From Rohtak to the UK: How King’s College graduate Tushar Kumar and educationist mother Parveen Rani rose to mayoral offices in Hertfordshire

When Sunil Dahiya packed up his life in Rohtak and flew to the UK with his wife Parveen and two young sons in 2013, there was no grand plan. “We had not come with any specific thing in mind,” he told PTI. Tushar was just 10 years old then. Twelve years on, that same family has scripted a quietly remarkable chapter — one that stretches from the lanes of Haryana’s Sonipat district all the way to the civic chambers of Hertfordshire.On May 13, 2026, 23-year-old Tushar Kumar was elected Mayor of Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council, becoming the youngest Indian-origin mayor in the UK. Seven days later, his mother Parveen Rani was elected Mayor of Hertsmere Borough Council — the first Indian-origin person to hold that office. A mother and son, from the same household, holding mayoral positions simultaneously.From classroom to council: Tushar’s early entry into public lifeTushar’s path into civic life began well before most of his peers had given local governance a second thought. He was a second-year undergraduate at King’s College London, pursuing a BSc in Politics, when he stood for election to the Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council in 2023 — and won, at just 20. He has since graduated from King’s College London and is set to begin a Master’s degree in September this year.Alongside his studies and council work, Tushar has been a tutor with Hindi Shiksha Parishad UK since March 2020, voluntarily teaching Hindi to those born and brought up in Britain and organising events attended by MPs, councillors, and representatives from the High Commission of India. He also completed an internship with the Pagoda Programme’s Sustainable Global Experience in Brussels in July 2024, where he worked on climate negotiation simulations and explored the European Parliament’s policy frameworks.Since June 2025, he has been working full-time as a Professional Development Coordinator at the Chartered Insurance Institute, advising members on CPD requirements and regulatory alignment. At the council, he led Elstree and Borehamwood’s first-ever Diwali Celebration — a sold-out event attended by over 500 residents. He served as deputy mayor in 2025 before taking the top civic role this month.Parveen Rani’s decade of institution-buildingParveen Rani’s credentials in education and public service run deep. Before entering electoral politics, she served as Director of the London College of Business Sciences from 2012 to 2019, was Director at Kingsmead School, and served as Head Teacher at Creative Tutors. She also held parent governor positions at WMG Academy Trust and Loxford School.She entered local politics alongside her son in 2023, winning a seat on Hertsmere Borough Council. She went on to serve as Cabinet Member for Streetscene, Parks, Leisure and Culture, then as Global Envoy for Film and Television, and was elected Deputy Mayor of Hertsmere in May 2024 before being elevated to Mayor on May 20, 2026.Roots that travel wellThe family’s ancestral village, Rohna, falls in Kharkhoda in Sonipat district. They still have a house in Rohtak and visit every year. Tushar’s younger brother is currently pursuing his degree at King’s College London and serves as a trustee of the King’s College Students Union.Sunil Dahiya says his son believes firmly that age must never be a deterrent to public service — and that staying connected to one’s culture and heritage is not in conflict with serving a diverse, multicultural British community.