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Key Points
- Dr Parwinder Kaur is a scientist turned politician.
- The newly elected member to the WA Legislative Council became the first politician in Australia to be sworn in with Sikh scriptures.
- She came to Australia as an international student in 2007.
Ik Onkar is a fundamental principle of the Sikh faith, which means ‘God is one’, and Kaur means ‘princess’.
‘Ik Onkar’ is a fundamental principle of the Sikh faith, meaning ‘God is one’. Credit: Supplied by Dr Parwinder Kaur
While many people from the Sikh faith have represented their community in Australian parliaments in the past, this is the first time someone has taken an oath on a Sikh scripture.
The Constitution of Australia does not limit the oath-taking to any particular scripture. Traditionally, however, the swearing-in ceremony takes place with the Bible, the holy book of Christians.
Honouring the hard work of migrants
“The idea that the universe is connected and how it is connected came to me through Gurbani.”
Dr Parwinder Kaur. Credit: Christopher Tan/SBS
She said identifying openly with her religious beliefs would help her work better for all Australians.
“I am reaping the fruit of hard work done by all Punjabi migrants who came before me.”
Dr Parwinder Kaur with her family. Credit: Supplied by Dr Parwinder Kaur
“It was really really special to be able to do that on Gurbani, where it all started.”
“Good governance is working hard and sharing among all.”
A career in science
As a scientist, she has earned many awards, including the Science and Innovation Award from the Australian Academy of Sciences in 2013 and Microsoft’s AI for Earth award in 2019.
It has been 200 years (of people of Sikh faith living in Australia). I have the honour of becoming the very first Kaur, or Sikh woman in Australia, to have the honour of serving in Parliament.
Dr Parwinder Kaur
In advice to young girls, she said: “Do not try to fit in.”
I wasted a lot of my time trying to fit in.
Dr Parwinder Kaur
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