Consulate General of India

Joint celebration of Australia Day and Republic Day of India on 26 January 2026 at the Indian Community Centre:

Hon Roger Cook MLA, Premier of WA,
Hon Dr Anne Aly MP, Minister for Small Business, International Development, and Multicultural Affairs,
Hon Sam Lim MP,
Hon Varun Ghosh Senator,
Hon Dr Jagadish Krishnan MLA,
Hon Dr Parwinder Kaur MLC,
Hon Patrick Hall, Mayor of City of Canning,
Hon Terresa Lynes, Mayor of City of Gosnells,
City Councillors,

Mr Deepak Sharma, President ISWA and other members of the Indian community,

Kaya, namaste, sat sri akal, assalam alaikum, and a very good day.

I would like to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation and pay my respects to their Elders - past, present, and emerging.

Like every year on this day, we come together, people of two nations to celebrate our respective National Days. On 26 January 1950, exactly 76 years ago, India became a republic as its constitution came into effect after its formal adoption by the Constituent Assembly in November the year before. On the same day, in 1788, the First Fleet of eleven ships arrived from England to Sydney Cove marking the beginning of successive waves of immigration from all parts of the world through various phases of history. From here began the journey of a people that has since encompassed reconciliation with indigenous Australians and embracing the achievements of Australian society past and present.

On this day, the people of India transitioned to a sovereign, socialist, secular, and democratic republic, that enshrined the principles of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. The journey of India has since been to protect its sovereignty, to ensure economic justice of equal opportunity and development to its people, to ensure freedom of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship, and promote brotherhood and amity amongst all humanity. It is a polity that was essential for a country with so much of cultural diversity. The diversity of India is best underscored by the fact that its people speak 121 mother tongues with 19,500 dialectical variations.

Australia likewise is a multicultural country that celebrates its history as a confluence of people from all over the world. It is thus no surprise that the two nations have increasingly come to work together to widen and intensify our engagements in a wide array of areas of cooperation. It speaks of the trust that is natural between nations who share the common values of democracy and respect for international law. It is this foundation that is the bedrock underneath the shifting sands of national interests and global geopolitics.

In the backdrop of the numerous security challenges that face the world today, we are repeatedly reminded of the need to stand together against all forces that threaten these shared values of freedom and equality. India was thus one of the first countries to strongly condemn the ghastly terrorist attack carried out at Bondi Beach, while Australia was quick to condemn the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India in April, 2025 as an act of senseless violence. As close partners in the Indo Pacific region, a vibrant Australia-India relationship will continue to work for economic growth and development for all and peace and stability in the region.

In conclusion I thank the Hon Premier and the government and people of Western Australia for your support to the Indian community and congratulate the students, doctors, scientists, engineers, artists, writers, activists, carers, and every person who make up the vibrant Indian community in Perth for representing your land and culture at its best and for doing all of us proud.

Jai Hind, jai Australia.