List of heads of state and government of Indian origin explained

This is a list of former and current heads of state and heads of government of the sovereign countries who were/are of full or partial Indian origin, other than the heads of state and government of countries of the Indian subcontinent. This list includes de facto heads of state and government but does not include acting, caretaker, interim, representative, transitional or temporary heads of state and government.

Heads of state and heads of government

S.No. Name
Portrait Office Designation Country scope=col colspan=2Term !Tenure Birthplace Descent Ref.
1Seewoosagur Ramgoolam
Prime Minister of MauritiusHead of government12 March 196830 June 1982Belle Rive, British MauritiusIndo-Mauritian of Bhojpuri descent[1] [2]
2Alfredo Nobre da Costa
Prime Minister of PortugalHead of government Portugal28 August 197822 November 1978Lisbon, PortugalIndo-Portuguese of Goan descent[3]
3Mahathir Mohamad
Prime Minister of MalaysiaHead of government Malaysia16 July 198131 October 200324 years, 38 daysAlor Setar, Unfederated Malay States, British MalayaMalaysian Indian of Malayali descent[4] [5]
10 May 20181 March 2020
4Devan Nair
President of SingaporeHead of state Singapore23 October 198127 March 1985Melaka, Straits SettlementsIndian Singaporean of Malayali descent[6] [7]
5Fred Ramdat Misier
President of SurinameHead of state Suriname8 February 198225 January 1988Paramaribo, SurinamIndo-Surinamese of Bhojpuri descent[8]
6Anerood Jugnauth
Prime Minister of MauritiusHead of government Mauritius30 June 198222 December 199518 years, 225 daysLa Caverne, British MauritiusIndo-Mauritian of Bhojpuri descent[9] [10]
17 September 200030 September 2003
17 December 201423 January 2017
President of MauritiusHead of state7 October 200331 March 2012
7Errol Alibux
Prime Minister of SurinameHead of government Suriname26 February 19838 January 1984Paramaribo, SurinamIndo-Surinamese of Bhojpuri descent[11] [12]
8Pretaap Radhakishun
Prime Minister of SurinameHead of government Suriname17 July 19867 April 1987Paramaribo, SurinamIndo-Surinamese of Bhojpuri descent[13]
9Noor Hassanali
President of Trinidad and TobagoHead of state Trinidad and Tobago20 March 198717 March 1997San Fernando, British Trinidad and TobagoIndo-Trinidadian and Tobagonian of Bhojpuri descent[14] [15]
10Ramsewak Shankar
President of SurinameHead of state, Head of government Suriname25 January 198824 December 1990Nieuw Amsterdam, SurinamIndo-Surinamese of Bhojpuri descent[16] [17]
11Veerasamy Ringadoo
President of MauritiusHead of state Mauritius12 March 199230 June 1992Port Louis, British MauritiusIndo-Mauritian of Tamil descent[18] [19]
12Cassam Uteem
President of MauritiusHead of state Mauritius30 June 199215 February 2002Port Louis, British MauritiusIndo-Mauritian of Bhojpuri descent[20] [21]
13Cheddi Jagan
President of GuyanaHead of state, Head of government Guyana9 October 19926 March 1997Ankerville, British GuianaIndo-Guyanese of Bhojpuri descent[22] [23]
14Basdeo Panday
Prime Minister of Trinidad and TobagoHead of government Trinidad and Tobago9 November 199524 December 2001St. Julien Village, British Trinidad and TobagoIndo-Trinidadian and Tobagonian of Bhojpuri descent[24] [25] [26]
