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Time of India
23-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Watch: Rishi Sunak explains how following Dharma helped him become first Hindu UK PM
In a rare joint address that felt more like a fireside conversation than a commencement speech, former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife, investor-philanthropist Akshata Murthy, took the stage at Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB) to reflect on leadership, life, and the Eastern values that have guided them through power, politics, and parenthood. But it was one ancient Sanskrit word— Dharma —that became the philosophical cornerstone of their address to the Class of 2025. 'It's a concept known in Sanskrit as Dharma,' Sunak explained. 'The idea that we should gain our fulfilment from simply doing our personal duty, rather than from any rewards that may come with our efforts.' It was not just an abstract idea. Sunak revealed that Dharma was the principle that guided his decision to step into the chaos of British politics in 2022—after losing the Conservative Party leadership race, only to return weeks later as Prime Minister following Liz Truss's resignation and a market meltdown. 'At that point,' Sunak recalled, 'a purely ambitious politician would have sat out the impossible situation. But Akshata reminded me: my Dharma was clear.' That invocation of duty over ambition—a far cry from the usual Machiavellian fare of Westminster—drew warm applause from the GSB audience. For a school known for producing Silicon Valley unicorns and global CEOs, the speech was a gentle, unexpected reorientation: success isn't just about spreadsheets, scalability, and shareholder value. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trading CFD dengan Teknologi dan Kecepatan Lebih Baik IC Markets Mendaftar Undo Sometimes, it's about doing the right thing, even when it costs you. A Love Story in the Schwab Courtyard The speech was also deeply personal. Akshata and Rishi, both graduates of Stanford GSB's Class of 2006, met during their time on campus. 'This is literally where we met,' Murthy told the audience. 'In the Schwab courtyard, to be precise.' Their anecdotes—him in 'seriously uncool' cargo shorts, her dragging him along on runs—were a charming counterpoint to their more weighty themes. But even those early conversations, they said, were seeded with discussions about leadership, values, and Dharma. 'We started talking about this idea without knowing it,' Murthy said. 'At Arbuckle Café over breakfast… and whether 11am was too early for some ice cream for Rishi.' From Omicron to Om Sunak drew on his COVID-era experience as Chancellor of the Exchequer to drive home a broader point: while data was critical, instinct—rooted in values—was what made the difference. 'I used to find comfort in the idea that data could always provide a certain answer,' Sunak said. 'But Akshata helped me see that data can't look around corners. It can't make the decision for you.' It was a lesson, he said, that helped him resist pressure for a second national lockdown in late 2021, when the Omicron variant emerged. While the experts were divided, Sunak trusted his intuition—and ultimately, his duty to protect not just lives, but livelihoods. Dharma for the Next Generation The concept of Dharma wasn't just for prime ministers. Murthy extended it to young people, particularly through initiatives like Lessons at 10 and The Richmond Project, both aimed at increasing youth numeracy and life skills across the UK. 'Successes and failures are part of the package that comes with leadership,' she said. 'Dharma isn't just relevant in public service… it gives you the resilience and clarity to overcome whatever's thrown at you without losing your way. ' The GSB audience—diverse, ambitious, and often torn between idealism and practicality—was urged to embrace the same principle. Not to obsess over outcomes, but to anchor themselves in purpose. 'If you want to lead,' said Sunak, 'it's not a question of data or intuition. You've got to get comfortable with both.' An Indian Ethos in Global Power Data, Dreams and Dharma: Stanford GSB Commencement Speech 2025 That both Sunak and Murthy come from families steeped in Indian values added an additional layer to the message. As the daughter of Infosys founder Narayana Murthy, and as Britain's first Indian-origin prime minister, they embodied a fusion of East and West, Silicon Valley and Westminster, tradition and modernity. In invoking Dharma, they weren't just quoting a Sanskrit term—they were redefining global leadership with it. For a generation of graduates who will face climate breakdowns, AI disruption, political upheavals and moral dilemmas far more complex than case studies can capture, the message resonated: Don't just optimise. Do your duty. Whether it's in public service, entrepreneurship, or social impact, the world, they said, needs more leaders shaped not just by capital markets—but by Dharma. As the applause rang out and the tassels turned, Rishi and Akshata Murthy left the GSB stage not as power couple or policy wonks, but as philosopher-guides—reminding the next generation that greatness isn't just built on ambition or data, but something older, deeper, and infinitely more enduring. A sense of duty. Or as the Bhagavad Gita would put it: 'Karmanye vadhikaraste ma phaleshu kadachana' — 'You have the right to perform your duty, but not to the fruits of your actions.' That, perhaps, is the ultimate graduation gift.
