Two election victories in a county north of London last week sparked celebrations in a modest two-storey house in a Haryana city north of Delhi. The Dahiya family in Rohtak's Sector 34 now holds a rare, if not unique, distinction: two family members elected as mayors in the UK. Parveen Rani and her son Tushar Kumar, first-generation immigrants who joined the Labour Party and found their path to political office through local community work, have achieved a feat that resonates beyond their household. In a state where female infanticide and a dangerous obsession with illegal immigration remain prevalent, their success carries added significance.
Inspiring Women Back Home
"I feel bad when people tell me that I come from a state where women are not treated well, but I tell them to look at the examples of Gita and Babita Phogat. They are also women from Haryana. Look at all the medal-winning athletes, so many are from Haryana," Parveen (45) said in a phone conversation with this reporter from Hertfordshire, the county where she resides. "I too want to be an inspiration to women back home through my work in the UK. I want to give them the confidence that they can do anything they want to," she added.
Journey to the UK
Parveen moved to the UK in 2013 with her husband and two sons. Tushar was 10 then, and her younger son Priyanshu was 7. Immigrating was Parveen's decision. Growing up in a progressive family that gave her more opportunities to study and work than her brothers, she always had agency. However, while working as a teacher in India, she felt there were not enough opportunities for the family to chase all its dreams. She convinced her husband Sunil Kumar, who ran a property business, to move to the UK. Her in-laws supported the decision.
They moved on entrepreneur visas and initially settled in east London, where Parveen taught Hindi and built connections in the local community through a Vishwa Hindu Parishad temple. Her husband worked on setting up a business. There were initial struggles. Tushar was homesick and unable to adjust linguistically or culturally. "I missed my cousins and my family in India. And to be honest, my English wasn't top-notch, so it took me time to feel at home," the recently elected mayor of Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council told this reporter. "But over the years, I found friends who helped me assimilate into the culture and have been with me through all my ups and downs."
Their story is a testament to the power of community engagement and perseverance, serving as an inspiration for many in Haryana and beyond.
