Sunak to meet with King Charles III before addressing Britain at 4 pm
Rishi Sunak’s ascent is a breakthrough for diversity, with privilege attached
In northwest London, home to one of Britain’s largest Hindu communities, celebrations for Diwali, a festive holiday, were well underway Monday. Children tossed small fireworks that popped as they slammed into the sidewalk. Bright lights strung across the street twinkled overhead. Families bought sweets and candles.
Rishi Sunak and Akshata Murthy married in 2009 and have two daughters, Krishna and Anoushka. (Instagram/rishisunakmp)
But many who were gathered with their families said that they suddenly had something new to celebrate — the news that Rishi Sunak, the eldest son of a doctor and pharmac of Indian descent, will become prime miner, the first person of colour to hold Britain’s highest political office.
Britain is home to a vibrant and diverse community of people with roots in India, which it ruled as a colony for nearly a century before India won independence in 1947. As many as 1.5 million people of Indian descent live in England and Wales, making them the largest ethnic group after white Britons.
That makes Sunak’s triumph a significant milestone for Britain’s Indian diaspora, whose long struggle against racism and prejudice is rarely a prominent issue in British politics. (Read more)