Economic Times
07-06-2025
- Sport
- Economic Times
Gold medalist CA Akshata Pai, not a cricket fan, took leave out of curiosity, dies in RCB celebration stampede in Bengaluru
Akshata Pai, a 26-year-old chartered accountant, tragically died in a crowd surge during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru victory celebration near Chinnaswamy Stadium. She and her husband, Ashay Amballi, attended the event after taking leave from work, but became separated amidst the chaos. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Married recently, settled in Bengaluru 'We don't know how or why she went there,' says uncle Husband recounts the horrific incident from the stadium Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Karnataka High Court steps in Court initiates suo motu petition Details emerge during hearing CM orders magisterial inquiry, announces compensation RCB matches government relief Akshata Pai, a 26-year-old chartered accountant from Mulki, died in a crowd surge during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) IPL victory celebration held in Bengaluru on Wednesday. She and her husband, Ashay Amballi, had taken a half-day leave from work to attend the event, which saw thousands gather near Chinnaswamy Stadium. The couple became separated in the crowd, and Akshata was later found dead at Bowring who had completed her CA in her first attempt, married Ashay Ranjan Amballi from Siddapur in Uttara Kannada about one and a half years ago. The couple had settled in Bengaluru, where Ashay works as a software engineer. They had returned home to attend the Bappanadu fair and decided to witness the RCB celebration, although Akshata was not an active cricket shocked family shared the family's disbelief with Udayavani. 'She was not the kind of girl to attend victory rallies or public events like this. We don't understand how or why she ended up there,' Akshata's uncle told a local news family found Akshata's body after searching hospitals for nearly four hours. She had reportedly fallen in the crowd, and her husband lost sight of per the local report Akshata and her husband took a half-day leave to attend the IPL victory celebration at Chinnaswamy Stadium. As the crowd surged toward the gate, husband recounted that people started falling over each other. I was holding my wife's hand and took support from a barricade beside me, but the stampede caused both of us to fall to the ground. I shouted for help. Someone pulled me aside, but I lost sight of my wife. I looked everywhere, called the police and even checked hospitals nearby. Finally, I found her body at Bowring Hospital. By then, it was too late,' husband told a local news serious note of the stampede that occurred outside Bengaluru's M Chinnaswamy Stadium, the Karnataka High Court on 5 June issued a notice to the state government. The court has asked for a detailed report on the incident, which led to the death of 11 people and injuries to many High Court took up the matter through a suo motu writ petition after seeing media reports on the tragedy that unfolded during the RCB victory celebrations on Wednesday. A bench led by Acting Chief Justice VK Rao and Justice CM Joshi scheduled the next hearing for 10 the hearing, Advocate General Shashi Kiran Shetty submitted a preliminary report and assured the court that all necessary steps were being taken. He stated that the state was not treating the issue in an adversarial manner and welcomed public suggestions for future Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had earlier ordered a magisterial inquiry and expressed sorrow over the deaths. He said that the crowd had swelled to over two lakh people, far beyond the expected turnout of 40,000. The state government announced an ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh each to the families of those who Thursday, Royal Challengers Bengaluru also announced Rs 10 lakh as financial support for each of the bereaved families. The victims included several young people, with names confirmed by hospitals including Bowring, Manipal, and Vaidehi.
Time of India
07-06-2025
- Time of India
Gold medalist CA Akshata Pai, not a cricket fan, took leave out of curiosity, dies in RCB celebration stampede in Bengaluru
Akshata Pai, a 26-year-old chartered accountant from Mulki, died in a crowd surge during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) IPL victory celebration held in Bengaluru on Wednesday. She and her husband, Ashay Amballi, had taken a half-day leave from work to attend the event, which saw thousands gather near Chinnaswamy Stadium. The couple became separated in the crowd, and Akshata was later found dead at Bowring Hospital. Married recently, settled in Bengaluru Akshata, who had completed her CA in her first attempt, married Ashay Ranjan Amballi from Siddapur in Uttara Kannada about one and a half years ago. The couple had settled in Bengaluru, where Ashay works as a software engineer. They had returned home to attend the Bappanadu fair and decided to witness the RCB celebration, although Akshata was not an active cricket follower. 'We don't know how or why she went there,' says uncle The shocked family shared the family's disbelief with Udayavani. 'She was not the kind of girl to attend victory rallies or public events like this. We don't understand how or why she ended up there,' Akshata's uncle told a local news site. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like New Container Houses Indonesia (Prices May Surprise You) Container House | Search ads Search Now Undo The family found Akshata's body after searching hospitals for nearly four hours. She had reportedly fallen in the crowd, and her husband lost sight of her. Husband recounts the horrific incident from the stadium As per the local report Akshata and her husband took a half-day leave to attend the IPL victory celebration at Chinnaswamy Stadium. As the crowd surged toward the gate, husband recounted that people started falling over each other. I was holding my wife's hand and took support from a barricade beside me, but the stampede caused both of us to fall to the ground. I shouted for help. Someone pulled me aside, but I lost sight of my wife. I looked everywhere, called the police and even checked hospitals nearby. Finally, I found her body at Bowring Hospital. By then, it was too late,' husband