“Words can’t express how grateful I am—this award reflects the incredible support of my friends, family, colleagues, and supervisors at Gold Coast Health.”
Indian-American Dr Nisha Verma declined to give a direct answer, saying she treated patients with diverse gender identities and arguing that such yes-or-no questions were often used as political tools.
The award recognises the work of Vasudeva Kriya Yoga (VKY) under the guidance of Rajendraji, whose decades-long contribution to yoga and community wellbeing in Melbourne and beyond formed the basis of the nomination.
Prof. Varshney, Director of the Centre for Crop and Food Innovation (CCFI), the WA State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre, and Murdoch University’s International Chair in Agriculture and Food Security, is one of only four Australians to have received the honour since the list was launched in 2024.
Reflecting on her month-long journey, Paige said the warmth she encountered wherever she travelled was one of the main reasons she had developed such a strong affection for India.
