00:00 Bapu, Jai Siyaram.
00:02 Jai Siyaram.
00:05 It is truly an honor and a pleasure
00:07 to be here today at Murari Bapu's Ram
00:10 Katha at the University of Cambridge
00:12 on Indian Independence Day.
00:14 [APPLAUSE]
00:20 Bapu, I'm here today not as prime minister,
00:23 but as a Hindu.
00:24 [APPLAUSE]
00:34 For me, faith is very personal.
00:37 It guides me in every aspect of my life.
00:41 Being prime minister is a great honor,
00:44 but it is not an easy job.
00:47 There are difficult decisions to make, hard choices to confront.
00:51 And our faith gives me courage, strength, and resilience
00:58 to do the best I can for our country.
01:00 [APPLAUSE]
01:07 For me, it was a wonderful and special moment
01:12 to light theas for Diwali outside 11 Downing Street
01:16 back when I was chancellor.
01:17 [APPLAUSE]
01:21 And just like Bapu has a golden Hanuman in his background,
01:26 I am proud that a golden Ganesh sits gleefully on my desk
01:32 at 10 Downing Street.
01:33 [APPLAUSE]
01:41 It's a constant reminder to me of the importance
01:43 of listening and reflecting on issues before acting.
01:47 Now, I am proud to be British, proud to be Hindu.
01:53 [APPLAUSE]
01:58 Bapu, growing up, I have very fond memories
02:01 of attending our own local mandir in Southampton.
02:05 My parents and family would organize
02:07 havens, pujas, artees.
02:09 Afterwards, I would help serve lunch and prasad
02:12 with my brother and sister and cousins.
02:15 [APPLAUSE]
02:19 Our values, and what I see Bapu does each day of his life,
02:24 are the values of selfless service, devotion,
02:28 and keeping faith.
02:30 But perhaps the greatest value is duty, or seva as we know it.
02:36 These Hindu values are very much shared British values.
02:42 Many of you, like my parents and grandparents,
02:44 came to this country with very little,
02:46 mainly from India and East Africa,
02:49 from Kenya or Tanzania like my parents,
02:52 or from Uganda following the expulsion.
02:55 All your stories are an example to us all.
03:00 You worked your way up to give my generation the greatest
03:05 opportunities ever.
03:07 And today, I want to say thank you.
03:11 [APPLAUSE]
03:17 Thank you to the generation who worked day and night
03:20 for our education and our today.
03:24 Without you, I and we would not be here today.
03:29 And now is the time for my generation
03:33 to give back in whatever way that we can.
03:37 I leave here today remembering the Ramayan which
03:40 Bapu speaks on, but also the Bhagavad Gita and the Hanuman
03:45 Chalisa.
03:46 And for me, Lord Rama will always
03:49 be an inspirational figure to face life's challenges
03:53 with courage, to govern with humility,
03:58 and to work selflessly.
04:01 Bapu, with your blessings, I aspire
04:03 to lead in accordance with how our scriptures have
04:07 taught leaders to lead.
04:10 And thank you, Bapu, for everything that you do.
04:13 Your teachings of truth, love, and compassion
04:25 are more relevant now than they have ever been.
04:29 I am in awe of your stamina and devotion.
04:33 You have just returned from conducting a Katha just
04:36 last week in India, covering 12,000 kilometers
04:41 across the subcontinent and stopping at all 12
04:46 main shivlings of India.
04:48 And I thought I traveled a lot.
04:50 Now, I have been overwhelmed by the love and the support
04:56 of the British people, and particularly from all of you.
05:00 Your support--
05:01 [APPLAUSE]
05:05 And in closing, let me just say this.
05:07 Your support means a great deal to me.
05:12 I am truly touched by the warm welcome
05:14 I have received here today.
05:17 I wish you all very well, and I look forward to seeing you all
05:21 again very soon.
05:23 Jai Siyaram.
05:24 [APPLAUSE]
05:27 [MUSIC PLAYING]
05:31 [APPLAUSE]
05:35 [INAUDIBLE]
05:38 [music playing]
05:41 you
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