Niklaus-Samuel Gugger's life was a testament to the unexpected turns it could take. Born on May 1, 1970, in the CSI Lombard Memorial Hospital in Udupi, Karnataka, India, he started his journey in the world with a twist of fate. His biological mother, Anasuiya, faced with the challenge of raising him, made the heart-wrenching decision to leave him at the hospital just after his birth. Little did she know that this abandoned child would grow up to become the first person of Indian origin to be elected as a Member of Parliament in Switzerland.
Within a week of his birth, Niklaus was adopted by a compassionate Swiss couple, Fritz and Elizabeth. They brought him to Kerala when he was just 15 days old, where they lived for around four years before returning to their native Switzerland. Growing up, Niklaus faced the challenges of life head-on, working as a truck driver and gardener to support his own higher education. His parents, while not financially affluent, provided him with love, food, and clothing, instilling in him a strong work ethic.
Anasuiya's wish for her son to have a better life came true when Dr. E.D. Pflugfelder facilitated his adoption by the Gugger couple. Niklaus, affectionately known as Nik, recounted his early years spent in Thalassery, Kerala, where his mother, Elizabeth, worked as a teacher of German and English, while his father, Fritz, was a toolmaker at the Nattur Technical Training Foundation (NTTF).
Upon moving to Switzerland, Niklaus continued to work tirelessly to finance his education, juggling roles as a truck driver, gardener, and mechanic. He not only pursued his studies but also engaged in social work, striving to make a positive impact on his community.
In 2002, Niklaus achieved the remarkable feat of being elected as a town councillor in Winterthur, a city in the northeast of Switzerland, near the German border. In November 2017, he achieved an even greater milestone by becoming a member of the Swiss parliament, representing the Evangelical People's Party, a minority party. He proudly declared himself as the first person of Indian descent to hold a seat in Switzerland's parliament.
Looking ahead, Niklaus anticipated being the sole Indian representative in the Swiss parliament for the next decade, given the absence of other active Indian-origin politicians in the country.
Despite his political achievements, Niklaus never forgot his roots. He shared his experiences of working in an orphanage in the United States from 1992 to 1993 and his enduring connection with Kerala's NTTF institute, which supports students pursuing technical education in both India and Switzerland.
Niklaus firmly believed that he had absorbed the cultures of both India and Switzerland, and he envisioned collaborating with both governments on startup initiatives in the near future.
Wie sieht ethisches Banking aus?
— Nik Gugger (@NikGugger) September 9, 2023
Auseinandersetzung heute zum Banking mit ♥️ Herz!
Fulminanter Start der @evppev im Six Convention Point! pic.twitter.com/GwlxlyGQoD
With gratitude in his heart, Niklaus credited his biological mother, Anasuiya, for his remarkable success. He revealed that he named his daughter Anasuia to honour her memory, even though he had been unable to locate her.
As Niklaus continued his journey as one of the youngest members of the Swiss parliament, he looked forward to a future where he could bridge the gap between two worlds and use his unique position to effect positive change for both India and Switzerland.
Political Experience
- 2017 – 2023 Member of the National Council, Foreign Affairs Committee
- 2014 – 2017 Zurich Cantonal Council, Member of various specialist committees
- 2008 – 2014 Faction Leader, Evangelical People's Party, Winterthur City Council
- 2002 – 2014 Member of the Winterthur City Council, Member of various specialist committees
Current Mandates
- Vice President, Evangelical People's Party Switzerland
- Vice President, BirdLife Switzerland
- Vice President, Parents Switzerland
- President, Parliamentary Group Switzerland-India
- Vice President, Parliamentary Group Switzerland-Ukraine
- Chairman of the Executive Board, ConCordis GmbH
- VR Vice President, Herzkraftwerk AG
- Board Member, Mietauto AG
- Ambassador, READY! Jacobs Foundation Switzerland
- Global Advisor of KIIT and Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences, India
Some exciting statements from Nik Gugger's political life include:
- The War in Ukraine, his personal experiences
- Switzerland's Neutrality
- The Energy Crisis
- Our Economy with Rising Interest Rates and Inflation
