In the ever-evolving landscape of global leadership, stories shaped by migration, heritage and hard work continue to inspire. In this week’s column, I wish to reflect on two such remarkable individuals. Starting with The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP, whose journey from Southampton to 10 Downing Street embodies perseverance and purpose and whose life reflects the enduring values of his Indian heritage.
Rishi Sunak was born on May 12, 1980, in Southampton, England, his early life shaped by the story of migration and hard work. His grandparents emigrated from Punjab, India, to East Africa and his parents later settled in the United Kingdom in the 1960s. His father worked as a GP with the NHS and his mother was a pharmacist who managed her own small chemist shop.
Sunak’s upbringing was deeply influenced by his parents’ commitment to community service. Watching his father care for patients and his mother run a small business instilled in him a strong sense of discipline, empathy and responsibility. He excelled academically at Winchester College. He later read Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) at Lincoln College, Oxford and went on to earn an MBA from Stanford University in California. His early experiences, including summer jobs and helping at his mother’s pharmacy, taught him the value of honesty, service and humility, qualities that later defined his political career.
Sunak made history at the age of 44 as the United Kingdom’s youngest and first non-white Prime Minister. A devout Hindu, he fasts on Mondays, doesn’t drink alcohol or eat beef and lives by the Hindu principle of Dharma, doing one’s duty sincerely, without being attached to the outcome. Even after stepping down as Prime Minister, Sunak stayed in Britain rather than withdrawing from public life, a decision that reflected both character and conviction. His children’s choice to celebrate their 21st birthdays in the UK further reflects the family’s grounded connection to the country. He currently serves as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Richmond and Northallerton. In addition, he holds the position of Senior Adviser at the investment bank Goldman Sachs, as well as with leading AI companies Microsoft and Anthropic. Recently, he has also begun writing as a columnist for The Sunday Times business section.
Rishi Sunak represents integrity and resilience in modern politics. The British, especially the English, have a remarkable ability for self-correction and it wouldn’t be surprising if Sunak, with his credibility and composure, makes a political comeback in the near future. In fact, an online campaign calling for his return has already gained momentum.
A similar story of Indian excellence is now unfolding across the Atlantic, in New York City. The city’s mayoral elections, scheduled for 4th November 2025, have brought to prominence Zohran Kwame Mamdani, a rising political figure whose journey reflects the same spirit of service, conviction and diversity that leaders like Rishi Sunak embody.
At just 34 years old, Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist, has already made history as the first South Asian man to serve in the New York State Assembly, as well as the first Ugandan and only the third Muslim ever to hold that position. Despite having no executive experience, Mamdani’s progressive and people-centric agenda has caught national attention, positioning him as a serious contender to lead America’s largest city, one with a workforce of over 300,000 and a $116 billion budget.
Born in Kampala, Uganda, Zohran is the son of two influential and deeply thoughtful parents, Professor Mahmood Mamdani, a distinguished Ugandan academic, author and political commentator from the Gujarati Ismaili community and Mira Nair, the acclaimed Indian-American filmmaker. His upbringing was a blend of intellect and empathy, his father grounded him in critical thought and social justice, while his mother nurtured creativity and compassion. The family moved to New York City when Zohran was seven, giving him both a global identity and a deeply local sense of purpose.
Mamdani belongs to the Ismaili Khoja community, followers of the Aga Khan. Though relatively small in number, this community has earned global respect for its emphasis on education, professionalism, entrepreneurship and philanthropy. Ismaili Khojas have left an indelible mark in commerce, academia, and business across the US, Canada, the UK, East Africa, India and Pakistan.
It is interesting to note that Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, was also born into an Aga Khani Ismaili Khoja family before later embracing Ithna Ashari (Shia) Islam. To this day, Pakistan continues to face internal challenges of identity and inclusion, from its strained recognition of the Ahmadiyya and Ismaili communities to the marginalisation of Muhajirs, the Indian migrants who settled largely in Sindh after Partition. Despite their prominence in trade and industry, their voice in politics, the economy and the military has remained limited, General Pervez Musharraf being a rare exception.
As for Zohran Mamdani, it remains unclear how central faith is to his personal identity, given his mixed heritage, his mother being Hindu and his father Muslim. Yet, that is not the defining point of his story. What truly stands out is the extraordinary dispersal, diversification and excellence of the Indian diaspora. From the Prime Minister of Portugal to leaders in Northern Ireland, the UK, and now New York, people of Indian origin continue to rise to global prominence, shaping politics, business and culture with intelligence, integrity and a deep sense of purpose.
Whether it is Rishi Sunak in Britain or Zohran Mamdani in New York, no matter that they were born and raised on foreign soil, their connection with India remains deep and unbreakable. That inherited virtue, of discipline, duty and dharma, shines through in their actions, leadership and the way they serve their adopted nations with values deeply rooted in Indian culture and conscience.
