Anoushka Kale, a British Indian student, has been elected president of the historic Cambridge Union Society, one of the world’s oldest debating societies founded in 1815.
Winning 126 votes uncontested for the Easter 2025 term, Kale ran on a platform to strengthen ties with cultural groups like the India Society. She currently serves as the society's debate officer.
"I’m honoured to be elected President of the Cambridge Union Society for Easter 2025 and grateful for the support," said Ms Kale. "I’ll focus on promoting diversity and access by collaborating with cultural groups like the India Society, while continuing to host international speakers and global debate motions, as I did as Debates Officer," she added.
Former presidents of the Cambridge Union Society have included economist John Maynard Keynes, novelist Robert Harris, and British Indian peer Karan Bilimoria, founder of Cobra Beer.
Like Oxford Union Society, the Cambridge Union has a rich history of hosting influential figures, including US Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan, UK Prime Ministers Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher, and John Major, as well as Stephen Hawking, Bill Gates, and the Dalai Lama.
Anoushka Kale, a 20-year-old English Literature student at Sidney Sussex College, is one of the few South Asian heritage women to take on the prestigious role at the Cambridge Union. She pledged to focus on expanding diversity through collaborations and offering reduced tickets for the summer garden party. This follows the Union's recent price hikes to address financial pressures and rising maintenance costs for its Grade-II listed building.
