All Things Considered

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Religion & Ethics

Religious affairs programme, tackling thorny issues in a thought-provoking manner

Religious affairs programme, tackling the thornier issues of the day in a thought-provoking manner

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All Things Considered: A Hindu @ No 10

A Hindu @ No 10

BBC Radio Wales - All Things Considered, A Hindu @ No 10

Our first ever Hindu prime minister - Roy Jenkins discusses Rishi Sunak's faith and values

With the appointment of the first ever Hindu to the highest office in the land, Roy Jenkins discusses Rishi Sunak's faith and values with three practising Hindus living in Wales.

Roy Jenkins looks at what some regard as one of the most significant developments for religious faith in Britain for generations: a practising Hindu in the highest office in the land. It’s only 8 years since Rishi Sunak became an MP, so the speed of his ascent has been astonishing.  But this is a Prime Minister from a very different mould to many of his predecessors: he really does ‘do faith’. Only it’s not the Christian one. 

Roy talks to three Hindus in Wales to discover what they make of this the youngest Prime Minister in modern times, and the first ever Hindu in that role. How – if at all -  might his faith and cultural background shape his personal and political values? And where – if at all - might these values cause him difficulty? 

Until his promotion to the role of Chancellor, few outside Westminster had heard of Rishi Sunak.  Yet he rapidly created a favourable impression, introducing policies such as the furlough scheme and the popular ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ to woo nervous diners back to the hospitality sector. 

It has to be said, Sunak has not been elected by the public at large – only by a majority of MPs of his own party. Nevertheless, his rise has confounded many expectations.  And according to some Hindu believers, the portents are highly auspicious: Sunak was appointed on Diwali. 

Taking part in the programme are Vishnav Hindu theologian and teacher Akhandadhi Das, retired RE teacher Neera Vyas, and Dr Poonam Singal of the Hindu Cultural Association of Wales.

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