Who is Mumbai-born Oxford student Viraansh Bhanushali, and why his speech on India’s policy went viral

If you’ve been on social media lately, you might have come across a speech that everyone’s talking about. It’s by Viraansh Bhanushali, a law student from Mumbai at the University of Oxford. He spoke about India’s policy towards Pakistan, and people are loving how clear and confident he was. No fluff, no jargon, just straight to the point.The Oxford Union, which is famous for its debates, hosted one with the motion: “This House Believes That India's Policy Towards Pakistan Is a Populist Disguise for Security Policy.” Viraansh went against it. His argument? India’s approach is about real security, not political popularity.He faced off with Moosa Harraj, the Oxford Union president, who argued that India’s actions were driven by populism. Viraansh didn’t flinch. He explained that India’s responses to terror attacks are strategic. They don’t happen because of elections or votes.One line that really got attention was, “You cannot shame a state that has no shame.” He was talking about Pakistan and its history of sheltering terrorists. He also shared how these attacks affect ordinary Indians, speaking from his own experience as someone from Mumbai.He studies law at St Peter’s College, Oxford. Before that, he grew up in Mumbai and went to NES International School, according to a report by the Hindustan Times. At Oxford, he’s been very active. Right now, he’s the chief of staff at the Oxford Union. He’s also been an International Officer and helped start The Oxford Majlis, a group where students talk about culture and ideas.The speech feels different because it’s personal and simple. Viraansh mixes his own experiences with clear reasoning. He talks about serious issues in a way that everyone can understand. People are sharing it online because it makes something complicated feel simple and real.Thumb image: X