London, May 12
Shankar Gaire of Rupakot, Gulmi district, has made history in the United Kingdom.
Gaire has become mayor of the Swanley town council, Kent. In a election held for the position on Wednesday, Gaire, the erstwhile deputy mayor of the council and the Conservative Party candidate, won in the English heartland, becoming the first mayor from the Nepali community in the UK. In different regions, there are around a dozen Nepalis working as town councillors. For 13 years, Gaire has been living in Swanley. His wife, Laxmi Gaire, was elected Swanley town councillor last year for five years.
The outgoing mayor, John Warnes, has handed over the post to Gaire. After election, Gaire pledged to work in the interest of the community, taking pride at his journey from a village in Gulmi to the post of Swanley mayor.
Gaire has obtained MA (Sociology) degree from the Tribhuvan University in Kathmandu. He is associated with more than half-a-dozen social organisations.
