India’s 79th Independence Day was marked with a landmark celebration at Canberra’s Old Parliament House on 15 August 2025, where the theme “Democracy as Culture: India’s Constitutional Ethos in Practice” highlighted the shared democratic values between India and Australia.
Among the distinguished guests were Gopal Baglay, High Commissioner of India to Australia; Barry O’Farrell AO, former Australian High Commissioner to India; University of Canberra Vice Chancellor Bill Shorten; Ajay Amrit, High Commissioner of Fiji; and representatives from DFAT, the Australia India Institute, AIBC, and leading think tanks.
In his keynote, High Commissioner Baglay underlined that India’s democratic traditions long predate modern institutions. “Democracy in India is not a post-colonial construct,” he said.
“It has deep roots in our civilisation and continues to be the foundation of our vision for a developed, inclusive, and prosperous Viksit Bharat by 2047.”
Hosted by the India Australia Exchange Forum (IAEF), the event brought together diplomats, academics, and policymakers in a symbolic setting that placed Australia’s current Parliament House in view of the historic one, underscoring a living connection between two vibrant democracies.
Former Australian High Commissioner to India Barry O’Farrell echoed those sentiments, saying, “India and Australia are natural partners because we share not only democratic institutions, but also a democratic spirit.”
“Events like this remind us that our ties are built on values as much as trade and security.”
The celebration honoured Indian democracy not only as a system of governance but as a civilisational ethos shaped by pluralism, dialogue, and community participation across millennia.
Adding to the dialogue, Dr. Guru Prakash Paswan, national spokesperson of India’s Bharatiya Janata Party and constitutional law scholar, stressed that,
“democracy in India is not just procedural — it is lived. It is seen in the dignity of the individual, in the aspirations of marginalised communities, and in the resilience of institutions shaped by the will of the people.”
Discussions ranged from the resilience of democratic institutions to the threats they face globally, with calls for deeper cooperation between like-minded nations.
University of Canberra Vice Chancellor Bill Shorten reflected on India’s constitutional journey, noting that it “shows the power of democracy to deliver inclusion and opportunity.”
“For Australia, engaging with that journey enriches our own understanding of how democracies thrive in the face of challenge.”
Australian Labor Party National Secretary Paul Erickson highlighted the global dimension, observing that “Australia and India stand together as democracies facing new global tests.”
“By exchanging ideas and experiences, we strengthen not only our bilateral relationship but the democratic project itself.”
From a business perspective, Deepak-Raj Gupta, President of the Australia India Business Council, reminded attendees that
“our business ties rest on a foundation of shared democratic values. Without trust, transparency, and rule of law — the pillars of democracy — trade and investment cannot flourish.”
The presence of voices from across the political and intellectual spectrum — from Australia and India alike — made the event a true dialogue of democracies.
India Australia Diaspora Foundation’s Director Jay Shah said, “Indian Diaspora must do more events like these of significance and own the narrative of Indian democracy in addition to amazing celebrations of Independence Day that happen across the globe.”
“We will always support such events of meaningful conversations.”
IAEF expressed gratitude to the High Commission of India, partner organisations, and its volunteers for making the celebration a success. The event closed with a renewed emphasis on the growing strategic, economic, and cultural ties between India and Australia, reminding both nations that democracy is not only a policy but a shared cultural ethos.
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