Tue, May 13 07:35 PM
All set on becoming Britain's first Asian woman Lord Mayor in Leicester on May 15, Manjula Sood on Tuesday said that she is proud of her Indian identity and values.
Speaking to PTI, Sood, who was born and raised in Ludhiana, said that it was a great honour for her to be selected for the position and would do her best to serve the multicultural city that has a large number of people of Indian origin.
She said that she will wear a sari for the historic occasion.
"I came here in 1970 and since then as a teacher and in other roles I have always taught people the Indian values of respect and understanding towards fellow human beings. I will be Lord Mayor for the whole city and will always respect all faiths," she said.
As Leicester's first citizen, the Lord Mayor has a high profile role in maintaining and promoting the interests of the city and its people.
Her term in office at the Leicester City Council will be for one year. This year will mark the 800th anniversary of the Lord Mayor's office in Leicester. Sood has also been Britain's first Asian female High Bailiff.
There have been Asian Lord Mayors in British towns, but this is the first time that a woman of Indian origin will hold the post anywhere in the United Kingdom. The only other Indian-origin Lord Mayor currently in office is Harjit Gill in Gloucester.
She has appointed a Hindu and a Christian as her spiritual advisers for her role in the council. They are Ramanbhai Barber and Rev Jackson.
Lifestyle diseases pose a greater threat to ordinary Indians than even HIV/AIDS, according to renowned cardiologist Dr R.R. Kasliwal.
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