Watch: Rishi Sunak explains how to follow religion helped him to become the first Hindu UK
In a rare joint address, which felt like a fircide conversation compared to a beginning speech, former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife, investor-posts Akshat Murthy, took a platform to reflect leadership, life and eastern values in Stanford’s Graduate School of Business (GSB), which guide them through strength, politics and guardians.But it was an ancient Sanskrit word-ReligionThis became the philosophical foundation stone of his address in the 2025 orbit.“This is a concept known as religion in Sanskrit,” Sunakh explained. “The idea that we should achieve our personal duties only by performing our personal duties, rather than any award that can come with our efforts.”It was not just an abstract idea. Sunak revealed that religion was the principle that directed his decision to step into the chaos of British politics in 2022 – after losing the race for the Conservative Party leadership, only weeks later after weeks later after the Prime Minister’s resignation of Liz Trus and a market recession.“At that point,” Sunak recalled, “a purely ambitious politician must have sat out of the impossible situation. But Akshat reminded me: My religion was clear.”That call for duty on ambition – weeps a distance from Westminster’s normal Mciavelian fare – GSB plays warm applause from the audience. For a school known for the production of Silicon Valley Unicorn and Global CEOs, the speech was a gentle, unexpected regeneration: success is not just about spreadsheets, scalability and shareholder value. Sometimes, it is about doing the right thing, even when it spends you.
A love story in the courtyard
The speech was also deeply individual. Stanford GSB’s 2006 graduates Akshat and Rishi met during their time on campus. “This is really where we met,” Murthy told the audience. “In the courtyard, to be accurate, in the courtyard.”His anecdote – in “severely unqualified” cargo shorts, dragging him to the run – was an attractive counterpoint for his overweight subjects. But even those initial conversations, he said, was sown with discussion about leadership, values and religion.“We started talking about this idea without knowing it,” Murthy said. “In the Arabakal Cafe at breakfast … and was there a lot of ice cream for the sage at 11 am.”From Omikron to OmSunak attracted his Kovid-era experience as Chancellor of the treasury to run the house at a wide point: while the data was important, the Vritti-values were linked in the values-what difference was it.“I found comfort in the idea that the data could always provide a certain answer,” Sunak said. “But Akshat helped me see that the data could not look around the corners. It can’t take a decision for you.”This was a lesson, he said, which helped opposing pressure to another national lockdown at the end of 2021, when the Omikron variant emerged. While experts were divided, Sunak trusted his intuition – and eventually, not only to protect life, but to protect livelihood.
Religion for the next generation
The concept of religion was not just for the Prime Ministers. Murthy extended it to young people, especially 10 and through initiatives such as a lesson in the Richmond project, both were to increase young numerical and life skills across the UK. “Success and failures are part of the package that comes with leadership,” she said. “Religion is not only relevant in public service … It gives you flexibility and clarity to remove whatever you have thrown on you without losing your way.,GSB Viewers – Dr. Divers, ambitious, and often torn between idealism and practicality – urged to embrace the same theory. Not to pay attention to the results, but to anchor yourself with aim. “If you want to lead,” Sunak said, “This is not a question of data or intuition. You have become comfortable with both.”
An Indian ethos in global power
Both Sunak and Murthy pair an additional layer in the message from families immersed in Indian values. As the daughter of the founder of Infosys Narayan Murthy, and as the first Indian origin of Britain, she adopted a fusion of East and West, Silicon Valley and Westminster, tradition and modernity.In inviting religion, they were not just referring to a Sanskrit word – they were re -defined the global leadership with it.For a generation of graduates who will face climate breakdown, AI disintegration, political upheaval and moral dilemmas can be far more complicated than case studies, the message may be resonant:Just do not optimize. do your duty.Whether it is in public service, entrepreneurship, or social influence, the world, he said, not only more leaders of size by capital markets – but by religion.As the applause rushed and the talsles changed, the sage and the Akshat Murthy did not leave the GSB stage as a power couple or policy, but as a philosophical-guide-remembering the Agali generation that the greatness is not just made on ambitions or data, but some old, deep and infinitely more permanent.sense of duty.Or as the Bhagavad Geeta said: “Karman Vidyadaye Ma Philashu Kadachan” – “You have the right to perform your duty, but not for the fruits of your actions.”This is perhaps, the last graduate gift.
