LONDON, Dec 9: A British Indian student has been elected as the president of the Cambridge Union Society at the University of Cambridge, one of the oldest debating societies in the world, which has championed free speech since its inception in 1815.
Anoushka Kale received 126 votes and was elected uncontested for the Easter 2025 term in a recent election. Currently serving as the Debates Officer of the society, Kale campaigned on a platform focused on enhancing connections with cultural groups at the university, including the India Society.
“I am thrilled and honored to have been elected President of the Cambridge Union Society for Easter 2025, and I sincerely appreciate the support from the members,” stated Kale.
“During my term, I aim to promote diversity and accessibility at the Union through stronger partnerships with cultural organizations, such as the India Society. I am also deeply committed to continuing the tradition of hosting international speakers and global debate topics, as I did in my role as Debates Officer,” she added.
Notable former presidents and officers of the Cambridge Union Society include renowned English economist and philosopher John Maynard Keynes, novelist Robert Harris, and more recently, British Indian peer and Cobra Beer founder Karan Bilimoria.
Similar to the Oxford Union Society, the Cambridge Union has a storied history of welcoming influential personalities from various fields, including US Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan, UK Prime Ministers Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher, and John Major, as well as luminaries like Stephen Hawking, Bill Gates, and the Dalai Lama.
Anoushka Kale, a 20-year-old English Literature student at Sidney Sussex College, stands out as one of the few female members of South Asian descent to assume this prestigious position.
“I am excited to fulfill my manifesto commitments, especially regarding enhancing diversity through collaborations within the society and offering reduced ticket prices for the summer garden party,” she remarked.
This election comes after the Cambridge Union’s decision to raise prices due to financial strain and the increasing maintenance costs of its Grade-II listed heritage building. (PTI)
