Who Is Viraansh Bhanushali? Oxford Student Going Viral For His Fiery Speech Slamming Pakistan

Last Updated:December 24, 2025, 23:04 IST

The speech that propelled Viraansh Bhanushali into the spotlight was delivered on November 27, a day after India marked the anniversary of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

Viraansh Bhanushali is currently a law student at Oxford.

An Indian student at the University of Oxford- Viraansh Bhanushali- drew widespread attention for his speech during an Oxford Union debate on the motion: “This House Believes That India’s Policy Towards Pakistan Is a Populist Disguise for Security Policy." Viraansh Bhanushali spoke against the motion while the Pakistan side was led by Moosa Harraj, who argued in favour of it.

Who Is Viraansh Bhanushali?

Viraansh Bhanushali is currently a law student at Oxford, pursuing BA Jurisprudence (LLB) in English Law with Law Studies in Europe at St Peter’s College, Oxford. Born in Mumbai, he completed his schooling at NES School before moving to the United Kingdom for higher education.

According to his professional profile, he has completed legal internships with the Crown Prosecution Service and with the Additional Solicitor General of India. He currently serves as Chief of Staff at the Oxford Union, having previously held roles as Officer and member of the Secretary’s Committee. In October 2023, he also co-founded The Oxford Majlis, a student initiative focused on cultural and intellectual exchange.

Why Is Viraansh Bhanushali Going Viral?

The speech that propelled Viraansh Bhanushali into the spotlight was delivered on November 27, a day after India marked the anniversary of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. During the debate, he rejected the claim that India’s posture towards Pakistan is driven primarily by electoral politics, arguing instead that it is rooted in sustained security threats.

Drawing on personal experience, Viraansh Bhanushali recalled that his aunt narrowly escaped the 2008 attack at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, one of the sites targeted by terrorists. He also referenced the 1993 Mumbai blasts near his home to underline his argument that major attacks occurred far from election cycles.

“To win this debate, I do not need to use rhetoric. I simply need to use a calendar," he said, pointing to attacks that took place years before national elections. He argued that India’s responses- including diplomatic restraint after the 26/11 attacks and limited military retaliation following later incidents such as Pathankot, Uri and Pulwama- contradict the idea of vote-driven security policy.

Viraansh Bhanushali criticised Pakistan’s leadership and accused the state of using terror as an instrument of foreign policy. He concluded by saying that India’s actions demonstrate “professionalism, not populism," adding that continued restraint does not negate the right to self-defence.

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