By Nilesh Nilkanth Oak
When Ashwini and I embarked on our five-city tour of Australia in June 2025, organized with meticulous care by Optics Australia and SMRITIVerse, I did not fully anticipate the profound cultural resonance we were about to experience. As we traversed Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane, and the Sunshine Coast, the physical landscape struck a deeply nostalgic chord within me. The clean, pristine environment, the crisp and cool air, and the radiant winter sunshine reminded me vividly of the Canada I knew more than thirty-five years ago. Yet, beyond the spectacular geography, it was the people, the Australian Hindu diaspora, who left the most indelible mark. In terms of enthusiasm, seriousness, and hospitality, I can say without hesitation that this is the best place outside India, bar none.
Our journey was anchored in a profound theme: the antiquity of civilizations and the deep, often unacknowledged connections between ancient India and Australia. This was not merely an academic exercise. Through multiple Vyakhyan (lectures), university addresses, and intimate ‘Chai Pe Charcha’ sessions, we explored the vast timelines of human history. The hunger for this civilizational truth among the diaspora was staggering.
The tour commenced in Melbourne, where the local team members of Optics Australia and many others served as phenomenal hosts. Our itinerary was a blend of the modern and the ancient. We visited the Victoria Parliament, took in the spectacular views from the Eureka Tower, and walked the hallowed grounds of the MCG. But the true highlight was our first major program at The Edge in Melbourne’s CBD. The venue was packed to Housefull capacity. I was deeply moved by the highly interactive and attentive audience, which set the tone for the rest of the trip. Our days were beautifully exhausting, filled with HSS events, a university address at Deakin University, and multiple short sessions with students in the warm living rooms of our host families. A delightful surprise occurred when serving staff in downtown Melbourne restaurants not only recognized us but revealed themselves to be ardent followers of our research. It is moments like these that remind you how deeply the quest for civilizational identity has permeated everyday lives.
From Melbourne, we traveled to the biting, crisp cold of Canberra. Here, another local team welcomed us with boundless enthusiasm, practically staying by our side as they proudly showed us the capital. One of my most cherished memories of the trip is venturing to the top of a local city mountain in the harsh, freezing winter night for a long, fascinating session of visual astronomy. Given my work in astronomical dating, staring into the southern skies felt like reading the very canvas of our ancient chronologies.
Our time in Canberra also included a visit to the Parliament of Australia, guided by the parliament architect (an Indian), and meetings with several MPs. However, the most profound intellectual moment came during our visit to the native Australian museums. Observing the indigenous exhibits, I was struck by how closely many of their customs and veshabhusha (traditional attire and body markings) resemble our ancient Sanatan practices. It reinforced the core theme of our tour. The ancient world was far more connected than modern historical paradigms care to admit, and the echoes of a shared civilizational antiquity are still visible if we only choose to look. We concluded our Canberra leg with a spiritually uplifting lecture at the local Hindu Mandir.
Sydney was simply fabulous. Hosted warmly by team Optics and SMRITIVerse, we enjoyed multiple walks through the vibrant city and soaked in the impressive, unmistakable vibes of the Sydney Opera House. The intellectual engagement here was robust. I had the privilege of visiting the University of New South Wales to meet Professor Vinayak Dixit, followed by engagements at Western Sydney University. At Sydney University, Professor Salvatore Babones graciously gave us a personal tour of the historic campus. Our main program in Sydney mirrored the overwhelming response in Melbourne. The Q&A session that followed the main lecture was incredibly sharp, and the organizers unfortunately had to turn away many enthusiastic folks due to strict space limitations. The passion of the Sydney diaspora to understand their roots is truly a force to be reckoned with.
By the time we reached Brisbane, Ashwini and I were ready for a slower pace, and this beautiful city provided exactly that. Team SMRITIVerse and Optics had ensured that we were well looked after with all minute details in planning our final few days. We were hosted by a very good friend of mine. She and I had been communicating digitally for a long time regarding our shared passion for decolonial narratives and history, but this was our first time meeting in person. The synergy was immediate. We shared great walks, fantastic food, and even better conversations. Following a lively Chai Pe Charcha and a well received lecture at the University of Queensland, we found the time to genuinely rest.
Our final stop was the Sunshine Coast, hosted by the beautiful family of one of founders of SMRITIVerse. This leg of the journey was the perfect winding down. We spent our days playing with their dog, going for long peaceful walks during the day and under the night sky, and enjoying the magnificent food and hospitality. I delivered a short talk at a local HSS event, wrapping up our formal engagements in an environment of complete warmth and relaxation.
As we boarded our flight back to India via Singapore, I reflected on the Australia we had just experienced. It is a land of pristine beauty, but more importantly, it is currently home to a Hindu society that is fiercely dedicated to preserving its heritage, asking serious questions, and building a cohesive community. The connections between our ancient civilizations are profound, but the connections being forged today by this vibrant diaspora are equally historic.
