(August 17, 2025) Born amid the turbulence of Partition, Lord Rami Ranger built a £200 million empire, shaped politics, uplifted communities, and earned a seat in Britain’s House of Lords, turning personal history into a platform for inspiration.
Raminder Singh Ranger was just 20 days old when deadly riots erupted in his birthplace, Gujranwala, then in the Punjab province of British India. Like many families who fled leaving behind their homes and possessions, his widowed mother Harbans Kaur decided to escape with her eight children.
The overcrowded refugee train made boarding impossible, but Kaur approached the engine driver, introducing herself as the wife of Shaheed Nanak Singh — a prominent Sikh leader in West Punjab who had fiercely opposed the planned partition of India. Thanks to his reputation, the driver let them sit on the coal tender — an adventure that left the family dusted in soot as the train chugged safely into Punjab, India, in 1947.
At the refugee camp in Patiala, Harbans Kaur, an iron-willed Jaat, raised her children single-handedly — one of them destined to become Lord Rami Ranger, one of the UK’s top British-Indian businessmen and Conservative politicians.
Lord Rami Ranger
“One does not need a wealthy father, elite education or family wealth to help one in life. What one needs are values that can help one rise above the rest,” says Lord Rami in an exclusive conversation with Global Indian.
A legacy of service
Rami’s father, Shaheed Nanak Singh, was a visionary who opposed the partition of India, warning that diversity was the country’s strength. In 1947, he was killed while protecting students during communal riots in Multan.
At the Patiala refugee camp, his mother Harbans Kaur brought not valuables but her husband’s certificates, newspaper clippings, and letters to prove the family’s identity — a move that secured them a house and free education. She worked as a kindergarten teacher and bought a buffalo to provide milk and butter.
When Rami’s eldest brother joined the Indian Army at 16, others followed. All five brothers became Commissioned Officers. The Government of India honoured Harbans Kaur for giving more than three sons in the defence of the nation. “Last year, a statue of hers was erected in Amritsar by the Punjab government next to my father’s statue,” says Rami.
Flashback: From Patiala to the UK
As the family settled into life in Patiala, young Rami admits he was something of a spoiled child, showing little interest in academics. “Somehow, I managed to graduate from Government College, Chandigarh and persuaded my mother to send me to the UK to pursue Bar-at-Law, as it was a two-year program compared to three years in India,” he recalls.
His brother in the UK warned him not to come, saying life there would be hard. “I accused him of being jealous and said he didn’t want me to enjoy myself. Ultimately, he agreed I could come,” says Rami, who would go on to receive three honorary doctorates, including a Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) from the University of West London, the University of Wolverhampton, and London South Bank University.
Lord Rami Ranger with the Queen of England
Early struggles in Britain
In 1971, Rami sold his motorcycle to buy a ticket for his maiden trip to the UK. “Upon arrival, I experienced cultural shock. I had no money for education and felt completely out of place,” he says. At one point, he considered returning to India, but decided to work and save instead to buy his motorcycle back.
His first job was as a car cleaner, as no one would hire him without experience. Then, walking home one day, he spotted a sign at KFC: “Cook Required — No Experience Needed.” “I went inside and got the job as a cook for 35 pence an hour,” he recalls.
Working hard and learning fast, Rami rose to assistant manager, then manager, and finally district manager, overseeing ten stores. “I forgot about my studies because I was now happily settled,” he smiles.
Discovering entrepreneurship
After six years at KFC, Rami moved to electrical retailer, Currys. “There, I noticed customers buying electrical goods and sending them to Africa as unaccompanied cargo. I realised I could enter the service industry without needing capital,” he mentions.
Lieutenant of Greater London, Sir David Brewer presenting Lord Rami Ranger the third Queens Award for Enterprise in International Trade
In 1987, he started freight forwarding from a shed, using his old estate car to collect goods from shops. “I worked hard, provided excellent service at competitive prices, and my business grew through word-of-mouth referrals from satisfied customers,” says Rami, founder of Sea, Air & Land Forwarding.
