LONDON: Britain's youngest Indian-origin councillor, elected at the age of 20, has now become the country's youngest Indian-origin mayor just three years later. Tushar Kumar, who lived in Haryana's Rohtak until he was 10, was elected mayor of Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council last week, marking a rapid ascent from rookie councillor to deputy mayor and now to the top of the hierarchy.
From Student to Councillor
When Tushar first became a councillor in May 2023, he was a second-year undergraduate student at King's College London, pursuing a BSc in Politics. His parents, who work in education, moved to the UK from Rohtak 13 years ago. Tushar was elected as a Labour councillor with 832 votes, defeating the Conservative candidate by a single vote after a recount. The Conservatives had held that seat for three decades.
Family Inspiration
His mother, Parveen Rani, whom he credits as his main source of inspiration, also contested and won a seat on the Hertsmere Borough Council and later became deputy mayor. As mayor, Tushar has a civic role, attending events, championing the community, and supporting charities and local groups. He plans to be as accessible as possible and not be seen as someone "above the public."
Education and Career
Having graduated, Tushar currently works full-time and plans to start a master's degree in political economy at University College London (UCL) this September. He will continue serving as mayor while pursuing his higher degree. "I really want to focus on inspiring young people to engage with community life and public service," Tushar said.
Connection to India
Tushar visits India often to give talks at schools and universities. "I am very much connected to India. My mum has taught me to stay rooted to my culture and heritage," he said, adding that he organized the council's first Diwali celebration, which is now an annual event. Kumar, who has five A-levels and 21 GCSEs, said his family had no background in politics in India and that he could not picture himself being involved in politics there. "Politics in India is very different and difficult to get into. I think there are more opportunities here in the UK," he explained.
Community Involvement
Tushar's mother is the founder of Hindi Shiksha Parishad UK, which offers free Hindi-language classes. He volunteers there whenever his schedule permits. As for his career ambitions, Tushar aspires to become nothing less than the Prime Minister of the UK. "It was definitely a huge inspiration seeing Rishi Sunak becoming PM," he said.
