Page 58 - MASALA Magazine Vol.15 Issue 2 | December 2023 - January 2024

You are undoubtedly laying the groundwork
for a more vibrant and active existence
in our neighbourhood. Did you face any
challenges to get to where you are today?

Yes, absolutely! Anything new in life is a
challenge in and of itself. It’s all about how
you manage it. What I’ve learned in the past
two years of working in politics is that one
must have a great mindset. In the morning,
I meditate and the greatest way for me to
meditate is to listen to Japji Sahib (Sikh
script). This allows me to relax and establish
my priorities for the day.

I’m also learning the art of living a work/
life balance. Our livelihood is dependent
on business, but politics is a social activity.
Fortunately, I have a strong support system
at work, and I organise my schedule to
maximise my productivity. I am at the
workplace three to four times per week, and
set aside time as needed each week for all
my political meetings. On Saturdays and
Sundays, I go to university and study from
9am to 4pm. Most significantly, I schedule
my vacation trips around my son’s school
holidays. This is important to me since it
helps me recharge, renew, and refresh myself,
while also spending time with my family.

To lead on from that, how is your
family supporting you in your political
endeavours?

My wife is my most ardent supporter. She is
both my source of energy and my source of
strength. In fact, before I entered politics, a
close friend advised me to seek permission
from my wife. I did, and my wife told me, “If
it’s your dream, go for it.” Additionally, I am
incredibly appreciative of the help that my
friends, family, and the Indian community
as a whole have given me.

Before we conclude, what advice would
you give someone considering a career
in politics?

One of my favourite moments is when
someone approaches me and asks, “How
can I get into politics? How does it work?”
This was once considered a taboo arena, and
you’d often hear unfavourable comments
about it. However, the world is changing, and
Indians throughout the world are becoming
increasingly visible in politics. It is time to
stop thinking of ourselves as Thai-Indians or
Indians living in Thailand, and start thinking
of ourselves as ‘Thai.’

We live here, we work here, and we pay our
taxes. We aim to make Thailand a better
place for ourselves and future generations.
The best approach to contribute is to be
properly represented, so that our voices are
heard at the national level.