Australia
Varun Ghosh, a barrister of Indian heritage, has made history by being sworn in as an Australian Senator while taking his oath on the revered Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad Gita.
At 38 years old, Ghosh, representing the Labour Party, assumed the party’s Senate seat on Tuesday, following the retirement of Patrick Dodson last month due to health reasons. His swearing-in ceremony with the Bhagavad Gita marks a significant milestone in Australian parliamentary tradition.
Penny Wong, the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Senator for South Australia, extended a warm welcome to Ghosh, highlighting the significance of his appointment. “Welcome to Varun Ghosh, our newest Senator from Western Australia. Senator Ghosh is the first ever Australian Senator sworn in on the Bhagavad Gita,” she remarked.
Wong emphasized the importance of representation and empowerment, stating, “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. Wonderful to have you on the Labour Senate team.”
According to a report in The Sunday Morning Herald newspaper, Ghosh’s journey into politics began in Perth, where he joined the Labour Party at the age of 17 after his parents immigrated from India in the 1980s. Both of his parents worked as doctors.
Professionally, Ghosh is a barrister at Francis Burt Chambers, specializing in commercial and administrative law, as well as industrial relations and employment law. His academic achievements include an honors degree in law and arts from the University of Western Australia (UWA), where he also served on the Guild Council as chair and guild secretary. Additionally, Ghosh holds a master’s degree in law from Cambridge University in the UK.
