UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak Opens Up About Childhood Racism and Efforts to 'Fit In'

 

Rishi Sunak, the UK's Indian-origin Prime Minister, revealed on Sunday that he faced racism during his childhood, sharing that his parents took steps to help him 'fit in' by encouraging him to speak without an accent. In an interview with ITV News, Sunak recounted how he underwent extra drama lessons to ensure he could 'speak properly' and assimilate more seamlessly.

Appointed as Britain's first Indian-origin Prime Minister in 2022, Sunak, a devout Hindu, made history after being elected unopposed as the new leader of the Conservative Party on Diwali. At 43, he is the youngest British prime minister in 210 years and holds the distinction of being the first Hindu Prime Minister of Indian heritage in the UK.

Reflecting on his childhood experiences, Sunak acknowledged the challenges of feeling different and revealed that he encountered racism during his youth. He expressed the pain of hearing derogatory comments directed at his younger siblings, emphasizing that racism 'stings' and 'hurts in a way that other things don't.'

Sunak underscored his determination to ensure such experiences do not happen to his own children. Speaking about his Indian heritage, he explained that his parents were keen on his siblings and him 'fitting in' without any language barriers. Sunak's mother, in particular, was focused on ensuring they spoke without accents, leading to additional drama lessons for the siblings.

Expressing his stance on racism, Sunak firmly stated that any form of racism is 'simply unacceptable.' He highlighted the UK as an example for the world in addressing such issues, stating that when he communicates with world leaders, they often view the UK as a model for handling diversity and inclusion.

In a moment of reflection, Sunak admitted that he never envisioned the possibility of an ethnic minority prime minister during his younger years due to the absence of role models in that regard. However, he expressed pride in the progress made, recognizing that his appointment broke new ground in British political history."