Following Kash Patel’s being sworn in as FBI Director using the Bhagavad Gita, a Canadian of Indian origin, Anita Indira Anand, was sworn in as Canada's new Foreign Minister using the sacred book. This was a historic first in Mark Carney's cabinet overhaul.
Anita Indira Anand was born in Kentville, Nova Scotia. Her parents (now deceased) were both Indian doctors; her mother, Saroj D. Ram, was an anesthesiologist, and her father, S.V. (Andy) Anand, was a general surgeon. Her father was of Tamil origin, while her mother was from Punjab.
Since it is the first time that a Hindu woman holds the post, Anita Anand's appointment has been welcomed by Hindu communities in Canada, such as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) Canada and the Canada Hindu Advocacy Coalition, who see her as an inspiration for the Canadian Hindu community.
A diplomatic challenge ahead
Anand's appointment has been of considerable interest, especially within the context of tenuous Canada-India relations after the 2023 killing of Khalistani activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Among Anand's tasks will be to lead the reset of the nearly severed relationships with India, Carney indicated, while navigating the sensitive relationships with President Donald Trump's America.
There has been no public response from Sikh organizations to her appointment, and this could be due to recent happenings and tensions between Hindu and pro-Khalistani elements in Canada, along with her previous position regarding Nijjar's murder.
All eyes are on Anand, whether she will succeed in navigating these complex geopolitical dynamics and restore bilateral trust, which remains a significant question as she begins her tenure.