Rishi Sunak - The Postcolonial Fantasy
THE WEEK India|November 06, 2022
Rishi Sunak has risen to the top not because of his Indian origins, but because of his capability to handle the economy and to infuse confidence in his fellow parliamentarians
Kishwar Desai London
Rishi Sunak - The Postcolonial Fantasy

It is interesting how we take the success of every desi bachcha in the world as our personal success. And we take their narrative into our hearts.

It is almost like every Indian belongs to a large global family, bound by invisible strings. Sometimes even if the strings originated from the pre-partition era, we can tug at them. And so when a few months ago, both Sajid Javid and Rishi Sunak resigned within minutes of each other—forcing Boris Johnson to resign—someone pointed out the irony: one Indian and one Pakistani bringing down the British prime minister.

As far as conspiracy theories go, that was an interesting moment of speculation and now, of course, as a novelist, I can appreciate the magical realism behind the appointment of the first UK prime minister of Indian origin in the 75th year of India’s partition and independence. What a wonderful postcolonial fantasy!

However, even though I am the chair of the trust that set up the world’s first and only Partition Museum in Amritsar and is now setting up the second one in Delhi, I have to admit that these are just amazing coincidences with which history is replete. Sunak has risen to the top in British politics not because his grandfather is from Gujranwala—which is now in Pakistan—but because of his very capable handling of the economy, and the manner in which he was able to infuse confidence in his fellow parliamentarians during the very difficult time of Covid.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة November 06, 2022 من THE WEEK India.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة November 06, 2022 من THE WEEK India.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من THE WEEK INDIA مشاهدة الكل
Hat-Trick Or Has-Beens?
THE WEEK India

Hat-Trick Or Has-Beens?

India look to win their third straight Test series in Australia, but ageing superstars and recent humiliation at home have cast a shadow on their hopes

time-read
6 mins  |
December 01, 2024
Constipation Can Put Your Heart At Risk
THE WEEK India

Constipation Can Put Your Heart At Risk

PEOPLE WITH CONSTIPATION have an increased risk of major cardiac events, including heart attack, stroke and heart failure, especially if they also have high blood pressure, finds an international study published in the American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology.

time-read
1 min  |
December 01, 2024
Too Much Sitting Can Accelerate Ageing
THE WEEK India

Too Much Sitting Can Accelerate Ageing

SITTING FOR EXTENDED PERIODS can harm the heart and accelerate ageing, even if you are young and get the minimum recommended amount of daily exercise, according to a US study published in the journal PLOS One.

time-read
1 min  |
December 01, 2024
Efficiency and innovation
THE WEEK India

Efficiency and innovation

As health care evolves, professionals must employ innovative methods to refine their skills

time-read
2 mins  |
December 01, 2024
Level up
THE WEEK India

Level up

Only 30 per cent of needy patients are able to undergo transplant in India; we need more dedicated transplant centres

time-read
2 mins  |
December 01, 2024
HOPE STEMS FROM A CELL
THE WEEK India

HOPE STEMS FROM A CELL

While stem cell therapies have shown success in treating blood disorders, orthopaedic ailments, autoimmune diseases and eye issues, there is hope that they can one day treat patients with heart disease, blindness, Parkinson's, HIV, diabetes and spinal cord injuries

time-read
10+ mins  |
December 01, 2024
Mind matters
THE WEEK India

Mind matters

Your mindset can limit or expand your physical ability

time-read
3 mins  |
December 01, 2024
Cutting edge
THE WEEK India

Cutting edge

Would you go under the knife if a robot was the one holding it? Or would you say, \"No way, I need a human touch\"? You might have to decide soon because a robot that can imitate skilled human surgeons is already here.

time-read
1 min  |
December 01, 2024
The smallest cut
THE WEEK India

The smallest cut

Minimally invasive surgeries have a bright future, with virtual reality and 3D procedures offering greater precision and AI on the horizon

time-read
4 mins  |
December 01, 2024
Signalling a revolution
THE WEEK India

Signalling a revolution

Canadian scientist and entrepreneur Sachdev Sidhu is focused on bringing cutting-edge antibody engineering to his country of origin

time-read
7 mins  |
December 01, 2024