- Tuesday, April 30, 2024
Ghosh, 38, assumed the Senate seat on February 6, filling the vacancy left by Patrick Dodson’s retirement in January due to health concerns.
By: Shubham Ghosh
VARUN Ghosh, a barrister of Indian heritage, has made history as the first Australian senator to swear the oath of office on the sacred Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad Gita.
At 38 years old, Ghosh, representing the Labour Party, assumed the Senate seat on Tuesday (6), filling the vacancy left by Patrick Dodson’s retirement last month due to health concerns.
Penny Wong, Australian foreign affairs minister and a senator for South Australia, welcomed Ghosh on X, saying, “Welcome to Varun Ghosh, our newest Senator from Western Australia. 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. Wonderful to have you on the Labour Senate team,” she said on Tuesday.
Welcome to Varun Ghosh, our newest Senator from Western Australia.
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. pic.twitter.com/kTLUZsx0iX
— Senator Penny Wong (@SenatorWong) February 6, 2024
According to an Australian media report, Ghosh joined the Labour Party in Perth aged 17 after his Bengali parents moved from India in the 1980s and began working as doctors. He was born in Canberra on August 30, 1985, before moving to Perth.
He is a barrister at Francis Burt Chambers and has worked in commercial and administrative law, as well as industrial relations and employment law.
Varun Ghosh first Indian origin senator in Australia takes oath on Bhagwad Gita 🚩🚩#Australia#VarunGhosh pic.twitter.com/fB5jayGbzg
— Gems Of Bharat 🇮🇳 (@Atulya_Bharat1) February 7, 2024
Ghosh has an honours degree in law and arts from the University of Western Australia where he also served on the Guild Council as chair and guild secretary. He also has a masters in law from Cambridge University in the UK.
(With PTI inputs)
