NEW DELHI: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday traced his Punjabi Indian heritage in a message from 10 Downing Street on the occasion of Guru Nanak Jayanti.
“Source of pride and inspiration, ” Sunak said in his greetings as he hailed the immense contribution made by British Sikhs to the UK.
“It gives me great pleasure to wish Sikhs across the UK, in India and across the world, a Happy Gurpurab.”
“Today we celebrate the 554th anniversary of the birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of the Sikh religion.As somebody ofPunjabi Indian heritage, this day is especially dear to me,” he said.
“This joyous occasion is an opportunity to once again recognise the immense contribution of the Sikh community to our country. You are a source of pride and inspiration to us all. Waheguru Ji Ki Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,” he added.
UK’s first Prime Minister of Indian heritage, has often spoken of his familial roots in the Indian subcontinent. His father, general practitioner Yashvir, was born in Kenya and his pharmacist mother was born in Tanzania before their families migrated to the UK.
“Sixty years after my Naniji boarded a plane in East Africa, on a warm sunny evening in October, her great-granddaughters, my kids, played in the street outside our home, painted rangoli on the doorstep, lit sparklers and diyas; had fun like so many other families on Diwali. Except the street was Downing Street, and the door was the door to No 11,” said Sunak, with reference to being the UK’s first Indian-origin Chancellor at No 11 Downing Street back in 2020.
(with input from agency)
“Source of pride and inspiration, ” Sunak said in his greetings as he hailed the immense contribution made by British Sikhs to the UK.
“It gives me great pleasure to wish Sikhs across the UK, in India and across the world, a Happy Gurpurab.”
“Today we celebrate the 554th anniversary of the birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of the Sikh religion.As somebody ofPunjabi Indian heritage, this day is especially dear to me,” he said.
“This joyous occasion is an opportunity to once again recognise the immense contribution of the Sikh community to our country. You are a source of pride and inspiration to us all. Waheguru Ji Ki Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh,” he added.
UK’s first Prime Minister of Indian heritage, has often spoken of his familial roots in the Indian subcontinent. His father, general practitioner Yashvir, was born in Kenya and his pharmacist mother was born in Tanzania before their families migrated to the UK.
“Sixty years after my Naniji boarded a plane in East Africa, on a warm sunny evening in October, her great-granddaughters, my kids, played in the street outside our home, painted rangoli on the doorstep, lit sparklers and diyas; had fun like so many other families on Diwali. Except the street was Downing Street, and the door was the door to No 11,” said Sunak, with reference to being the UK’s first Indian-origin Chancellor at No 11 Downing Street back in 2020.
(with input from agency)
