From the United States to Portugal, Indian-origin politicians are currently serving in crucial portfolios globally. Every year around 25 lakhs Indians migrate overseas, reflecting the full multiplicity of the rich Indian social, ethnic, religious and cultural diversity of the land of their origin. India has always been sensitive to the emotions of the diaspora and vice-e-versa, validating the true spirit of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’-The World is One Family.
Here’s a list of notable Indian-origin world leaders placed in high ranks:
RISHI SUNAK
A British politician who has served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom since 25 October 2022 and Leader of the Conservative Party since 24 October 2022. Sunak served as Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2020 to 2022 and Chief Secretary to the Treasury from 2019 to 2020, and he has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Richmond (Yorks) since 2015.
KAMALA HARRIS
Kamala Devi Harris is the first woman and the first coloured Vice President of the USA. The 49th VP is also the first African American and Asian American Vice President.
She is a Democratic Party member and was a senator for California from 2017 to 2021. She also served as the attorney general of California from 2011 to 2017.
Harris was born to Indian and Jamaican parents in California.
PRITHVIRAJSING ROOPUN
Prithvirajsing Roopun GCSK or Pradeep Singh Roopun has been the seventh President of Mauritius since 2019.
He was born into a Hindu family who are followers of the Arya Samaj.
MOHAMED IRFAAN ALI
On August 2, 2020, Mohamed Irfaan Ali was born into a Muslim Indo-Guyanese family in Leonora, West Coast Demarara. He has been the ninth executive President of Guyana since 2020.
He is also the first Muslim President of Guyana and the second Muslim head of state in America after Noor Hassanali.
ANTONIO COSTA
Antonio Luis Santos da Costa GCIH has been the Prime Minister of Portugal since 2015 and is the 119th PM of the country.
He is half Indian and half Portuguese.
CHAN SANTOKHI
Former police officer Chandrikapersad ‘Chan’ Santokhi has been the ninth President of Suriname since 2020. He was elected through an uncontested election.
Santokhi was born to an Indo-Surinamese Hindu family in Lelydorp, Suriname.
LEO VARADKAR
Leo Eric Varadkar has been serving as the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment in Ireland since June 2020.
He represents the political party of Fine Gael and has also earlier served as Taoiseach and Minister for Defence from 2017 to 2020.
Dublin-born Varadkar is the son of Ashok – who was born in Mumbai and later moved to the UK – and Miriam.
PRAVIND JUGNAUTH
Mauritian politician Pravind Kumar Jugnauth has held the Prime Minister post since 2017.
Born into a Hindu family, Jugnauth’s ancestors are from Uttar Pradesh.
He has been the leader of the Militant Socialist Movement since 2003.
ASHOK-ALEXANDER SRIDHARAN
A German politician of Indian and German ancestry who served as Mayor of Bonn from 2015 until 2020. He is a member of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU). He was the first mayor of Bonn to be of immigrant background.
DEEPAK-RAJ GUPTA
An Indian born Australian politician and community leader. He was a Labor member for Yerrabi in the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly from July 2019 to October 2020.
YOGENDRA PURANIK
Commonly referred to as Yogi, Yogendra Puranik is an Indian-born Japanese politician and the first person of Indian origin to win an election in Japan. He was elected to the Tokyo’s Edogawa City assembly as City Councillor in April 2019. He was supported by the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan.