Europe News Desk!!! An Indian-origin Sikh councilor has created history after being appointed as the new Lord Mayor of the West Midlands city of Coventry in England. Punjab-born Jaswant Singh Birdie will be chairman of the city council, and as Coventry’s first citizen, he will be the city’s non-political, ceremonial head. “I am very proud to be the Lord Mayor of my adopted home city,” Birdie said in a statement. It has given me and my family so much over the years and I would be honored to show why I love this city so much by promoting the wonderful people who live here. The chains to be worn as the official coat of arms along with the birdie were presented by the mayor at Coventry Cathedral’s annual general meeting last week.
As a Sikh, it also means I will wear the chain and turban of office, he added. It will help to show that we have a happy multi-cultural city, which might inspire others too. Born in Punjab, Birdie moved to Coventry 60 years ago and has spent 17 years as a councilor in the city, representing Bablake ward for the last nine years, following two terms of office in Hillfields ward in the 1990s. He was succeeded in the role by Councilor Kevin Matton, after serving as Deputy Lord Mayor for the previous 12 months. He grew up in a village in the Indian part of Punjab and also spent time as a child in Lahore and West Bengal as his family moved there for employment.
Birdie moved with his parents to Kenya in East Africa in the mid-1950s, where he received primary and secondary education, and moved to the UK in the 60s for further education. In addition to being a councillor, he has been actively involved in setting up religious, social and community projects in the city. His chosen charity for the year is the Muscular Dystrophy Charity, Coventry Resource Center for the Blind, and University Hospitals Coventry and Designated as a Warwickshire charity.
–IANS
World News Desk!!!
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