Rishi Sunak’s story has lessons for India and Britain

Rishi Sunak’s meteoric rise to become the first British prime minister of Indian ancestry on Tuesday triggered celebrations in the subcontinent and among its diaspora. So historic was this moment for so many Indians desperate to shed their colonial baggage that it compelled wall-to-wall coverage on India’s social media and in its mainstream press.

“Indian son rises over an empire,” the news channel NDTV declared. “Sunak: Ex-India Company set to run Britain,” screamed a headline on the front page of The Telegraph India. Its rival, The Times of India, went with “Rishi Sunak, a ‘proud Hindu’, is the new UK PM.”

There is an understandably triumphant feeling among many that 75 years after India won independence, an “Indian son” will run what remains of the British Empire. Emotional outpouring isn’t such a bad thing occasionally, whether it takes the form of hilarious memes or even some of the tasteless chest-thumping that was on display. But after the initial brouhaha, it’s important for Indians – and I speak as one – to acknowledge the progress that countries such as Britain have made towards building multicultural societies, which made possible the “rise of Rishi” – whatever one might make of his politics. Just as critical is honest self-reflection.

The buzz around the “Indian son”, for instance, stands in stark contrast to how Sonia Gandhi, the longest-serving former head of India’s Congress party, was treated by fellow politicians and large sections of the electorate when she was on the cusp of becoming prime minister almost two decades ago. Born Sonia Maino into an Italian family, Mrs Gandhi moved to India after marrying former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. After entering politics almost a decade after her husband’s assassination, she led the Congress party to parliamentary victories in 2004 and 2009. Yet, the prospect of an Italian-born prime minister of India was a bridge too far for the political class at the time. Mrs Gandhi’s patriotism having been questioned, she swiftly nominated Manmohan Singh to lead the government in both terms. The move was both selfless and politically astute, as it won Mrs Gandhi more admirers and drew to the party more voters.

Mrs Gandhi’s case isn’t point-for-point comparable with that of Mr Sunak – for one, she left Italy for India as an adult, while he was born and raised in Britain. But her example is relevant, with her having stepped down as party president on Wednesday presumably to retire from active politics, at a time when ethnic and religious minorities still find it challenging to reach the top of India’s political hierarchy. Dr Singh, it’s worth pointing out, remains the only non-Hindu prime minister India has ever had.

This is not to say that no progress has been made – on the contrary, Indian politics over the past four decades has empowered a large number of diverse caste groups all over the country – but there’s still some way to go before we see a Muslim, Dalit or tribal figure running New Delhi.

But how does one process the double standard that exists among those who even today cannot stomach a Sonia Gandhi rising to the top, while at the same time, cheering on a Rishi Sunak?

The National