Picture Credits: PMO Singapore
Mr. Shanmugaratnam secured a commanding 70.4 percent of the votes during the presidential election on 1 September. On 14 September he will be sworn in, joining an impressive roster of leaders with Indian heritage who have risen to prominence on the global political stage.
United States
Kamala Harris made history by becoming the first woman and the first person of color to serve as Vice President of the United States. Harris previously served as a senator for California from 2017 to 2021 and as the state's attorney general from 2011 to 2017. Born to Indian and Jamaican parents in California, her ascent represents a significant milestone.
United Kingdom
Rishi Sunak assumed the role of Britain's first Indian-origin Prime Minister, marking a historic moment. As the youngest British prime minister in over two centuries and the first Hindu to hold the position, Sunak's leadership signifies a significant shift.
Within Sunak's cabinet, Goan-origin Suella Braverman serves as Home Secretary, and Claire Coutinho, another Goan-origin minister, recently received a substantial promotion as the new Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary.
Notably, prior to Sunak's tenure, Priti Patel served as the Home Secretary in Boris Johnson's Cabinet, and Alok Sharma held the position of International Development Secretary.
Ireland's Prime Minister (Taoiseach), Leo Eric Varadkar, traces his Indian heritage to his father, who hailed from Mumbai and later relocated to the United Kingdom.
Others
In Portugal, Antonio Costa has led the nation as Prime Minister since 2015, representing a blend of Indian and Portuguese heritage.
Canada has also witnessed the rise of Indian-origin leaders, with Anita Anand becoming the first Hindu to assume a federal ministerial role, taking on the position of President of the Treasury Board. In addition to Anand, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Cabinet includes Harjit Sajjan and Kamal Khera, both of Indian descent.
Down under in Australia, Devanand "Dave" Sharma made history in 2019 by becoming the first person of Indian origin to become a Member of the Australian Parliament.
New Zealand has its own trailblazer in Priyanca Radhakrishnan, the first person of Indian origin to serve as a Minister in the country, holding the role of Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector.
Trinidad and Tobago's president-elect, Christine Carla Kangaloo, hails from an Indo-Trinidadian family.
Mauritius boasts leadership from Pravind Jugnauth, the prime minister since January 2017, and Prithvirajsing Roopun, the president since 2019, both with roots in the Indian diaspora.
Chandrikapersad "Chan" Santokhi has served as the president of Suriname since 2020, born into an Indo-Surinamese Hindu family in Lelydorp.
The Indian Elites
Remarkably, the 2021 Indiaspora Government Leaders List highlights over 200 leaders of Indian heritage who have ascended to the highest ranks of public service across 15 nations worldwide, with more than 60 of them holding Cabinet positions.
This collective success underscores the profound influence of the global Indian diaspora, a community that now exceeds 32 million people, according to India's Ministry of External Affairs, making it the largest diaspora population worldwide.
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