Rishi Sunak’s rise to the position of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom was met with a mix of admiration and scrutiny. As the first British Indian to hold this esteemed office, his journey reflects the evolving narrative of British society, where diversity and multiculturalism are increasingly celebrated. Yet, with his ascent came a wave of controversies and criticisms that have sparked widespread debate.

Rishi is like me

Throughout this article, instead of writing Indian origin, I will write British Indian or just Indian. It has more authenticity with an emphasis on ancestry and roots. But mainly due to me being too lazy to add the word “origin” every time.

Ulrika Johnson (I don’t know exactly what she does, or why she is so famous, so can’t list her job, but she is) wrote Rishi a love letter that was published in the Sun.

“Has there ever been a more perfect, excellent male face — chiselled and soft in one fell swoop? Your smooth, flawless, skin envelops your utterly geometrically pleasing features. You have the smile of a movie star but one with the most profound and heartfelt sincerity. Your wonderfully huge, brown eyes — from which there is no escape — are like two big lagoons exuding kindness, and tenderness.”

Rishi made both of us sigh and feel loved, albeit for different reasons and in different ways.

This is also an ode to Rishi, but just from a heterosexual man with no romantic inclinations and more for Rishi’s achievements and the pride he made me feel, than his doe eyes, dusky complexion, slim fit shirts or physical appearance.

Rishi Sunak y Keir Starmer (Ph: AFP)

I was so happy when Rishi became PM. Here was someone just like me. Rishi is rich, handsome, a multi-millionaire with a billionaire wife and billionaire in-laws, well connected with a glamorous life and celeb friends. Ok, not exactly alike, I never said we were identical twins.

But you need to tear away the frilly, decorative wrapping and tunnel to the centre. Rishi is an Indian-origin Hindu, raised in the UK, by parents of Indian immigrants like me. His dad was a GP for the NHS, my dad was a hospital doctor for the NHS. His mum managed her pharmacy, my mum managed someone else’s GP surgery.

He grew up in a quaint, provincial smaller city ignored and looked down upon, even sneered at by the cosmopolitan big cities, just like me. It was like looking in a mirror, although he is much slimmer and can wear form-fitting tight clothes.

Rishi Sunak reveals his love of tight shirts, Emily in Paris and Taylor Swift in The Sunday Times interview. PETER NICHOLLS/AFP; GETTY IMAGES

Proud to be Indian

For Irish and Italians, it’s acceptable to be proud of your roots. Sylvester Stallone even nicknamed his character Rocky Balboa, “The Italian Stallion” in the eponymous Rocky films. Even though he had never been to Italy, couldn’t speak Italian and his parents and grandparents had lived in America for about 70 years. I know this not due to extensive fact-checking and research but just being a Sylvester Stallone fan.

There have been a lot of Indians who got close to the top, who almost seemed embarrassed about their Indian roots. For example, sadists like Priti Patel or Suella Braverman, who seemed in denial about being Indian, in the same way one might when they hear they have a terminal disease. Oh my god, you have Indian? What are you going to do. How will you overcome this unfortunate affliction? The only time they remembered their roots was when they had to reluctantly come face to face with one of their most challenging adversaries. The mirror.

“The Magnificence of the Bull” by Anupam Pal.

Unlike Irish or Italians, where it’s supposed to be fashionable to trumpet your roots or heritage, it may seem Indians are supposed to be ashamed. Or at least slightly sheepish. Some people seem flabbergasted when Indians proclaim their pride in being Indian. Indians should be proud though and there are plenty of reasons why.

Indians have never colonised or invaded another country, even though they are the most invaded and colonised.

They’ve never committed genocide.

Never committed a terrorist attack.

They’ve never persecuted black people or Jews even though both races were continental neighbours and lived far closer than the USA, UK or European countries.

But Indians weren’t shout it from the rooftops proud or at least my generation generally weren’t. We go through that phase, almost a rite of passage during our tweens and teens, anglicising our characteristics to fit in more. Many gave themselves English-sounding names similar to their Indian names or were designated English names by classmates that sounded nothing like their Indian names.

They’d pine for chic yet breezy English names. Indian girls with fanciful names like Devina wanted to be called Jackie. I wanted to be called Sebastian or Miles, because not only was it white, it was posh with a faint whiff of aristocracy, so elevating me to not one, but two social circles.