15Navin Ramgoolam
Prime Minister of MauritiusHead of government Mauritius27 December 199511 September 200014 years, 59 daysPort Louis, British MauritiusIndo-Mauritian of Bhojpuri descent[27]
5 July 200517 December 2014
13 November 2024Incumbent
16Mahendra Chaudhry
Prime Minister of FijiHead of government Fiji19 May 199927 May 2000Ba, British FijiIndo-Fijian of Haryanvi descent[28] [29]
17Bharrat Jagdeo
President of GuyanaHead of state, Head of government Guyana11 August 19993 December 2011Unity Village, British GuianaIndo-Guyanese of Awadhi descent[30] [31]
18S. R. Nathan
President of SingaporeHead of state Singapore1 September 199931 August 2011Singapore, Straits SettlementsIndian Singaporean of Tamil descent
19Kamla Persad-Bissessar
Prime Minister of Trinidad and TobagoHead of government Trinidad and Tobago26 May 20109 September 2015Siparia, British Trinidad and TobagoIndo-Trinidadian and Tobagonian of Bhojpuri and Tamil descent[32] [33]
20Donald Ramotar
President of GuyanaHead of state, Head of government Guyana3 December 201116 May 2015Caria Caria, British GuianaIndo-Guyanese of Bhojpuri descent[34] [35]
21Kailash Purryag
President of MauritiusHead of state Mauritius21 July 201229 May 2015Camp Fouquereaux, British MauritiusIndo-Mauritian of Bhojpuri descent[36] [37]
22Ameenah Gurib-Fakim
President of MauritiusHead of state Mauritius5 June 201523 March 2018Surinam, British MauritiusIndo-Mauritian of Gujarati descent[38] [39]
23António Costa
Prime Minister of PortugalHead of government Portugal26 November 20152 April 2024Lisbon, PortugalIndo-Portuguese of Goan descent[40] [41]
24Pravind Jugnauth
Prime Minister of MauritiusHead of government Mauritius23 January 201713 November 2024La Caverne, British MauritiusIndo-Mauritian of Bhojpuri descent[42]
25Leo Varadkar
TaoiseachHead of government Ireland14 June 201727 June 20204 years, 127 daysDublin, IrelandIrish Indian of Konkani descent[43] [44]
17 December 20229 April 2024
26Halimah Yacob
President of SingaporeHead of state Singapore14 September 201714 September 2023Singapore City, British SingaporeIndian Singaporean of Malayali descent[45] [46]
27Prithvirajsing Roopun
President of MauritiusHead of state Mauritius2 December 2019IncumbentQuatre Bornes, British MauritiusIndo-Mauritian of Bhojpuri descent[47] [48]
28Chan Santokhi
President of SurinameHead of state, Head of government Suriname16 July 2020IncumbentLelydorp, SurinameIndo-Surinamese of Bhojpuri descent[49]
29Irfaan Ali
President of GuyanaHead of state, Head of government Guyana2 August 2020IncumbentLeonora, GuyanaIndo-Guyanese of Bhojpuri descent[50] [51]
30Wavel Ramkalawan
President of SeychellesHead of state, Head of government Seychelles26 October 2020IncumbentMahé, British SeychellesIndo-Seychellois of Bhojpuri descent[52] [53]
31Rishi Sunak
Prime Minister of the United KingdomHead of government United Kingdom25 October 20225 July 2024Southampton, England, United KingdomBritish Indian of Punjabi descent[54] [55]
32Christine Kangaloo
President of Trinidad and TobagoHead of state Trinidad and Tobago20 March 2023IncumbentCascade, British Trinidad and TobagoIndo-Trinidaian and Tobagonian of Bhojpuri descent[56]

