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Baroness Verma recounts journey from immigrant to peer in podcast
Verma reflected on how her Indian heritage and British upbringing shaped her journey of resilience, leadership, and public service.
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Staff Reporter - Thu, 18, Jun 2026
- 06:16 EDT
- 34
Baroness Sandip Verma / Wikimedia commons
The latest Indianness Podcast by Sanjay Puri featured Baroness Sandip Verma, one of the most influential British politicians of Indian origin, who highlighted her immigrant journey, which shaped a life dedicated to breaking barriers and creating opportunities for others.
Puri's Indianness podcast enables leaders of Indian origin to tell their stories and inspire the next generation. The latest episode featured Verma's journey from humble beginnings to becoming the first South Asian woman to sit on the front bench of the U.K. Parliament.
Born in Amritsar and raised in the U.K., she is known for her work in business, women's empowerment, international development, and community engagement. She has also held several senior government and parliamentary roles in the United Kingdom.
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Verma reflected on how her Indian heritage and British upbringing shaped her journey of resilience, leadership, and public service.
She remarked, "My Indianness is from the sole belief that I am on this planet to be of service to others but do it without fear or favor."
She also discussed overcoming racism and sexism while growing up in Leicester, crediting her family's sacrifices and values for teaching her perseverance and determination.
Verma shed light on her rise from the garment industry to becoming a successful entrepreneur, emphasizing resilience, adaptability, and learning from failure as key ingredients for success.
She also reflected on her transition into politics, explaining how years of community activism and perseverance after electoral setbacks ultimately led to her appointment to the U.K. House of Lords in 2006.
Beyond politics, Verma discussed her longstanding commitment to strengthening U.K.-India relations and advocating for women's rights. She highlighted her efforts to build business connections between Britain and India, dating back to trade delegations she led in the early 2000s.
Verma also spoke passionately about issues affecting women, particularly domestic abuse and social exclusion. Drawing on her experience working with support organizations and later serving as chair of UN Women UK, she stressed the importance of English-language skills, financial literacy, and access to support services for immigrant women.
The episode concluded with Puri reflecting on Verma's journey from Amritsar to the House of Lords, describing it as an inspiring story of resilience, public service, and leadership that continues to motivate people around the world.
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