Deshamanya Kareema Marikar

Welcome readers! Hope you are keeping safe. We are living in an era where amazing Sri Lankans and descendants from this beautiful island are doing wonderful things around the world. Therefore, I’m making the occasional choice of highlighting such individuals that can give you a local and global perspective on their work, and insight to their journeys. Today, I am in conversation with political activist and former Mayor of Harrow, London, Deshamanya Kareema Marikar.

Thank you for joining in with me Kareema. You have embarked on a long journey as a British councilor, political activist and philanthropist. But before all that, I’d like to hear a bit about your childhood.

Thank you Hirushi for inviting me on for this nice chat. Well, being a past student of Kandy Girls High School, I would say my childhood was lined up with many academic and non-academic milestones. I participated in many sports and achieved colors, subsequently, leading to my role as a goalkeeper for the Sri Lankan National Hockey Team.
 

Being an activist in the socio-political arena, what do you see as the key milestone in this journey?

Out of many, there is that one particular day when I paid a visit to our local MP Gareth Thomas, who then asked me to join the Labor Party. There was something about him that inspired me to become a member of the party and commit to its social objectives. After years of hard work, eventually in 2010, I was elected as a local Councilor in a Conservative seat where I made history for the Labor Party as the first Sri Lankan Muslim woman to be in the Harrow Council and whole of Europe.

As an immigrant single mom, who is also a woman of color representing a minority, were there any particular challenges when participating politically?

As a single mother in politics coming from a minority background, there are so-called politically and racially driven challenges. There were many hurdles in the face of my day-to-day work with the party and my people. However, I simply converge on the idea that I will always put my community first and make sure I listen to my residents and address their concerns. I feel honored, privileged and grateful. There have been many challenges as a woman coming from BAME background, but I just get on with it. Due to my leadership, I received a platform to build a strong social network that paved the way to my service as an entrepreneur as well.
 

What key things have you learnt from your role in leadership?

I mainly learnt the importance of harnessing policy of diversity and equality. To serve everyone with transparency and fairness despite it challenging the mainstream norms and opinions. Especially, working my way up from the ground level, it showed me how the nature of leadership changes from one level to the other, but all can be achieved at any point with the right kind of spirit. I’ve also understood the importance of listening, not just hearing. Prior to taking decisions I would investigate, listen, and consult with the communities and those who undergo firsthand experience. A ground level understanding is important for any form of table discussion.
 

As far as your connection to Sri Lanka is concerned, what aspects of it are significant to you?

I was born and raised in Sri Lanka, where my beloved parents lived throughout their lives. Being a past student of Girls High School Kandy, I initially stepped into Hospitality, followed by a professional career in the Food and Beverage sector. After my journey in Political Activism, I was able to connect back with my beautiful island through cross-cultural educational opportunities and welfare. I give high regard to my collaborations with various local associations and sectors that empowered learning. I have collaborated with local government associations in Sri Lanka, where we helped officials learn specific policies that interests them.

I'd like to hear about your work involving mental health. 

I have championed mental health units as mental health is consequential to anyone. I have supported the Sri Lankan community to raise funds for victims in the face of natural disasters, poverty, and homelessness. The “Rainbow Children Charity” is also close to my heart, as it helped many children in my community in finding safe places to stay. I am also thankful for the friends I made and colleagues I worked with, who supported the objectives during my Mayoral tenure.

What are your future plans as a public figure and activist?

In the future I’d like to stand as a Member of Parliament and represent my community in my motherland if the opportunity is served.

Would you like to give any advice to the youth, especially women, people of color or those representing minorities who aspire to create positive social change?

Yes of course. As a politician from BAME background, you will face push back if you want to stand. But as long as you are true to yourself and you know your vision, you persist and make sure you follow your dream to become what you want to become.