See also

the heads of state of India

the heads of government of India

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gender and Politicised Religion. Researchgate. 11 November 2017.
  2. News: Histoire: Mauritius Independence 1961-1968. 9 September 2014. French. Le Mauricien. 9 March 2014.
  3. Web site: Primeiro-Ministros de Portugal. Portuguese. Portugal Info. https://web.archive.org/web/20130619211754/http://www.portugal-info.com/historia/primeiro-ministros.htm. 29 October 2020. 2013-06-19.
  4. Web site: Tun M, Father of Modern Malaysia New Straits Times Malaysia General Business Sports and Lifestyle News . 17 June 2018 . 1 March 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190817073532/https://www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/sunday-vibes/2018/06/380669/tun-m-father-modern-malaysia . 17 August 2019 . live .
  5. Book: Wain. Barry. Malaysian Maverick: Mahathir Mohamad in Turbulent Times. 2010. Palgrave Macmillan. 978-0-230-23873-2.
  6. Web site: Mr Devan Nair. www.istana.gov.sg. 2016-03-08. 2021-12-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20211228113803/https://www.istana.gov.sg/the-president/former-presidents/mr-devan-nair. dead.
  7. News: Singh. Bajinder Pal. Thailand's Indians hope for stability, peace after coup. 5 December 2015. Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd.
  8. News: Suriname's former president Ramdat Misier dies. 27 June 2004. Agence France-Presse. Caribbean Net News. 19 February 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20041204102740/http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/2004/06/27/president.htm. 4 December 2004. dead.
  9. Web site: YourLocalNews.ca – TC Media's local information websites. https://archive.today/20130105090927/http://www.westmountexaminer.com/article-372407-Gervais-inducted-into-Mauritian-order.html. dead. 5 January 2013. 9 July 2016.
  10. Web site: Mauritius — Central Intelligence Agency . 2009-11-18 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20091026200033/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/world-leaders-1/world-leaders-m/mauritius.html . 26 October 2009 . dmy .
  11. Book: Anthony Payne. Paul K. Sutton. Modern Caribbean Politics. 1 February 1993. JHU Press. 978-0-8018-4435-5. 133–.
  12. Web site: Reuters . Suriname's Cabinet is Ousted. . 1984-01-10 . 2014-01-21.
  13. News: P. Radhakishun wordt premier van Suriname. De Volkskrant. 16 July 1986. nl. 30 June 2020.
  14. News: 2019-09-26 . Noor Hassanali . . 29 September 2006 . 0140-0460 . www.thetimes.co.uk.
  15. News: Lester . Forde . Former president Noor Hassanali dead at 88 . Trinidad Guardian . 26 August 2006 . 2016-04-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170827124928/http://legacy.guardian.co.tt/archives/2006-08-26/news1.html . 27 August 2017 . dead . dmy-all .
  16. News: Timeline Suriname. BBC News. 23 June 2020.
  17. News: Nieuwe President vraagt Bouterse terug. Leidse Courant. 31 December 1990. 20 June 2020. nl.
  18. Book: Who's who of Rhodesia, Mauritius, Central and East Africa . Wooten & Gibson . 1971 . 27 July 2020 .
  19. Web site: History of the Tamil League . 2009-09-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090429183644/http://www.webofmauritius.com/tamilleague/history.htm . 2009-04-29 . dead .
  20. News: Uteem . Cassam . Tribute to a renowned statesman . 2018-08-27 . Le Mauricien . lemauricien.com.
  21. Web site: Cassam Uteem Former President of Mauritius . Global Commission on Drugs . 26 March 2019 . 2020-06-02.
  22. Book: The Writer and the World. 9780307370648. Naipaul. V. S.. 2012-03-15. Knopf Canada .
  23. https://www.nytimes.com/1992/10/08/world/cheddi-jagan-elected-as-guyana-s-president.html "Cheddi Jagan Elected As Guyana's President"
  24. Web site: Hinduism Today Magazine.
  25. Web site: Tracing roots to India. 2012-05-27. The Trinidad Guardian Newspaper. 2017-08-13.
  26. Premdas. Ralph R.. 2004-01-14. Justin Daniel. Elections, Identity and Ethnic Conflict in the Caribbean. Pouvoirs dans la Caraïbe. Revue du CRPLC. en. 14. 17–61. 10.4000/plc.246. 1279-8657. free.
  27. News: Bio-data of Dr The Honourable Navinchandra Ramgoolam. Government of Mauritius. 23 December 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121115173753/http://www.gov.mu/portal/site/AssemblySite/menuitem.3bef52ce598560451251701065c521ca/?content_id=81f69da824b08010VgnVCM100000ca6a12acRCRD. 15 November 2012. dead. dmy-all.
  28. Book: Chiefs of State and Cabinet members of foreign governments / National Foreign Assessment Center. Jan-Aug 1987.. HathiTrust. 2003 . 2027/uc1.c049297807.
  29. http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=54914 "More ministers join interim Cabinet"
  30. Web site: Guyanese President visits ancestral village in UP. 24 August 2003.
  31. Web site: Guyanan president sworn in after re-election . Xinhua . 2006-09-03 . 2012-10-23.
  32. Web site: Meet T and T PM, Kamla. Nation News. 25 March 2019. 5 September 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190905164910/https://www.nationnews.com/nationnews/news/50075/meet-pm-kamla. dead.
  33. News: Trinidad's 'daughter PM' returns to village in Bihar for an emotional reunion . The Times of India. 25 March 2019.
  34. Web site: Ramotar sworn in as seventh Executive President. 3 December 2011 . Stabroek News. 3 December 2011.
