He left Himachal to study in Australia. Now, he's making history as mayor

Abhishek Awasthi took oath as Greater Bendigo's first Indian-origin mayor on Monday. His unanimous election marks a milestone in his journey from Mandi to Australian local leadership.Abhishek Awasthi from Himachal's Mandi becomes 1st Indian-origin mayor of Greater Bendigo.A man from Himachal Pradesh's Mandi has scripted history in Australia, becoming the first Indian-origin mayor of Greater Bendigo in Victoria state. Abhishek Awasthi, who previously served as the city's deputy mayor, assumed office after taking the oath at a swearing-in ceremony held on Monday.The 43-year-old will serve a one-year term as mayor from 2026-27. Andrea Metcalfe has been elected as the deputy mayor.Following his election, Awasthi thanked his fellow councillors and expressed gratitude to his parents and relatives for supporting him throughout his journey. He also pledged to fulfil the expectations of Greater Bendigo residents.Awasthi's rise to the mayoral office marks a significant milestone in his journey from Chhoti Kashi in Himachal Pradesh to local leadership in Australia. FROM MANDI TO AUSTRALIA: AWASTHI'S JOURNEYAwasthi moved to Australia in 2008 to pursue higher education. He enrolled in La Trobe University, where he completed a Master's degree in Biotechnology, followed by a degree in Bioinformatics.He also worked part-time while studying. He received Australian citizenship in 2015. Married to Anima, the couple share a daughter, Agni.His father, Surendra Pal, is retired from the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), while his mother, Champa Sharma, is a homemaker.His parents and other relatives were present at the swearing-in ceremony to witness his achievement.FROM COUNCILLOR TO MAYOR IN TWO YEARSAwasthi's political journey in Greater Bendigo began with the 2024 council elections. He won from Kennington Ward, one of the nine wards in the Greater Bendigo City Council, in November 2024.He subsequently became the city's first Indian-origin deputy mayor for the 2024-25 term, working closely with then-Mayor Andrea Metcalfe.Two years after entering the city council, Awasthi has now been unanimously elected mayor for the 2026-27 term.Under Australian regulations, the mayor and deputy mayor serve one-year terms, while councillors are elected for four years.- Ends