told a local news site. Live Events You Might Also Like: Chinnaswamy Stadium Stampede: What triggered the deadly chaos at RCB's victory celebration in Bengaluru? Karnataka High Court steps in Taking serious note of the stampede that occurred outside Bengaluru's M Chinnaswamy Stadium, the Karnataka High Court on 5 June issued a notice to the state government. The court has asked for a detailed report on the incident, which led to the death of 11 people and injuries to many others. Court initiates suo motu petition The High Court took up the matter through a suo motu writ petition after seeing media reports on the tragedy that unfolded during the RCB victory celebrations on Wednesday. A bench led by Acting Chief Justice VK Rao and Justice CM Joshi scheduled the next hearing for 10 June. Details emerge during hearing During the hearing, Advocate General Shashi Kiran Shetty submitted a preliminary report and assured the court that all necessary steps were being taken. He stated that the state was not treating the issue in an adversarial manner and welcomed public suggestions for future safety. CM orders magisterial inquiry, announces compensation Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had earlier ordered a magisterial inquiry and expressed sorrow over the deaths. He said that the crowd had swelled to over two lakh people, far beyond the expected turnout of 40,000. The state government announced an ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh each to the families of those who died. You Might Also Like: Bengaluru stampede: Scary visuals show RCB fans climbing over M Chinnaswamy Stadium walls, fences to attend event; Watch video RCB matches government relief On Thursday, Royal Challengers Bengaluru also announced Rs 10 lakh as financial support for each of the bereaved families. The victims included several young people, with names confirmed by hospitals including Bowring, Manipal, and Vaidehi.
Indian Express
05-06-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
Rishi Sunak says he proposed to Akshata Murty in Kannada despite not knowing the language: ‘Wanted to honour her roots'
Former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has revealed that he proposed to his wife, Akshata Murty, in Kannada, despite not being fluent in the language. In a candid conversation with The Times of India, Sunak said the gesture was his way of honouring her roots and showing respect for her culture. Akshata is the daughter of Infosys founder Narayana Murthy and celebrated author, philanthropist and MP Sudha Murty. Sunak said marrying into the Murty family deepened his appreciation for Kannada culture, wholeheartedly adopting it, and turned him into a passionate supporter of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Sunak and Akshata met while studying at Stanford University and got married in an intimate ceremony in Bengaluru in 2009. The couple now have two daughters, Krishna and Anoushka. 'I'm married into a Bangalore family, so RCB is my team,' Sunak told TOI. He recalled being given an RCB jersey by his in-laws during the wedding, which sparked his long-standing loyalty to the team. 'We went to matches a long time ago and I used to cheer them on in Downing Street,' he said. Like millions of RCB fans, Sunak named Virat Kohli as his favourite cricketer, calling him a 'total legend'. He also revealed that one of his most cherished mementoes is a bat signed by Kohli, gifted to him during his tenure as prime minister by India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. This connection to the team became even more special when Royal Challengers Bengaluru finally lifted their first-ever IPL trophy after years of close calls and heartbreaks. The championship clash, held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, was a thrilling contest where RCB defeated the Punjab Kings by six runs. The victory brought an end to an 18-year-long wait and marked a historic milestone in the team's journey, one that made the moment all the more meaningful for devoted fans like Sunak.
Hindustan Times
04-06-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
‘Today we mourn': Rishi Sunak reacts to Bengaluru stampede
Former UK prime minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday expressed his condolences over a stampede in Bangalore that killed 11 people. The stampede took place at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, where thousands of fans had gathered to celebrate the victory of Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL 2025 final. "Mine and Akshata's hearts go out to everyone who has lost loved ones or been hurt in the tragic events in Bengaluru. We celebrated with you yesterday and we mourn with you today," he wrote on X. A total of 11 people were killed and 33 injured as a large mass of fans gathered outside the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore. The overcrowding soon turned into a stampede situation. The IPL team was set to carry out a victory procession to celebrate their first IPL title win in 18 years. However, due to the large gathering of fans, the procession and parade were called off. Karnataka chief minister said the sheer volume of people who gathered to celebrate RCB's win was not expected. "The turnout was far beyond what we anticipated. In front of Vidhana Soudha, nearly one lakh people had gathered, but there were no incidents there. However, at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, there were casualties. No one, neither the Cricket Association nor the government, expected this, as the stadium has a seating capacity of about 35,000. We assumed only a slightly larger crowd would show up. But almost two to three lakh people gathered," he told reporters. The Conservative leader was spotted at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi stadium on Tuesday during the IPL 2025 final between RCB and Punjab Kings. "This is incredible, this is absolutely electric, this is my first time here, the crowd is incredible, I have never experienced cricket like this,' Rishi Sunak told interviewers at the stadium after RCB's batting concluded. The former UK PM declared his support for the Bengaluru team as he watched the final at Narendra Modi Stadium. "I'm married into a Bangalore family, so RCB is my team,' Sunak was quoted as saying by reporters.
