Mandi (Munish Sood)
Abhishek Awasthi, a distinguished Indian-origin leader who has been serving as the Deputy Mayor of Greater Bendigo in Australia since November 2024, was on a visit to his home town Mandi in Himachal Pradesh recently.
While he is among the notable Indian-origin individuals holding significant municipal positions in Australia, he carries the distinction of being the first Indian-origin mayor in Bendigo province, marking a historic milestone for the Indian community in Australia.
During his recent visit to his ancestral house in Mandi, Awasthi was honoured by the Mandi Municipal Corporation for his remarkable achievements. He expressed his vision of establishing a “Sister City” relationship between Mandi and Bendigo to promote cultural, educational and developmental exchanges.
Future Plans for Mandi
Awasthi envisions several initiatives to strengthen the bond between Mandi and Bendigo:
- Educational exchange programme: Facilitating student and educator exchanges to provide global exposure and share innovative educational practices.
- Tourism development: Promoting Mandi as a tourist destination in Australia to boost the local economy and cultural understanding.
- Skill development initiatives: Introducing advanced vocational training techniques from Bendigo to empower Mandi’s youth.
- Sustainable development projects: Implementing eco-friendly initiatives, waste management and renewable energy projects inspired by Bendigo’s practices.
- Strengthening governance: Sharing insights from Bendigo’s participatory governance model to enhance community involvement in Mandi.
Awasthi emphasised the need for governmental collaboration to realize these plans, stating that such a partnership would allow both cities to learn from each other’s culture and developmental practices.
Abhishek Awasthi’s journey from Mandi to Bendigo began in 2008 as an international student at La Trobe University. He has since been instrumental in advocating for the Indian community in Bendigo, founding the Indian Association of Bendigo in 2021, which now represents approximately 1,500 families.
As the Deputy Mayor, Awasthi continues to champion multiculturalism and community engagement, inspiring many with his commitment to bridging cultures and fostering global connections.
Moment of pride for Mandi
During his felicitation ceremony, Mandi Mayor Virender Bhatt congratulated Awasthi and supported his vision, stating that the city is ready to make every effort to realize the Sister City partnership.
This collaboration between Mandi and Bendigo promises to unlock new opportunities and set an example of how cities from different parts of the world can come together to foster progress and mutual respect.
