The Illusion of Progress: South Asian Leaders and the Enduring Grip of Colonial Power

In recent years, both the United States and the United Kingdom have witnessed the emergence of South Asian leaders at the highest levels of political power. Rishi Sunak, the former Prime Minister of the U.K., and Kamala Harris, the former Vice President of the U.S., and now the forgotten former presidential candidate of the U.S., both of South Asian descent, mark a performatively significant moment in the political landscapes of their respective countries.

Their position is being touted as a burgeoning of a new world order when in reality it is an obvious extension of the colonial project, making the ancestors that fought for collective freedom roll in their graves and probably further thankful they don’t have to witness this farce.

THE COLONIAL IMPACT : A SHARED HISTORY

The shared history between the U.K. and the Indian subcontinent is deeply entwined with the brutal realities of British colonialism.

Riz Ahmed’s incredible album “The Long Goodbye” describes the relationship of the U.K. and the subcontinent in the context of an abusive relationship with such poignancy, but it is largely ignored due to the collective amnesia of society.

Over two centuries, the British Empire ruled the subcontinent, exploiting its resources, subjugating its people, and leaving behind a legacy of division and inequality that continues to resonate with aplomb and whose fault and responsibility is supposedly that of the natives. The railroads were not a blessing that the benevolent British bestowed on the poor subcontinent as the idiotic British pedagogy of indoctrination purports, and its adherents continue to spout, but a means of draining the significant GDP that the subcontinent had prior to colonial rule. The ramifications of colonial rule did not cease with the formal end of the British Raj in 1947; they have persisted in the hearts and minds of the people to the detriment of ourselves.

Do we really think that they would simply give up that easily? As if. They are as clever as ever, using the natives to do their dirty work and then claiming pious innocence.

It’s like saying “she asked to be raped, she wanted it.” Oh wait, that’s exactly the attitude of the motherland. It’s not coincidental that the subcontinent that suffered such a raping of resources, has become synonymous with its brutality of rape cases. The U.K.’s history of colonialism has shaped its society, economy, its political structures and its people even though it remains unacknowledged for some unbeknownst reason. Frankly, I think it's due to complete and utter ignorance, courtesy of the vapid education system that churns out sheep who are more addicted to consumeristic comfort than free thought, and performative morality achieved by contributions to liberal western systems that uphold colonial order, but that’s for another essay. The impact of colonialism has not only influenced the U.K. but also extended its reach to former colonies and beyond, including the United States, where the remnants of British imperialism have left their penchant for collective amnesia.

Although as an American, I really think we’re that ignorant because of the aforementioned education system, but really it’s multifactorial, not black and white like WASP society would have us believe.

Is the rise of South Asian Leaders a coincidence? No, it’s a continuation. The ascension of Rishi Sunak and Kamala Harris to prominent leadership roles in the U.K. and U.S. respectively is not a mere coincidence. It reflects the deep-rooted colonial dynamics that continue to shape global power structures. The presence of brown leaders in these positions can be seen as an extension of the colonial narrative, where individuals from the jewel of colonized regions are co-opted, by their own volition, into the very systems that once oppressed their ancestors and continue to oppress their unlucky fellows.

They and we think they are accepted, lauded even, when in reality, all those in actual power hear is “Yes, Sahib. Yes, Memsahib.”

In the U.K., Rishi Sunak's rise to power is symbolic of a nation descending into chaos because they now have to navigate a diverse present due to its colonial past. Sunak, a British-born politician of Indian descent, represents a dissonant convergence of identities—both colonizer and colonized - demonstrating that dehumanization goes both ways. One can’t maintain one’s humanity, while denying another person theirs. His leadership is not a just reflection of his personal achievements, but a testament to the brainwashing that tokenism and capitalist materialism plays in the psyche of an individual.

Similarly, Kamala Harris's position as Vice President of the U.S. is emblematic of the country's own colonial and imperial history. The U.S., a nation born from British colonialism, has perpetuated its own forms of imperialism both domestically and abroad, in a much less subtle way, and frankly without the veneer of culture that the British seem to have.(Mostly because American culture is a superficial amalgamation of performative value and brute force - see the money the Fed prints without a standard whatsoever (at least gold had the value of shininess) and penis extensions also known as weapons that are the bedrock of the American economy.) Harris, the daughter of an Indian mother and Jamaican father, embodies the intersection and lack of cohesion the colonized have with multiple histories of colonization and migration. Her rise to power (due to the fact that white men aren’t considered sexy anymore and they don’t actually respect their own women- sorry, Hil) is a testament to the wonders of American marketing and highlights how deeply colonial legacies are embedded in the fabric of American society thanks to the legacy of our daddy - imperialistic European society (let’s not forget, France, Spain, and Portugal - they’re hotter, anyway).

I personally don’t know what’s more embarrassing. The fact that these two individuals are willing leaders of the establishment or the fact that no one seems to recognize the obvious continuation of colonial rule.

As if a declaration of the end of imperial rule, actually ends imperial rule. We might as well be Michael Scott declaring bankruptcy in The Office.

The presence of South Asian leaders in Western politics underscores what seems to be a paradox, but is what the colonial powers seem to have actually planned (we all know what hoes they are for a schedule): those who are descendants of the colonized are now at the forefront of leading colonial powers. This does not signify a departure from colonial power structures. Instead, it can be viewed as a continuation of the colonial legacy, where individuals from marginalized communities are absorbed into the existing systems of power (because they asked for it, if you know what I mean) at the cost of true systemic change.

Both Sunak and Harris, despite their backgrounds, operate like willing pawns within political systems that were designed and perpetuated by colonial powers. Their leadership does not inherently challenge the status quo but reinforces it, as they navigate, from the inside, the very systems that have historically marginalized their own communities. The celebration of their success within the western, eurocentric hegemonic systems of power superficially obscure the ongoing struggles of those who continue to be disenfranchised by these systems. Just kidding, it is not even obscured. Thanks to Tiktok, we get to live stream a genocide of a brown people by colonial powers formerly led by brown people.

The colonial past is not just a chapter in the linear history that western pedagogy bestowed on us; it is a living force that continues to shape our current reality.

The rise of South Asian leaders in the U.S. and U.K. is a beacon of this enduring legacy. The collective must recognize that true liberation from colonial influence requires a reclaiming of our minds and moral attitudes. It demands a dismantling of the indoctrination of self-hate.

The emergence of South Asian leaders like Rishi Sunak and Kamala Harris is an obvious ploy by the colonial powers, framed as a triumph of diversity for the uncivilized savages to clap their hands to. They are the most blatant reminder of how deeply colonialism is imprinted on our global consciousness. The fight for true liberation is one that starts in the individual mind. It is a struggle that requires us to critically examine the power structures we cave to within ourselves.