak's father, Yashvir, worked as a general practitioner for the National Health Service. Although they were both of Indian heritage, they lived most of their lives in the UK. At Southampton General Hospital, Sunak was also born in 1980.
Rishi Sunak's wife is Akshata Murty, the daughter of Infosys CEO Narayana Murthy. Krishna and Anoushka are the two little daughters of the couple.
On the eve of Diwali, the most significant festival of the year for Hindus, Sunak was unexpectedly appointed as the Tory leader in the British Parliament. He posted on Twitter saying, “I will do everything I can in this job to build a Britain where our children and our grandchildren can light their Diyas and look to the future with hope.” As the Chancellor of the Exchequer under Boris Johnson's direction, he lit Diwali diyas in his Downing Street house.
Moreover, he frequently mentions his ancestry and how his family always reminded him of his culture and values. He was an ex-investment banker and a graduate of Stanford University. Prior to attending Oxford and later Stanford University in California, Sunak worked as a waiter in a neighbourhood Indian restaurant while still in high school.
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