Soon, many clients who imported British supermarket products for high-end markets abroad began using his company. “As various customers faced difficulties sourcing products, I began assisting them by sourcing items directly,” he says, explaining how this eliminated eight to 10 profit centres and gave customers direct access to goods.
Spotting a gap in the market
Rami also saw that while people aspired to own quality brands, not everyone could afford them. “I returned to the same manufacturers who produced branded products and asked them to make products under my brand, as I did not want to pay the high marketing costs usually associated with branded products,” he says.
In 1995, he launched Sun Mark, producing goods under his own label and selling them at 30–40 percent lower prices than branded counterparts. “This strategy was an instant success; my business grew from zero to approximately £200 million in turnover in just 20 years,” he says.
Today, Sun Mark operates in 130 countries and has won an unprecedented five consecutive Queen’s Awards for Enterprise in International Trade — a feat unmatched by any other British company. The then UK Prime Minister David Cameron personally presented the fifth award to Rami at his office.
Political engagement and UK–India ties
A major donor to the Conservative Party, Rami contributed £1.5 million between 2009 and 2024, including £25,000 to UK’s former Prime Minister Theresa May’s 2016 leadership campaign.
Lord Rami Ranger with former UK PM David Cameron and PM Modi
“After 25 years of immense campaigning, the party has now become fully inclusive and, as a result, our democracy more vibrant,” he says. In 2018, he became co-chairman of Conservative Friends of India, alongside MP Zac Goldsmith, to strengthen the party’s ties with the British-Indian community and promote closer UK–India relations.
In 2019, Theresa May nominated Rami Ranger for a life peerage. On 11 October that year, he became Baron Ranger of Mayfair and was introduced to the House of Lords later that month.
With Lord Suri, he also established the British Asian Conservative Link to make the party more ethnically inclusive and twice chaired the Conservative Foreign and Commonwealth annual fundraising dinner.
Championing cultural cohesion
Rami founded The Hindu Forum to unite Hindus in the UK and gave them a collective voice on key issues. “People were unaware of the importance of Hindu deities. They were printing their images frivolously on carrier bags, T-shirts and even doormats,” he says. His efforts led to greater cultural sensitivity and the appointment of Hindu advisers in every government department.
Lord Rami Ranger with EAM Jaishankar
He also helped form the British Sikh Association to counter separatist narratives. “The Brotherhood of Khalsa was established to liberate Indians from religious oppression, not to break up Mother India,” he says. He donated £100,000 to the Gandhi Memorial Foundation Trust, which erected a Mahatma Gandhi statue in Parliament Square, and launched the Pakistan–India–UK Friendship Forum to build bridges between communities.
“We united British Indians and Pakistanis to celebrate their joint 60th Independence Day in harmony,” says Rami, who donated £200,000 to the University of West London to improve student facilities and accommodation.
Pride in India’s rise and India-UK FTA
Rami is a strong admirer of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “No other leader has brought as much honour and pride to their people as Modi ji. He has done a remarkable job lifting millions of people out of poverty and elevating India globally,” he says.
He is particularly enthusiastic about the India–UK Free Trade Agreement. “This partnership signifies equality between a former colony and its colonial ruler that lasted over 200 years. It will be one of the most significant trade agreements in the world.”
Giving back
As a Fellow of The Prince’s Trust, Rami mentors underprivileged youth so that they can achieve their ambitions. He supports Combat Stress, a veterans’ mental health charity, and numerous other initiatives. “I use my life stories to inspire young people so that they can contribute positively to their families and country,” says the multi-faceted entrepreneur and philanthropist.
Lord Rami Ranger’s philanthropic contributions include:
- £100,000 to the Gandhi Memorial Foundation Trust, which erected a Mahatma Gandhi statue in London’s Parliament Square
- £250,000 to London South Bank University to set up an Entrepreneur Excellence Centre
- £200,000 to the University of West London for a group pavilion and student facilities
- £150,000 to The Prince’s Trust
- £100,000 each to Thames Hospice and the Gandhi Memorial Foundation Trust
- £50,000 to Cancer Research UK
- £25,000 to Combat Stress
- Fundraising for Help for Heroes and heart and stroke campaigns at Northwick Park Hospital
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