Know all about Rishi Sunak: His Life, Political Journey, Connection with India, Challenges, and More

Having ruled India as a colony for close to 200 years, the UK is going to be led by an Indian-origin PM - Rishi Sunak is the name. And no wonder why India is gleeful as per the BBC.

Rishi Sunak and the UK both have received many firsts with this event. He is not only the first Indian Origin PM of Britain but also the first Asian, and the first non-white Prime Minister of the UK who once claimed to rule over half of the world.
And why talk about only the firsts, he - at just 42 years of age - is also the youngest British Prime Minister in over 200 years.

Who he replaces and how?

• He replaces Liz Truss as the new PM of the UK after the latter resigned a week ago after a massive economic meltdown resulting from her libertarian economic policies.
• Once Liz Truss resigned, the fight was again on - twice in a matter of 2 months - for the coveted seat of British Prime Minister between him and the challenger Penny Mordaunt. Unlike last time when he had lost to Liz, Rishi reigned supreme by securing the 100 tories votes needed to clinch the nomination.
• Several Tory MPs switched sides at the last moment from Johnson to Sunak handing him the required majority and the victory over Penny Mordaunt. Some of those MPs are former Home Secretary Priti Patel, and cabinet ministers James Cleverly and Nadhim Zahawi.

A thorny Throne in waiting

• Britain is going through a difficult time, with growing political uncertainty, economic meltdown and inflation at a 40-year high.
• This is obvious by the fact that he is going be the 3rd PM of the UK in a matter of just 2 months following the resignation of Boris Johnson and then Liz Truss.
• He has a difficult job of taking the country out of the recession that now looks imminent apart from uniting the faction-ridden conservative party he is a member of.
• Then there is the opposing Labour Party calling for reelection questioning his legitimacy to rule.
• His throne is indeed thorny with multiple political and economic challenges to overcome.

Why Conservative Party members are referred to as Tories

A Tory in Britain is one who holds and wants to preserve traditional and conservative values in social, political and economic matters of the state of Britain. Out of the two main political parties of the UK - Labour and Conservative - it's the Conservative that holds the traditional view, its members are colloquially referred to as Tories.

List of Youngest PMs of the UK

• William Pitt the Younger, who was 24 when he was elected as PM in 1783, is the youngest PM of Britain in history.
• At 42, Rishi Sunak is the same age as Earl of Liverpool Robert Banks Jenkinson: who assumed the UK premiership in 1812.
• David Cameron and Tony Blair were both 43 when they first assumed the chair.

Reaction from World Leaders & World Media

US President

"We've got the news that Rishi Sunak is now the prime minister," Joe Biden said in remarks made during a Diwali celebration at the White House on Monday."He's expected to become the prime minister I think tomorrow when he goes to see the King. It's pretty astounding, a groundbreaking milestone and it matters," the US president added.

Indian PM & Media

News that a Hindu son of Indian immigrants had won the leadership race raised cheers in India, where some found pride in the fact that a person of Indian heritage would be running a country it was once colonised by.PM Modi

Indian PM

India's prime minister, Narendra Modi, sent his "warmest congratulations" to Sunak, saying he looked forward to "working closely together on global issues". "Special Diwali wishes to the 'living bridge' of UK Indians, as we transform our historic ties into a modern partnership," he added. European leaders, who have watched the political crisis engulfing Britain with growing consternation, couched their well-wishes with statements on the need for a stable and predictable neighbour.

Indian Media

• New Delhi Television(NDTV) ran the words: "Indian son rises over the empire,"
• Times of India ran a headline that read "UK rings in Rishi raj on Diwali".

The European Council

The European Council president, Charles Michel, tweeted his congratulations on Monday night, emphasising that Brussels and London faced shared challenges."Working together is the only way to face common challenges ... and bringing stability is key to overcoming them," he wrote. The president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, said the EU legislature was committed to having "a strong and constructive relationship with the UK". "At a time of enormous challenges, Europe needs political and economic stability. Our core interests remain the same," she said.

BBC

"Sunak Knows The Job Won't Be Easy"

• His key task will be to stabilise the economy after recent turmoil. Difficult political choices are coming on spending and tax. They will not be popular.
• Then there's the cost of living crisis. Sunak talked during the summer about prioritising those most in need. What will that look like when it comes to energy bills? And then there's economic growth. How is Sunak prepared to go to achieve it? Will he be prepared to push for more immigration or a closer trading relationship with Europe? Some want that, others don't. This is a big day for Rishi Sunak. But he knows the job won't be easy.

