What if Britishness was never about skin colour, history, or borders, but about courage?

Courage to leave one shore behind.
Courage to confront uncomfortable truths.
Courage to redefine who belongs, and who gets to lead.

At a moment when Britain is wrestling with elections, identity politics, and a deeply polarised sense of self, this conversation cuts through nostalgia and noise to ask a more unsettling question: what does Britishness actually mean in the 21st century, and who gets to define it?

Join Chief Explorer Rajan Nazran in this enlightening episode as he sits down with Ash Verma, our Global Indian Ambassador and a former senior civil servant. Together, they examine the dramatic changes unfolding in the UK political landscape ahead of the upcoming elections.

The discussion unfolds against a backdrop of leadership contests, Brexit aftershocks, and rising global uncertainty. Yet beneath the headlines lies a deeper tension: Britain is simultaneously one of the world’s most diverse societies and one of its most anxious. Multiculturalism is celebrated in daily life, seen in sport, music, food, business, and global influence, yet routinely questioned when power and leadership are involved.

Britishness is not a fixed identity but an evolving one. It is shaped by migration, shared institutions, humour, civic values, and lived experience. For millions, Britishness was not inherited; it was learned, negotiated, and earned through participation in society. Schools, workplaces, neighbourhoods, and public service quietly rewrote the national story long before politics caught up.

And yet, moments of political transition expose unresolved fears. Leadership races reveal an uncomfortable truth: while Britain has embraced social diversity, it still struggles with symbolic diversity. The idea that leadership should “look” a certain way lingers beneath debates about competence, tradition, and national character. The unspoken anxiety is not policy; it is perception.

This conversation challenges that anxiety head-on. It argues that the real test of Britishness is not who leads, but how leadership is exercised. Integrity, empathy, global awareness, and moral consistency matter far more than heritage or pigmentation. In a world shaped by climate change, technological disruption, and geopolitical fragility, inward-looking leadership is not just outdated; it is dangerous.

A powerful theme running through the discussion is the diaspora dividend. Britain’s greatest strategic advantage is not its past empire, but its present networks: communities that understand multiple cultures, markets, and worldviews simultaneously. These connections are not symbolic; they are economic, diplomatic, and strategic assets. Trade, investment, and international cooperation increasingly depend on cultural intelligence and mutuality, not dominance.

The danger, however, lies in complacency. History shows that social cohesion can erode when fear-based narratives go unchallenged. Racism, extremism, and “us versus them” thinking rarely announce themselves loudly at first; they seep into institutions, education, and public discourse quietly. Vigilance, therefore, is not optional. Citizenship carries responsibility, not just rights.

Perhaps the most provocative idea explored is this: nations must stop defining themselves by who they exclude and start defining themselves by what they contribute. Greatness is no longer about superiority; it is about stewardship. Ethical trade, human rights, environmental responsibility, and honest self-reflection are now measures of national strength.

Britain stands at a crossroads. It can retreat into selective nostalgia, or it can step forward into a more honest, plural, and confident identity; one that reflects how its people already live, work, and belong.

The question is no longer whether Britain is diverse.
The question is whether it is brave enough to fully own it.

Tune into the conversation, challenge lazy narratives, and demand leadership that reflects the complexity of the world we actually live in. Britishness is not inherited by blood; it is shaped by action. And its future depends on who is willing to step forward and redefine it.

*Disclaimer: The perspectives expressed by the guest are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of our platform. This discussion is intended solely for knowledge-sharing and should not be interpreted as endorsement.

Produced by Global Indian Series for the Global Indian Network.

Script by Rajan Nazran
original idea: Rajan Nazran

Introduction music: (https://freesound.org/people/Timbre)