Can Indian grocer make history at Cambridge?

Updated on: Friday, October 14, 2011

Over eight centuries of tradition will be swept aside this weekend if an Indian origin grocer in Cambridge is elected to be the first non-white, first Muslim and first Asian chancellor of the University of Cambridge.

Abdul Arain, 46, is one of four candidates for the election to the constitutional head of the 802-year-old seat of learning.

If elected, he will be the 108th chancellor of the university, and will succeed Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, who retired from the post in June.

Sceptics don't give Arain much of a chance, but he and his followers display rare confidence.

Voting will be held on Friday and Saturday, and the result is expected to be announced on Sunday.

Only members of the university's Senate are eligible to vote in the election.

The Senate comprises all graduates of the university who have taken the Cambridge MA or any other Cambridge Masters Degree (for example the LLM, MPhil, MSci, MEng, MRes, or MBA), a Cambridge Doctorate, or the Cambridge BD Degree.

Arain was born in Kenya and has family roots in Jalandhar, where his father was born.

He owns the Al-Amin grocery store on Mill Road, where Nobel laureate Amartya Sen was among his regular customers.

The other three candidates in the race are Lord Sainsbury (the official candidate), Brian Blessed (actor) and Michael Mansfield (barrister).

Arain told: "I have the support of many academics, besides senior members of the Senate.

"Lot of people in Cambridge know me, and know what I stand for. I have support from both, the town and the gown. My speech at the Cambridge Union last night was well received."

Can Indian grocer make history at Cambridge?

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