With the words ‘Jai Siya Ram’, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak began his address during a visit to the ongoing Ram Katha by spiritual leader Morari Bapu at Jesus College, University of Cambridge.
During his visit coinciding with Bapu’s 921st recital from the ‘Ramayana’ entitled ‘Manas Vishwavidyalay’, the British Hindu leader spoke of how his own faith guides him through every aspect of his life and how the Lord Ganesha statuette on his desk at 10 Downing Street brings his great inspiration.
Sunak said: “It is truly an honour and pleasure to be here today at Morari Bapu’s Ram Katha at the University of Cambridge on Indian Independence Day. Bapu, I am here today not as a prime minister but as a Hindu!
“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.”
“For me, it was a wonderful and special moment to light diyas for Diwali outside 11 Downing Street back when I was Chancellor. And just like Bapu has a Golden Hanuman in his background, I am proud that 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!”
Sunak said that he was proud to be British and proud to be Hindu. He recalled his childhood in Southampton, where he visited his neighbourhood temple with his siblings and participated in rituals like havans, pujas, aartis, and distribution of prasad with his family.
He added: “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.
“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.
(Courstey: I GLOBAL)
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Fantastic that our PM has not hesitated to declare that he attended Morari Bapu’s Ram Katha as a Hindu
our values are universal, holistic and compassionate as exemplified by sewa in the community We are net givers Let hge BBC spew their anti Hindu rhetoric but Vritish people won’t be fooled Jai ho