There are now seven heads of government and state from the Indian diaspora in countries ranging from Portugal, Singapore, Suriname and Guyana to Mauritius and the Seychelles. Others serve in senior executive, legislative, judicial or party roles, such as U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Jagmeet Singh, head of Canada's opposition New Democratic Party.
The success of Rishi Sunak, former British chancellor, at winning a place in the runoff to be the next leader of the U.K.'s ruling Conservative Party and the country's next prime minister has triggered intense excitement and interest in India and among its 32 million-strong diaspora around the world.
The prospect of a young politician who hails from a family of Punjabi emigrants to East Africa and Britain making it to the top office of India's former colonial master has tantalized observers. In the past few decades, numerous political success stories have emerged from among the Indian diaspora.
Some of these high-flyers proudly showcase their Indian heritage as a badge of honor, while others downplay it for political convenience. But a common thread binding all these achievers is that they carry something distinctly Indian in terms of their democratic and pluralistic ancestral inheritance.
Diaspora Indians can comfortably mix and coexist in multicultural backgrounds without sealing themselves off from mainstream communities, and have skill at avoiding cultural barriers in their host nations.
Other common factors fueling the political influence of diaspora Indians is their dogged pursuit of higher education qualifications and the climbing of professional ladders in their countries of domicile.
Another factor that is propelling the political ascendance of diaspora Indians is the formation of their own ethnic associations and lobbies. Akin to successful Jewish groups which have helped support Israel's interests worldwide, these associations of Indian-origin people are now advocating for New Delhi's interests in various countries and are having an impact on policymaking.
Consider the recent vote by the U.S. House of Representatives to waive potential sanctions against India over its purchase of advanced Russian weapons systems.
This proposal was shepherded by California Rep. Rohit Khanna, a member of the so-called "samosa caucus" of U.S. diaspora Indians who support one another and maintain ties with the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. By no coincidence, Modi is an ardent champion of the diaspora.
The phenomenon of the Indian diaspora arriving in a big way in public affairs and politics is undeniable. India itself may not be taking over the world, but its civilizational progeny are definitely going places.
Anonymous
8 comments:
The charade that is going through the British System seems unfortunate and unnatural. By hook or by crook, the MAJORITY of the parties concerned are going to vote for the girl, Liz Truss.
The furious debates are only there for show.
No sensible, pure breed UK worth his salt would stupidly vote for a one-generation immigrant to become their prime minister.
No matter how colourful and influential this Rishi Sunak may have acquired over the last few years, the main thrust of the message is that this fast-talking man cannot be trusted. He is a liar.
How can the UK people trust a liar?
The Brits are unlikely to have a colour leeder.
At most, colour folk can be is Third from the Top.
The Brits
is a proud tribe, they would rather
perish than
to be ruled by alien tribe.
Anyway, empire rises and wanes,
Britain
will fade like any other empire no matter who leads it. The Curtain is closing.
When he betrayed his stupid boss, the man who trusted him, it speaks a lot about Sunak.
Would the rest of the Brits be as stupid as Boris to trust Sunak?
What do you think the Queen will do or Prince Charles would do with the prospect of having lunches and dinners with Sunak in Buckingham Palace?
The Queen or Charles better watch out if Sunak wins. When they stand up to greet Sunak, they have to make sure Sunak is not eyeing their throne as well. They should know they are dealing with a snake.
I am getting to like this Sunak. With all the Indians in UK and across the world, and in India rooting for him, he is going to change the UK for good.
India is mounting a reverse takeover of the British Empire. What is in UK rightly belonged to India, or a great part of it. India has every right to claim them.
Now where is that Indian joker that said he was content to get a nominal compensation of one pound for the looting, plundering and massacres and ruling of Indians for 400 years?
This is payback time.
Yeah, Sterling Pound 45 trillion was claimed to have been stolen or plundered from India by the British during their rule.
I hope he gets elected as UK PM. Please don't let him come to Red Dot. He can destroy the UK for good riddance, but leave Red Dot alone.
I agree. Let him win. Just don't come to Singapore.
Let us all pray for him to win and be the PM of UK.
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