Indian-origin Australian senator makes history; takes oath on Bhagavad Gita

NEW DELHI: Barrister Varun Ghosh made history on Tuesday as he became the first-ever India-born member of the Australian Parliament to take his oath on the Bhagavad Gita.

Ghosh, hailing from Western Australia, has been appointed as the newest Senator after being chosen by the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council to represent the Australian state in the Senate of the Federal Parliament.

Ghosh's oath-taking ceremony was met with warm wishes from various Australian politicians. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong expressed her delight, saying, "Wonderful to have you on the Labor Senate team." Speaking about Ghosh's oath ceremony, Minister Wong said, "Senator Ghosh is the first ever Australian Senator sworn in on the Bhagavad Gita. I have often said, when you're the first at something, you've got to make sure you're not the last. I know Senator Ghosh will be a strong voice for his community and for West Australians."

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also extended his welcome and said "Fantastic to have you on the team."

Varun Ghosh, a lawyer from Perth holds degrees in Arts and Law from the University of Western Australia and was a Commonwealth Scholar in Law at the University of Cambridge. He has previously worked as a finance attorney in New York and as a consultant for the World Bank in Washington, DC. "I have had the privilege of a good education and believe strongly that high-quality education and training should be available to everyone," he said.

In the 2019 federal election, Ghosh ran as the fifth candidate on the Australian Labor Party's Senate ticket in Western Australia, but he was not elected. Nevertheless, Ghosh continued his work as a barrister, handling legal matters in Western Australia and internationally with the World Bank.

Born in 1985, Ghosh moved to Perth in 1997 and attended Christ Church Grammar School. Throughout his career, he has worked with organizations such as King & Wood Mallesons, dealing with legal matters for banks, resource companies, and construction companies.

(Inputs from agencies)