Rishi Sunak and sipritual chief Morari Bapu at Cambridge occasion

Attending a Ram Katha at Cambridge University on Indian Independence Day, Rishi Sunak proclaimed that he was there “not as a Prime Minister but as a Hindu”.

“It is truly an honour and pleasure to be here today at Morari Bapu’s Ram Kahtha at the University of Cambridge on Indian Independence Day. Bapu, I am here today not as a Prime Minister but as a Hindu,” mentioned Mr Sunak, the UK’s first Indian-origin Prime Minister, who can be a practising Hindu with Punjabi roots.

Mr Sunak was born and raised in Southampton, however his appointment as his UK’s first prime minister of color has been cheered by Indians who nonetheless think about him a son of the soil.

“Like an ordinary person, our Rishi sahab is here. A warm welcome to you. May lord Hanuman bless you and the British people reap the benefits,” mentioned the religious chief welcoming the Prime Minister.

Mr Sunak mentioned that his Hindu religion guides him in each facet of his life and provides him the braveness to do one of the best because the Prime Minister of Britain.

“For me, faith is very personal. It guides me in every aspect of my life. Being Prime Minister is a great honour, but 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 that I can for our country,” he mentioned.

Pointing to a big golden picture of Lord Hanuman because the backdrop to Morari Bapu’s Ram Katha, the British prime minister mentioned it reminded him of how a “golden Ganesha sits gleefully on my desk at 10 Downing Street”.

“It is a constant reminder to me about listening and reflecting on issues before acting,” he shared.

Mr Sunak mirrored upon his childhood years in Southampton the place he usually visited his neighbourhood temple with household.

“Growing up, I have very fond memories of attending our 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,” mentioned Mr Sunak.

“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,” he famous.

Referencing his household’s immigrant historical past, Sunak famous what number of among the many a whole bunch gathered on the Katha had mother and father and grandparents who got here to the UK with little or no from India and East Africa and labored their manner as much as give his era the best alternatives ever.

“I leave here today remembering the ‘Ramayana’ that Bapu speaks on, but also the ‘Bhagavad Gita’ and the ‘Hanuman Chalisa’. And for me, Lord Ram will always be an inspirational figure to face life’s challenges with courage, to govern with humility and to work selflessly,” he added.

He concluded his deal with with the phrases ‘Jai Siya Ram’ and went on to take part in an aarti on stage, with Morari Bapu invoking the blessings of Lord Hanuman.