I had the privilege to read Lord Dolar Popat’s new book, titled 'A British Subject: How to Make It as Immigrant' in the Best Country in the world – one of the best books I’ve read in a long time, perhaps because it is a tale I and many others can easily relate to.
What makes it so interesting is that it is written with passion and honesty, describing family life, his personal shortfalls early in life and the events, ups and downs we all go through in life, as it happened, without holding anything back or trying to spice it up or omit setbacks, as is the case in many such autobiographies I have read in the past.
The interesting and intriguing Foreword by David Cameron who has known Dolar Popat well before he became Lord; has used his personal and inside knowledge to capture the essence of the book and sets the ball rolling for readers. David Cameron describes Dolar as modest, humble and easily approachable person. This is also my observation, my personal experience, the essence of the Mr Cameron’s Foreword!
What drew my attention the most was the fact that in 2005, there were just 2 Conservative MPs from ethnic minorities and only 11% British Indians voted Conservative. That figure rocketed to 17 Conservative MPs and 49% British Indians voted Conservative in 2015! A lot of credit goes to Lord Popat who established “Conservative Friends of India”, along with like-minded supporters, worked tirelessly for the party who sent him to House of Lords, an honour beyond imagination!
Dolar set the foundations for British Indians to engage with the Conservative Party. His legacy lives on today with Priti Patel as Home Secretary, Alok Sharma as International Development Secretary and Rishi Sunak as Chief Secretary to the Treasury. This would have been unheard of just 10 years ago. Dolar continues to empower and engage the new generation of British Indians to engage and come forward in politics and civic duty.
Given today’s political climate, this book is relevant than ever before and I would thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Britain’s changing political and social landscape.
Bhupendra M. Gandhi
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