New Zealand MP takes an oath in Sanskrit

Dr. Gaurav Sharma, a Member of Parliament for Hamilton West created history by becoming the first parliamentarian of Indian origin taking an oath in Sanskrit in New Zealand, and second political leader in the world to take an oath in Sanskrit on foreign land.

The 33-year-old Dr. Sharma hails from Hadeta village of the Himachal Pradesh's Hamirpur district. He was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) from Hamilton West in New Zealand on October 17.

India’s High Commissioner to New Zealand and Samoa, Muktesh Pardeshi said on Twitter that Sharma took oath first in “New Zealand’s indigenous Maori language, followed by India’s classical language - Sanskrit, showing deep respect for the cultural traditions of both India and New Zealand.”

Videos of the oath-taking have been going viral on social media. Many praised the MP for taking the Indian language to a world platform.

Replying to a Twitter user who asked why he didn't take oath in Hindi, Sharma said it is hard to keep everyone happy so he decided Sanskrit as it pays homage to all the Indian languages.

https://twitter.com/gmsharmanz/status/1331454446765699074

Gaurav Sharma, who is a doctor by profession, had won Hamilton West by defeating Tim Macindoe of the National Party by 4,386 votes. Before that, he had unsuccessfully fought elections in the year 2017.

The first parliamentarian of Indian origin was Suriname President Chandrikapersad "Chan" Santokhi had amazed everyone after he took the oath of office in Sanskrit while holding Vedas during the inauguration ceremony on July 16.