United Kingdom’s Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, expressed that his Hindu faith deeply influences all aspects of his life. During his visit to the ongoing ‘Ram Katha’ event led by spiritual leader Morari Bapu at the University of Cambridge’s Jesus College, Sunak, Britain’s first Indian-origin PM, highlighted the significance of the event coinciding with India’s Independence Day.
At the gathering, Sunak began by stating that he was there not just as a Prime Minister, but as a practicing Hindu. He emphasized that his faith is a personal guiding force, providing him with courage, strength, and resilience to make difficult decisions and choices in his role as Prime Minister.
Recalling a special moment from his tenure as the first British Indian Chancellor in 2020, Sunak remembered when he lit Diwali diyas outside No 11 Downing Street. He noted that a large golden image of Lord Hanuman, the backdrop to Morari Bapu’s Ram Katha, reminds him of a golden Ganesha on his desk at 10 Downing Street, symbolizing the importance of reflection before action.
Sunak, who had recently returned from a family vacation in the US, shared memories of his upbringing, including attending local mandir events and actively participating in rituals and service activities with his family.
He acknowledged that the values he sees in Morari Bapu’s actions align with the principles of selfless service, devotion, and faith. These Hindu values, he noted, resonate as shared British values. Referencing his family’s immigrant background, Sunak expressed gratitude to the previous generation for their hard work and emphasized the importance of the current generation giving back to society.
Sunak concluded by expressing that the teachings of the ‘Ramayana’, ‘Bhagavad Gita’, and ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ hold significance for him. He viewed Lord Ram as an inspirational figure for facing life’s challenges with courage, governing with humility, and working selflessly. He closed his speech with the words ‘Jai Siya Ram’ and participated in an aarti on stage, seeking boundless strength for his service to the British people.
