Picture source: Instagram/Menka Soni
Menka Soni has created history in the United States by becoming the first Indian-American woman to be sworn in with the Bhagavad Gita after being elected to the Redmond City Council in Washington state. Speaking to ANI, Soni said she wanted her oath to reflect her values, culture, and spiritual grounding. “I am a very spiritual person. I have a small temple in my home, and I am a vegetarian. I celebrate Navratri, Holi, and Diwali. We have never really left India in spirit,” she said.She added that taking the oath on the Gita felt natural to her. “When I had to take the oath, I wanted the teachings of the Gita to be with me because my values align with it, and my culture is represented through it. I received permission for that.” Her milestone adds to a growing list of Indian-origin leaders in American public life who have chosen the Gita for their swearing-in ceremonies. Earlier, in February, Indian-origin Kash Patel chose to take his oath on the Bhagavad Gita as the ninth director of the FBI.Congressman Suhas Subramanyam, who became the first Indian-American Congressman from the US East Coast, also took his oath on the Gita in January.Before him, Tulsi Gabbard, the now director of National Intelligence, became the first Hindu American to be sworn into the US House of Representatives on the Gita in 2013, representing Hawaii.
Recent Bhagavad Gita oaths across globe
- Canada: In May this year, Indian-origin politician Anita Anand was sworn in as Canada’s foreign minister in the Mark Carney cabinet, placing her hand on the Bhagavad Gita.
- Australia: In February last year, Barrister Varun Ghosh made history as the first India-born member of the Australian Parliament to take his oath on the Bhagavad Gita.
- United Kingdom: In July last year, Indian-origin MP Shivani Raja from Leicester East took her oath on the Bhagavad Gita, marking a significant representation of Indian heritage in the UK parliament.
