'Position of strength' - Modi congratulated Sunak on Monday and said he looked forward to the opportunity to "transform our historic ties into a modern partnership". The same month, Modi unveiled a new naval ensign that removed the prominent St George's cross - the national emblem of England - from the existing flag. The unveiling ceremony took place just hours before Britain announced the death of Queen Elizabeth II, and the statue itself replaces one of Britain's King George V torn down nearly half a century ago. In September, Modi inaugurated a statue of Subhas Chandra Bose, an independence hero venerated for taking up arms against the British, but controversial for his collaboration with Nazi Germany's war machine. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) espouses a muscular Hindu nationalism that champions historical figures who opposed foreign domination and influence. Sunak takes charge of the UK as his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, is accelerating efforts to scrap symbolic vestiges of the colonial years.
#Owner wordpress app pocket casts full#
"Indian son rises over the Empire - History comes full circle in Britain," read a news banner splashed on broadcaster NDTV. Sunak's ascent has been the subject of wall-to-wall television coverage in India, animating discussion during the usually lethargic Diwali holiday season. "The wheel of fortune has turned completely," he told reporters on Monday. Colonial subjects would never have imagined such a "big development" as a man of Indian heritage taking charge of Britain, said Basavaraj Bommai, the chief minister of southern Karnataka state. India celebrated 75 years since the end of British rule in August, just weeks before becoming the world's fifth-largest economy when its GDP overtook the United Kingdom's, according to IMF figures. He is married to Indian-born Akshata Murty, whose father co-founded IT giant Infosys. "Great Britain is a country which ruled India for more than 300 years - now a person of Indian origin is going to rule UK." Sunak's parents were born into the Indian diaspora in east Africa, and trace their heritage back to pre-independence Punjab in northern British India. "I am extremely happy," Krishna Kumar, an Indian IT worker, told AFP in the capital New Delhi. The 42-year-old was born and raised in Southampton, but his appointment as his country's first prime minister of colour has been cheered by Indians who still consider him a son of the soil. Sunak took charge Tuesday as Britain's third premier this year with his Conservative Party floundering in the polls and daunting challenges ahead.
Many Indians are delighting in the elevation of Rishi Sunak - a practising Hindu with Punjabi roots - as British prime minister, in a milestone year for the subcontinental country's relationship with its former colonial ruler.
0 kommentar(er)