Points to Know about Rishi Sunak:

• Rishi Sunak is one of the wealthiest politicians in Westminster and has a net worth of over 700 million pounds. Much of it is thanks to his billionaire father-in-law and Infosys founder NR Narayan Murthy.
• Sunak came to national attention when, aged 39, he became finance minister under Boris Johnson just as the COVID-19 pandemic hit Britain, developing the successful furlough scheme.
• The multi-millionaire former hedge fund boss would be expected to launch deep spending cuts to try to rebuild Britain's fiscal reputation, just as the country slides into a recession, dragged down by the surging cost of energy and food.

Rishi Sunak's Connection With India:

Who is Rishi Sunak?

• He was born in a Hindu-Punjabi family in Southampton in 1980.
• Both his parents are of Indian descent. Sunak's parents - the father a doctor whereas the mother was a pharmacist - migrated from East Africa to the UK in the 1960s.
• He is married to Akshata Murty - daughter of Indian billionaire and Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy.
• They have two daughters - Krishna and Anoushka. Rishi Sunak visits Bangalore with his wife and two children often to meet his in-laws.

• Rishi Sunak took oath as MP from Yorkshire, on the Bhagavad Gita in the Parliament. He was the first UK parliamentarian to do so.
• Like most Indian households, education was a key aspect of parenting in the Sunak household. Rishi Sunak is a Stanford University graduate and a former investment banker.
• During the campaigning for the PM's post in the summer of 2022, Rishi Sunak faced criticism on various fronts including his lavish house, expensive suits, and shoes. Rishi shared a statement that the Bhagavad Gita often rescues him during stressful situations and reminds him to be dutiful.
• Rishi Sunak has a net worth of over 700 million pounds and is very vested in properties in the UK. Apart from owning a mansion in Yorkshire, Rishi and his wife Akshata own a property in Kensington in central London.
• To keep fit, Rishi Sunak likes to play cricket.

Early Life:

• Sunak was born in 1980 in Southampton on England's south coast to Yashvir and Usha Sunak.
• He grew up in a middle-class family inheriting their hard-working ethos.
• "I grew up working in the shop, delivering medicines," he said during the campaign. "I worked as a waiter at the Indian restaurant down the street."
• Like every typical Indian parent, his parents saved to send him to Winchester College, one of Britain's toniest and most expensive boarding schools.
• After high school, Sunak studied politics, philosophy and economics at Oxford University - the degree of choice for future prime ministers - then got an MBA at Stanford University.
• He worked for the investment bank Goldman Sachs as a hedge fund manager and lived in the US, where he met his wife, Akshata Murty, daughter of Indian IT tycoon, Narayana Murthy.

Political Journey

• He fought and won, the election from Richmond parliamentary constituency in Yorkshire in 2015.
• In Britain's 2016 Brexit referendum, he supported leaving the European Union - by going against his ruling party's move. Surprisingly, Brexit succeeded and so did he.
• His career took off, especially after Brexit success. He served in several junior ministerial posts before being appointed chancellor of the exchequer - head of the Treasury - by Johnson in February 2020, just before the pandemic hit.

Rishi Sunak Quotes:

• I grew up watching my parents serve our local community with dedication. My dad was an NHS family GP and my mum ran her own local chemist shop. I wanted to make that same positive difference to people as their Member of Parliament and I was first elected to represent this wonderful constituency in 2015 and re-elected in 2017 and 2019. I live in Kirby Sigston, just outside Northallerton.
• I have been fortunate to enjoy a successful business career. I co-founded a large investment firm, working with companies from Silicon Valley to Bangalore. Then I used that experience to help small and entrepreneurial British companies grow successfully. From working in my mum's tiny chemist shop to my experience building large businesses, I have seen first-hand how politicians should support free enterprise and innovation to ensure our future prosperity.
• My parents sacrificed a great deal so I could attend good schools. I was lucky to study at Winchester College, Oxford University and Stanford University. That experience changed my life and as a result, I am passionate about ensuring everybody has access to a great education. I have been a school governor, and a board member of a large youth club, and have always volunteered my time to education programmes that spread opportunity.
• I have been lucky to live, study and work internationally. I met my wife, Akshata, in California where we lived for a number of years before returning home. We have two daughters, Krishna and Anoushka, who keep us busy and entertained.
• In July 2019 I was appointed Chief Secretary to the Treasury, having entered Government service as the Minister for Local Government in January 2018. In February 2020, I had the honour to be appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer, a position I had the privilege to hold until July 2022.
• In my spare time, I enjoy keeping fit, cricket, football and movies.