THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK!

SEVENTY FIVE years after the end of the British Raj, South Asians are now ruling the former empire.

The election of 37-year-old Humza Yousaf to lead the Scottish National Party means he is almost a shoo-in as Scotland’s first non-White head of Government.

The rise of Yousaf, son Pakistani migrants, follows the appointment five months ago of Rishi Sunak as Prime Minister of Britain.

Sunak, a Hindu, is the son of Indian-born parents who migrated to Britain from East Africa in the 1960s.

Ireland’s Prime Minister Leo Varadkar is the son of an Indian-born medic.

The triumvirate of leaders comes 75 years after the Independence of India from longstanding British rule.

“The empire strikes back,” commentators in the British press are saying.

The election of the three leaders with Indian backgrounds is a tremendous development from the era of the British Raj.

“It is a historic moment in British politics,” one social media commentator said.

Yousaf’s father was born in the Pakistani city of Miam Channu and later moved to East Africa, where his family faced discrimination.

Humza, born in Glasgow, was said to be one of only two ethnic minority students to attend his primary school.

He forsook the professions to enter politics and in 2011 became a Member of Parliament and the first non-White and Muslim to serve as a member of the Scottish Cabinet.

He is succeeding Nicola Sturgeon as leader of Scotland and is expected to lead talks to end the age-old constitutional ties with England.  

Anas Sarwar, who is head of Scotland’s main opposition party, also has Pakistani roots, with his parents being migrants.

Of note is that Suella Braverman, Home Secretary of Britain, has Indian parentage.

Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, is the son of a Pakistani migrant family.

Of the 67.3 million people in the United Kingdom, just under seven million trace their heritage to South Asia.