Who Is Rishi Sunak

Rishi Sunak is set to become Britain's first Indian/Asian Prime Minister. The Conservative Party has officially announced that he will be their next leader

42-year-old Rishi Sunak, who is set to become Britain's 57th Prime Minister, has set another record as the youngest person to become Prime Minister since Lord Liverpool in 1812.

Moreover, after becoming an MP for the first time, he was also the fastest in Britain's recent history to become Prime Minister. He won the post of Prime Minister in just seven years of political career

Rishi Sunak's ancestors hail from Punjab, India. His parents of Indian origin migrated to UK from East Africa in 1960.

Rishi was born in 1980 in Southampton, England. There his father worked as a doctor. Mother used to run her own pharmacy. Rishi was the eldest of their three children.

He met Akshata Murthy in 2005 when MBI was studying at Stanford University in California. After graduating from Stanford University, Rishi worked at Goldman Sachs.

After that, he worked as a partner in 'The Children's Investment Fund Management, Thelem Partners.

Rishi's name is also in the news in the list of richest MPs. He wrote on his website that he likes cricket, football, fitness and movies.

Into politics for change

Rishi Sunak said in an interview that he was inspired by his parents' service and help to the local community. He said that he decided to enter politics to bring positive change in people's lives just like them.

Rishi Sunak was elected MP from Richmond, Yorkshire in the 2015 UK general election. He served as a junior minister in the government of former Prime Minister Theresa May. Then he took oath on Bhagavad Gita and assumed responsibility. When he won, people of Indian origin in Britain celebrated.

Rishi Sunak is recognized as one of the most popular politicians in Britain

Rishi Sunak's popularity skyrocketed after he was appointed as Britain's youngest Chancellor in February 2020. His social media followers grew exponentially overnight.

People used to fondly call him 'Dishi Rishi'. Rishi Sunak gained more popularity due to his financial policies during the Corona pandemic. Rishi is married to Akshata Murthy, the daughter of Karnataka-based couple NR Narayana and Sudha Murthy, founder of Infosys. They have two daughters.

A political journey

Sunak, 42, is an analyst at investment bank Goldman Sachs. He was a partner in two hedge funds before becoming MP for the North Yorkshire constituency of Richmond in 2015.

He was once seen as the main contender to succeed Johnson as leader of the Conservative Party and prime minister.

Appointed Chancellor in February 2020, Sunak had to contend with the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is said that a lot of effort has been put into the economy.

His reputation was tarnished after his wife's income tax affairs were in controversy and he was fined for violating the Covid lockdown norms.

Sunak, along with Prime Minister Johnson and his wife Carrie, were fined by the Metropolitan Police for violating covid rules by attending the Prime Minister's birthday party in June 2020.

Relations between them soured when he resigned along with his colleague Javid, known as a Johnson loyalist.

After the resignations of Sunak and Javid, ministers started resigning one by one. Johnson had to step down as Prime Minister.

I am Hindu...

Rishi Sunak declared that he was a Hindu. Even outside he is seen practicing his religious traditions and beliefs. In 2015, when he was elected to the British Parliament for the first time, he took an oath on the Bhagavad Gita. People of Indian descent in Britain also offered prayers for his victory.

75-year-old Naresh Sonchatl is one of those who worshiped. Naresh, who hails from Rishi Sunak's hometown of Southampton, says he has known Rishi since childhood. I think Rishi will become the Prime Minister. But, maybe not. Naresh told the BBC in September that he is the reason for that.

Then, when the BBC India team was touring Britain, there was some concern among people of Asian descent like Naresh. They feared that the color of Rishi Sunak's skin might prevent him from becoming the prime minister. But, their fears are allayed now. The criticism that the Conservative Party has not yet come to the level of electing a leader of Asian descent as the Prime Minister has now come to a full stop.

Even in disputes...

Before the outbreak of Covid-19, there were reports in the media in support of Rishi. However, he became the center of some controversies during the pandemic.

While studying at Stanford, Rishi met Akshata Murthy, daughter of Narayana Murthy and Sudha Murthy. Even after marriage Akshata Murthy clings to her Indian citizenship. Thus she had the status of non-domicile resident in Britain. This means that if you pay 30,000 pounds (Rs. 28.81 lakhs) per year on your income outside Britain, you will not have to pay income tax.

Many people started criticizing the Rishi couple as the news came out in the media about this matter.

Akshata Murthy also explained that she will pay taxes in Britain on the properties acquired abroad.

In April 2022, it was reported that Rishi had a green card that would grant him permanent US citizenship. Another controversy also broke out about the citizenship of Britain while working as Chancellor.

However, his spokesperson explained that Rishi started the process of returning his green card when he went to America for the first time as a government official.

Loser in September, winner in October

Rishi Sunak lost the race for the post of British Prime Minister in September. Despite proving his mettle as Britain's finance minister in Boris Johnson's cabinet, it did not propel him to victory.

Rishi Sunak's opponent, Liz Truss, was elected leader of the Conservative Party with 81,326 votes. She won 57 percent of the votes.

Rishi Sunak got 60,399 votes.

Analysts at the time said that if Rishi Sunak had won this race, he would have created history and become the first non-white Prime Minister of Britain. He also said that Rishi Sunak's victory would have written a new history like that of Barack Obama who created history in 2008 as the first black person to become the President of the United States.

After a month passed, Sunak got that chance. This time the victory went to Rishi Sunak. He has now created history as the first person of Indian/Asian origin to hold the post of Prime Minister of Britain.