Nikki’s India connection
Nikki was born in Bamberg, South Carolina. Nikki’s parents are Punjabi. Nikki was brought up like a Sikh because of her parents being Punjabi. Nikki converted to Christianity in 1996 after marrying Michael Haley. Nikki said in the 2020 Republican National Convention speech that I am proud that I am the child of an Indian parent. When my parents came to America, they wore turbans. My mother wore saree. Nikki also talked about the apartheid she faced in America. Nikki had said that I faced discrimination because of my brown complexion, but my parents never succumbed to complaints and hatred.
Nikki can give tough challenge to Trump and Ron DeSantis
The next presidential election in America is to be held on November 5, 2024. Many analysts believe that Nikki Haley can give a tough challenge to Trump and Republican Party candidate Ron DeSantis. Nikki Haley is the first generation American of Indian origin, who has made her way to the top in politics amidst the discrimination of apartheid. Nikki Haley was the first woman from a minority community to become a governor. Nikki became the governor of South Carolina at the age of 37. With this, Nikki also made a record of becoming the youngest governor.
Nikki Haley is not the first Indian-origin MP in America. It has been more than half a century since this representation started. It started with Dalip Singh Saund. Dalip Singh Saund was an American politician of Indian origin. Dalip Singh Saund was a member of the US Senate from California’s 29th congressional seat.
It is also necessary to take the name of Dalip Singh in the list of leadership of Indian origin in America’s politics. Dalip Singh is an American citizen of Indian origin. Dalip Singh is the economic advisor to President Joe Biden. Dalip Singh is leading the US sanctions and punitive action team against Russia.
More Indian faces in US politics
In the US Mid Term Elections 2022 held in November, a record five Indian-American MPs were elected to the US House of Representatives in the ruling Democratic Party of America. The names of Raja Krishnamurthy, Ro Khanna, Pramila Jaipal, Ami Bera and Shri Thanedar are included in this list. Harmeet Dhillon, a prominent leader from California, recently contested for the presidency of the Republican National Committee ie RNC. Harmeet Dhillon, 54, has been a former co-chair of the California Republican Party. Harmeet contested against Rona McDaniel for the post of Speaker.
Not only America, Britain and other countries also have leaders of Indian origin
Ireland’s Prime Minister Leo Eric Varadkar is also of Indian origin. Varadkar is the son of Ashok and Maryam Varadkar. Varadkar Ashok was born in Mumbai. Varadkar Ashoka moved to Britain in the 1960s.
Portugal Prime Minister Antonio Costa is half Indian and half Portuguese. Antonio Costa is the Prime Minister of Portugal since 2015. Antonio Costa’s father was from Tamil Nadu and mother from Punjab.
Politicians of Indian origin in Canada, New Zealand also
Rishi Sunak was elected Prime Minister in Britain last year. Sunak is not only the first Hindu Prime Minister but also the youngest British Prime Minister in 210 years. India’s Goan-origin Suella Braverman is Sunak’s home minister. Prior to Sunak, Priti Patel was the Home Minister in the cabinet of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. At the same time, Alok Sharma was the international development minister in the Johnson cabinet.
According to the 2021 Indiaspora Government Leaders List, more than 200 leaders across the world are of Indian heritage. In which these leaders have reached the top in 15 countries. Of these, more than 60 are in cabinet positions.
Indian origin leaders dominated in these countries
Chandrikaprasad "Chan" Santokhi is the President of Suriname since 2020. Santokhi was born in 1959 in Lelydorp to an Indo-Surinamese Hindu family. Suriname is a country in South America.
Prime Minister and President of Mauritius are also of Indian origin
Pravind Jugnauth is the Prime Minister of Mauritius since January 2017. Pravind Jugnaut was born in 1961 in a Hindu Yaduvanshi family. Pravind Jugnaut’s great grandfather had migrated to Mauritius from Uttar Pradesh in the 1870s. At the same time, the President of Mauritius Prithviraj Roopun is also an Indian. He belongs to Arya Samaj. President Prithviraj Raju has been the President of Mauritius since 2019.
Indian-origin leaders in Australia and Guyana too
Devanand Dave Sharma was elected a member of the Australian Parliament in 2019. The President of Guyana, Mohammed Irfan Ali, is also of Indian origin. Mohammed Irfan Ali was born in Leonora to a Muslim Indo-Guyanese family.
Christine Carla Kangaloo is the elected President of Trinidad and Tobago. Trinidad and Tobago is a Caribbean country. Christine Carla Kangaloo was born in an Indo-Trinidadian family. Indian-origin lawyer and writer Pritam Singh has been serving as the Leader of the Opposition in Singapore since 2020. Wavell Ramkalawan is the President of Seychelles since October 2020. Wavel Ramkalavan’s grandfather belonged to Bihar.
