Team Blitz India
LONDON: Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said his Hindu faith guides him in every aspect of his life and gives courage, strength and resilience to do the best he can do for his country.
Sunak, who attended Murari Bapu’s Ram Katha at the University of Cambridge on the Indian Independence Day, said, “It is truly an honour and a pleasure to be here today. Bapu, I’m here today not as Prime Minister but as a Hindu.” The following is the text of PM Sunak’s speech on the occasion:
Jai Siya Ram!
It is truly an honour and a pleasure to be here today at Murari Bapu’s Ram Katha at the University of Cambridge on Indian Independence Day. Bapu, I’m here today not as Prime Minister, but as a Hindu. For me, faith is very personal. It guides me in every aspect of my life.
Being Prime Minister is a great honour and it is not an easy job. There are difficult decisions to make, hard choices to confront and our faith gives me courage, strength and resilience to do the best I can for our country.
For me, it was a wonderful and special moment to light diyas for Diwali outside 11 Downing Street back when I was Chancellor. And just like Murari Bapu has a Golden Hanuman in his background, I am proud that a Golden Ganesh sits gleefully on my desk at 10 Downing Street. It is a constant reminder to me of the importance of listening and reflecting on issues before acting. I am proud to be British. Proud to be Hindu.
Childhood memories
Bapu, from growing up, I have very fond memories of attending our own local mandir in Southampton. My parents and family would organise havans, pujas, aartis. Afterwards I would help serve lunch and prasad with my brother and sister and cousins. Our values and what I see Bapu does each day of his life, are the values of selfless service, devotion and keeping faith. But perhaps the greatest value is duty, or sewa as we know it. These Hindu values are very much shared British values.
Many of you, like my parents and grandparents, came to this country with very little, mainly from India and East Africa, from Kenya or Tanzania, like my parents, or from Uganda following the expulsion. All your stories are an example to us all you worked your way up to give my generation the greatest opportunities ever, and today I want to say thank you, thank you to the generation who worked day and night for our education and our today. Without you, I and we would not be here today and now is the time for my generation to give back in whatever way that we can.
Govern with humility
I leave here today remembering the Ramayana which Bapu speaks on and also the Bhagavad Gita and the Hanuman Chalisa and for me Lord Rama will always be an inspirational figure to face life’s challenges with courage, to govern with humility, and to work selflessly. Bapu with your blessings, I aspire to lead in accordance with how our scriptures have taught leaders to lead.
Thank you, Bapu for everything that you do. Your teachings of truth, love and compassion are more relevant now than they have ever been. I’m in awe of your stamina and devotion. You have just returned from conducting a katha, just last week in India, covering 12000 kilometres across the subcontinent and stopping at all 12 named Shivlings of India; and I thought I travel a lot.
I have been overwhelmed by the love and the support of the British people and particularly from all of you. Your support…
And in closing, let me just say this: your support means a great deal to me. I’m truly touched by the warm welcome I have received here today. I wish you all very well and I look forward to seeing you all again very soon. Jai Siya Ram!