We want to “paint” our hair blonde to fit in more. Or even worse, those adult Indians, who acted like they were British.

Kamala Harris, the American vice president, is half Indian and still has family in India, but seemed almost embarrassed to embrace that side of herself until she realised it could enhance her votes.

Talking about Rishi, NBC says, “While he is often compared to U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, whose mother was from India, many said his win was far more meaningful.”

“Unlike Kamala Harris, Sunak is the numero uno in the executive. That position, not just in the U.K., has a symbolic value in Europe. After all, the Europeans were the colonizers,” said former Indian ambassador to the UK, Rajiv Dogra.

From my experience, Brit Indians were much lower on the social hierarchy and less exotic than other minorities. Indians escaped one caste system in India to hurtle into another in the UK. If you had all Indian friends, you weren’t as cool. But if you had some white friends or ideally all white friends, then you were one of the cool Indians.

“MAGAN” by Anukta Mukherjee Ghosh, India, 2016.

But Rishi was different. He was proud of being Indian and Hindu, even when he needn’t be. Especially in an era, when being Hindu or flying an Indian flag means that people may think you’re nationalist, Islamophobic or have extreme right-wing views as opposed to just national pride.

He took his oath as MP on a copy of the “Hindu bible,” the Bhagavad Gita, which most non-Indians had no idea about until it was recently referenced in Oppenheimer as the titular title character was learning Sanskrit and was highly inspired by the Bhagavad Gita’s lessons and used to keep a copy of Gita near the bedside. The American-born theoretical physicist believed that the Gita is the “most beautiful philosophical song” existing in any known tongue.”

Getting back to Rishi, he celebrated Diwali or “Hindu Christmas” as it’s referred to by well informed white people or “Indian Christmas” by less well informed white people by lighting Dyas (lamps) outside number 11 Downing Street when he was chancellor.

He visited temples and referred to himself as a proud Hindu. He celebrated Hindu Christmas whilst he was prime minister. At this point, my mind might explode from the ironic wonders that the universe is raining down on me. Can you believe Diwali was celebrated at 10 Downing Street? I still can’t!

And his image wasn’t that of the stereotypical Indian. He was friends with celebs, and he had cool parties in Kensington, which became a known hangout for the rich, famous and sunglass-wearing elite. The Guardian said, “The couple’s garden parties are one of the hottest tickets in town.” I didn’t know Indians could do that. His kids went to the same school as Stella McCartney and she was part of his parent’s circle. I repeat, his kids went to school with one of the Beatles’ grandchildren!

“Dogs…and Indians allowed.” By Sasha Hegde.

And who could forget Akshata Murty entering Downing Street on her first day with dogs? Epic and gloriously symbolic. A gesture that was lost on the majority of white Britons but was understood by every brown Briton and Indian of a certain age. Full disclosure, I didn’t initially understand what she was trying to do, it was also lost on me. I thought she just really, really liked dogs!

No Indians allowed to a club in India! The sign outside the Royal Simla club and many other organisations in India during British rule.

Trailer for “Indian Summers,” the Channel 4 series about life for the British during the rule of India, which includes The Royal Simla Club is run by Julie Walter’s character.

I will love you for that Akshata. You’re a billionaire heiress, who’s way out of my league and has no chance with you. We have nothing in common and mingle in slightly different social circles. Slightly different in that you vacay in St Tropez and my social life revolves around dropping my child to her friend’s birthday parties. But just for that masterstroke, that artful, yet subtle two fingered anti-salute to the establishment and pomposity of the former empire, you will have my unrequited love. If you ever consider leaving Rishi, let me know. I’m not rich, powerful or politically connected. But, if you like short, slightly chubby men with an adequate head of unruly hair, then there may be the slightest chance you could fall for me too. At least in my mind anyway! Wouldn’t it be poetic if our mutual appreciation can transcend our miniscule differences and against all odds, bring us together!

Rishi Sunak’s journey to becoming Prime Minister is a testament to the changing face of British politics and the growing recognition of diverse backgrounds in leadership roles. His story, with its blend of heritage, controversy, and pride, offers a unique perspective on what it means to be a British Indian in today’s world.

Tune in for part 3 – Rishi’s Controversies