Rohtak: In a rare achievement for an Indian-origin family, 23-year-old Tushar Kumar and his mother Parveen Rani have both been elected as mayors in the United Kingdom, marking a significant milestone for the Haryana-rooted family that moved abroad in 2013.
Tushar has created history by becoming the youngest Indian-origin mayor in the United Kingdom after taking charge as Mayor of Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council. Days later, his mother Parveen Rani was elected as the first Indian-origin Mayor of Hertsmere Borough Council.
Family moved to UK in 2013
According to family members, the family originally belonged to Rohna village in Haryana’s Sonipat district and had lived in Rohtak before relocating to the United Kingdom in 2013.
Tushar’s father, Sunil Dahiya, said the family had not moved abroad with any specific political aspirations.
He said Tushar was only 10 years old at the time of their move and that the journey from settling into a new country to reaching leadership positions had become a matter of pride for the family.
According to Dahiya, despite relocating abroad, the family has continued maintaining close ties with its roots in Haryana and regularly visits its hometown.
Community service shaped political journey
Family members said both Tushar and Parveen had long been involved in community activities and social work.
According to his father, Tushar actively participated in community initiatives and voluntary service before entering public life.
Tushar first entered politics at the age of 20 when he was elected as a councillor while studying in London.
He joined Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council in 2023 as a Labour councillor and later served as deputy mayor before assuming the mayoral role.
Parveen Rani also entered electoral politics in 2023 and subsequently held several public responsibilities before becoming mayor.
Her previous positions reportedly included Cabinet Member for Streetscene, Parks, Leisure and Culture, deputy mayor of Hertsmere and Global Envoy for Film and Television.
Family continues cultural and educational work
According to Dahiya, Tushar and his mother have also contributed to promoting language and cultural activities within the community.
He said they have taught Hindi free of cost to people born and raised in the UK and have remained associated with organisations promoting education and cultural outreach.
Tushar is also linked with the Hindi Shiksha Parishad, a charity-based organisation involved in educational initiatives.
The family said Tushar believes age should not become a barrier to entering public service and encourages young people to participate in community and leadership roles at an early stage.
Achievement reflects growing Indian-origin representation
Tushar graduated from King’s College London and is expected to continue his academic studies further.
His family described the simultaneous appointments of mother and son as a unique moment that reflects both personal achievement and the growing participation of Indian-origin communities in public life abroad.
The development also highlights the increasing representation of people of Indian origin in leadership positions across various institutions and public bodies in the United Kingdom.