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The contribution of people of Indian origin across Western Australia’s schools, hospitals, businesses, universities and communities was highlighted by Dr. Jagadish (Jags) Krishnan, a Member of the Legislative Assembly, on August 30, as he reflected on celebrations marking India’s 80th Independence Day at the Parliament of Western Australia this month.
Speaking to South Asian Herald, Krishnan described the milestone as “a proud moment for all people of Indian origin,” pointing to their contribution through teaching in schools, healthcare in hospitals, job creation as entrepreneurs and research in universities. More important than the professional contributions, he said, are the values that generation is passing to its children, including kindness and giving back to Western Australia and Australia more broadly.
Krishnan, together with fellow parliamentarians Yaz Mubarakai, Kevin Michel and Parwinder Kaur, hosted the Indian Independence Day Reception in collaboration with the Indian Society of Western Australia (ISWA) on August 20.
Held in the Courtyard at Parliament House, the reception commemorated India’s 80th Independence Day against the backdrop of the growing relationship between India and Western Australia and the contribution of the Indian Australian community to the state.
Western Australia’s capital is home to an estimated 93,572 Indian-born residents, about 9 percent of Australia’s total, according to a 2025 report by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Understanding Australia’s Indian Communities: A Statistical Snapshot. Nationally, DFAT found the Indian diaspora had reached 988,270 by the 2021 Census, nearly four times its size in 2006.
Parwinder Kaur, Ph.D., deputy chair of Committees and Member of the Legislative Council, delivered the welcome and opening keynote, describing the evening as an opportunity to celebrate India’s eight-decade journey while recognizing the enduring friendship between India, Australia and Western Australia.
“It is a celebration of history, friendship, community and, most importantly, the shared future we are building together,” Kaur said.
Turning to the eight decades since 1947, she reflected on the challenges India inherited at independence, including poverty, displacement, inequality and limited infrastructure, alongside the task of building a democratic nation of immense diversity.
“India chose democracy. India chose a Constitution. India chose institutions. And India chose to believe that diversity was not a weakness, but a strength,” Kaur said.
The significance of the parliamentary setting was highlighted by Consul General of India in Perth Kajari Biswas, who thanked the Parliament of Western Australia for hosting an Independence Day reception for the fourth consecutive year, describing it as meaningful outreach to the Indian-origin community and a testament to the regard in which the community is held for its contribution to the state’s economy and social fabric.
Biswas highlighted Western Australia’s strategic Indian Ocean position and strengths in mining, technology, education, space, maritime security and clean energy, saying the relationship was underpinned by shared values, a commitment to a rules-based international order, and growing ties in trade, research and innovation.
Biswas also recognized the Indian-origin parliamentarians involved in the reception. ISWA President Dr. Divya Sharma said their presence in Parliament showed younger generations that “they belong in every sphere of Australian life, including public service and leadership,” adding that India and Australia shared foundational values of democracy, opportunity, respect for diversity and the belief that every person should have the ability to shape their own future.
The relationship, speakers emphasized, now extends well beyond traditional trade ties. Kaur said Western Australia had maintained a dedicated government trade presence in India for around 30 years. “But our relationship is no longer simply about what we sell and what we buy,” she said. “It is about what we can build together.”
Kaur also reflected on former Indian President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, describing the scientist, engineer, statesman and teacher as one of her greatest inspirations. She highlighted his belief in young people, education and science, linking that outlook to the future of the India-Western Australia relationship.
“Because our future will not be built only through resources and trade. It will be built through knowledge, research, innovation and people,” Kaur said.
People were central to Kaur’s assessment of that relationship. “Your story is part of the Western Australian story,” she said. “You do not have to choose between being proudly Indian and proudly Australian. You can carry your heritage, language, culture and values while helping shape the future of this great State.”
“That is not a contradiction; that is the strength of multicultural Australia, and tonight, in this Parliament, we celebrate that.”
Sharma echoed the DFAT findings in describing the community’s own trajectory, saying Indian-born migrants in Western Australia are shaping their futures with “a signature, can-do attitude,” and are raising a generation that is “confident, multilingual and proudly connected to both their Indian heritage and their Australian identity.”
Sharma also pointed to ISWA’s collaborations with National Australia Bank, Murdoch University, the West Coast Eagles, WA Police, the Department of Home Affairs and the Office of Multicultural Interests as examples of the community’s growing engagement across Western Australian institutions. “When Indian culture is celebrated in universities, workplaces, sporting grounds and civic institutions, it sends a powerful message: our culture is not separate from Australian life, it is part of Australian life,” she said.
The reception concluded with closing remarks from Krishnan, Kaur and Mubarakai. Looking to the future, Kaur said, “May the next 80 years be defined by peace, knowledge, innovation, inclusion, friendship and shared opportunity.”
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