  35. News: President Ramotar to receive Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award. 3 May 2015. Guyana Times. 7 January 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150518104245/http://www.guyanatimesgy.com/2015/01/07/president-ramotar-to-receive-pravasi-bharatiya-samman-award/. 18 May 2015.
  36. News: I'm proud to be a Bihari, says Mauritius president. The Times of India . 7 January 2013 . Zee News. 30 October 2020.
  37. Web site: Première sortie du Président – Kailash Purryag sur la tombe de SSR. defimedia. 20 July 2012. fr. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120727041342/http://www.defimedia.info/defi-quotidien/dq-actualites/item/16081-premi%C3%A8re-sortie-du-pr%C3%A9sident-%E2%80%93-kailash-purryag-sur-la-tombe-de-ssr.html. 27 July 2012. dmy-all.
  38. Web site: Ameenah Gurib-Fakim : " Je suis une emmerdeuse, c'est ça ? ". 2015-05-31. French. L'Express. 2014-05-31.
  39. News: Mauritius: Ameenah Gurib-Fakim resigns over credit card scandal . 2018-03-18 . Al Jazeerah.
  40. Web site: 'Proud of my roots in Goa': Portugal PM Antonio Costa's Q&A with HT. 6 January 2017. Hindustan Times. en. 29 August 2019.
  41. Web site: Socialist Leader António Costa Is Named as Portugal's Prime Minister . . 24 November 2015 . 24 November 2015 . Patricia . Kowsmann . Matt . Moffett . https://web.archive.org/web/20151124142023/http://www.wsj.com/articles/socialist-leader-antonio-costa-is-named-as-portugals-prime-minister-1448370564 . 24 November 2015 . live .
  42. Web site: Mauritius: Indo-Mauritians in the general elections . African Democracy Encyclopaedia Project . EISA . 2020-05-28.
  43. Web site: Varad village in Maharashtra rejoices as Leo Varadkar is set to be Irish PM. 3 June 2017. The Indian Express. 3 June 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20190421055540/https://indianexpress.com/article/world/varad-village-in-maharashtra-rejoices-as-leo-varadkar-is-set-to-be-irish-pm-4687123/. 21 April 2019. live.
  44. News: Leo Varadkar elected as Republic of Ireland's taoiseach. 14 June 2017. BBC News. 14 June 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20190403094927/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-40266513. 3 April 2019. live.
  45. Book: Rajan . Uma . 28 June 2016 . To Singapore with Love... . Pillai . Gopinath . Kesavapany . Krishnasamy . 50 Years of Indian Community in Singapore . https://books.google.com/books?id=RHfQDAAAQBAJ&q=indian-origin+politician+halimah+yacob&pg=PA107 . World Scientific Publishing Co . 107 . 978-9-813-14058-5 . amp . Notable female politicians include Dhanam Avadai, PAP Member for Moulmein (1965–1968), lawyer Indranee Rajah, the current Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Law and Ministry of Education, and Indian-origin politician Halimah Yacob, former Minister and current Speaker of Parliament. . 29 August 2017 . 18 February 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200218013238/https://books.google.com/books?id=RHfQDAAAQBAJ&lpg=PA107&dq=indian-origin%20politician%20halimah%20yacob&pg=PA107#v=onepage&q=indian-origin%20politician%20halimah%20yacob&f=false . live .
  46. Web site: Halimah Yacob sworn in as Singapore's 8th President. Lianne. Chia. Channel NewsAsia. 14 September 2017. 14 September 2017. 23 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180623085100/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/halimah-yacob-sworn-in-as-singapore-s-8th-president-9216250?view=DEFAULT. live.
  47. News: Pritivirajsing Roopun elected as new President of Mauritius by parliament . Arora . Sumit . 2019-12-04 . en-US . 2021-06-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210603174640/https://currentaffairs.adda247.com/pritivirajsing-roopun-elected-as-new-president-of-mauritius-by-parliament/ . dead .
  48. Web site: Pradeep Roopun, un président qui aime s'occuper de son jardin . L'Express. 3 December 2019 . French. 2019-12-03.
  49. News: Inauguratie nieuwe president van Suriname op Onafhankelijkheidsplein. Waterkant. 13 July 2020. nl.
  50. Web site: Wagenaar . Leonoor . Crimefighter met lef . Parbode . https://archive.today/20130104130906/http://parbode.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1689&Itemid=75 . 4 January 2013 . nl . 1 December 2006 . dead . 29 October 2020 .
  51. Web site: 2020-08-02. Irfaan Ali sworn in as President. 2020-08-04. Stabroek News. en-US.
  52. News: Up Close…with Wavel Ramkalawan, politician, priest and family person . Seychelles Nation via Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture . 27 October 2020 . 26 October 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201026132701/http://www.pfsr.org/people/up-closewith-wavel-ramkalawan-politician-priest-and-family-person/ . usurped .
  53. News: 2020-10-25. Seychelles election: Wavel Ramkalawan in landmark win. en-GB. BBC News. 2020-10-27. 27 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201027223816/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-54681360. live.
  54. News: Rishi Sunak makes history as first Indian-heritage UK Prime Minister . euronews.com . 12 December 2022.
  55. News: 2022-10-25 . Rishi Sunak: A quick guide to the UK's new prime minister . en-GB . BBC News . 2022-10-25.
  56. News: FROM RED HOUSE TO PRESIDENT'S HOUSE . Ria . Taitt. 7 January 2023. 22 January 2023 . Trinidad Express Newspapers . en.

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