Should Rishi Sunak be crowned the new Conservative Party leader and Prime Minister on Monday afternoon, he will become the first Asian person to ever hold the office.
The former chancellor will also bring about another first if he becomes British PM.
His potential election would make him the first PM to practise a non-Christian religion.
Historians have to go back more than 140 years to find a time when there was previously a politician from an ethnic minority in 10 Downing Street.
Benjamin Disraeli was the first and last so far, having been born to Jewish parents.
But he was a baptised Christian, meaning Mr Sunak is likely to be the first not to have a Christian background.
What religion is Rishi Sunak?
Rishi Sunak is a Hindu.
Hinduism is the world’s third largest religion, with more than 1.2 billion followers. The faith has its roots in India, where Mr Sunak’s family heritage is from.
Hindus believe in reincarnation of the soul, along with karma — the idea of cause and effect in the universe (a belief that good things happen to people who do good deeds, for example).
There is one supreme being in Hinduism, called Brahman.
The religion is sometimes seen as polytheistic (worshipping more than one god) but in fact the many deities — the likes of Vishnu and Shiva — represent different aspects of Brahman.
Hindus can often be vegetarian, so as to minimise hurting other life forms. The cow is seen as sacred by believers, so it is rare for any Hindus to eat beef.
Believers look to achieve what they call “dharma”, a code which allows them to live morally.
Their sacred texts were mainly passed down in Sanskrit, an ancient and classical Indian language.
What has Rishi Sunak said about being a Hindu?
The Southampton born-and-raised politician has been open about his Hindu faith.
When he became an MP in 2015 for Richmond in North Yorkshire, he took his oath at the House of Commons on the Bhagavad Gita, a sacred Hindu text.
He has often pointed to his political rise as proof of Britain’s diverse and accepting culture.
Mr Sunak lit ceremonial diyas on the steps of 11 Downing Street when he was chancellor to mark Diwali — an occasion that could coincide with his anointing as Tory leader.
The Diwali festival, which symbolises the spiritual victory of light over darkness and good over evil, will be celebrated by Hindus on Monday, October 24.
Speaking about his faith after lighting the candles in 2020, Mr Sunak said: “It gives me strength, it gives me purpose.
“It’s part of who I am.
“It was one of my proudest moments that I was able to do that on the steps of Downing Street. And it meant a lot to a lot of people, and it’s an amazing thing about our country.”
The former investment banker and his wife, Akshata Murthy — the daughter of wealthy Indian businessman Narayana Murthy — are bringing up their two daughters as Hindus and pray as a family.
During the Tory leadership contest in the summer, when he came runner-up to failed PM Liz Truss — the shortest-serving British political leader in history — Mr Sunak was asked about his faith.
He told party supporters at a hustings in Exeter: “I’m a practising Hindu and that’s how we’ve raised our kids.
“Just a few weeks ago I was back at my temple in Southampton where I grew up.
“Every year we have a family prayer day where we cook lunch and serve it to the community, and it was a very special part of how I was brought up and a special part of how I live my life today.”
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