The V K Krishna Menon Institute 4th Award goes to Hon. Virendra Sharma MP

The V k Kirshna Menon Institue 4th Award goes to Hon. Virendra Sharma MP. This is in recognition of the huge contribution made by Hon. Sharma to the political, social and economic advancement of the deprived sections of the community as well as his contribution to community cohesion and civil liberties within the UK. Dr. Cyriac Maprayil, Director of the institute, said: Hon. Sharma is one of the earliest labour party activists in this country with a consistent record of service to the labour party and to the Asian Community. His large majority at the polls speaks for itself and the high esteem and respect in which he is held by his constituents. He has brought dignity and self respect to politics condemning opportunism, cynicism and self enrichment of many politicians at a time when we were beginning to lose faith in politics. Hon. Sharma is an admirer of the great V.K Krishna Menon which is perfectly understandable because he is like Menon, who loved India and from his youth was involved in the liberation-struggle on two fronts – first the independence of his country and then liberation of his people from racism in Britain. Virendra Sharma was born in India and speaks fluent Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu. He arrived in the UK in 1968. He has served as a councillor in Ealing for 25 years. He studied at the London School of Economics on a trade union scholarship and subsequently worked as a day services manager for people with learning disabilities in Hillingdon. Sharma was elected as MP in the Ealing-Southall by-election in July 2007. The V.K. Krishna Menon Institute was launched in early 2006 to celebrate and commemorate the life, times and achievements of a prodigiously talented statesman, Indian government minister and a pioneering London councillor. Menon founded the India League, the unofficial embassy of British-India in London, which became a powerful force in the overseas movement to help liberate India. Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru, Indias first Prime Minister on his visit to London became aware of Krishna Menon and they quickly became close friends and political collaborators. It was a friendship that lasted until Nehrus death One of The V.K.Krishna Menon Institutes objectives is to present awards to outstanding Indian patriots, who have served in the Diaspora and also distinguished themselves in various fields including science, literature, economics, politics, diplomacy, etc.

(GLOBAL PEACE SUPPORT GROUP – UK – Very sincerely congratulate you, Hon Verendra Sharma MP for your dedicated services that you have rendered to various communities)

The V k Kirshna Menon Institue Award 2009 goes to Hon. Claude Ajit Moraes Mep

A Leading NRI member of the European Parliament, Claude Ajit Moraes received the V K Krishna Menon award for 2009 for his outstanding achievement as a young Parliamentarian and assimilating the best of the East and the West. Dr Cyriac Maprayil, Director of the London-based V K Krishna Menon Institute, presented the award to Moraes, Deputy Leader of the European Parliamentary Labour Party and Spokesperson for the Socialist and Democrat Group in the European Union on Justice and Home Affairs here last evening.. Sir Peter Lloyd, former British Home Minister, inaugurated the award ceremony by lighting the traditional Indian lamp in the presence of leading NRIs including a number of Councillors at the Malabar Junction Restaurant. Receiving the award, Moraes an immigrant from Karnataka, and a distant relation of well known late Indian journalist Frank Mores, described V K Krishna Menon as a "statesman who encapsulated all that is good in Indian values, diplomacy and leadership." Moraes, who met India’s Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh leading an NRI parliamentarian delegation last November, said "as a British Indian who now represents our capital city in Europe, I am aware, on a day to day basis, how India’s status in the world is changing rapidly. "Recently the European Parliament singled out India as a single delegation along with China and the USA. For many years it had been part of a South Asian delegation. It was one of many signs that the new BRIC nations are emerging as global powers and need to build fair and balanced trade and political relationships with blocs like the European Union. "This should not diminish traditional relationships within the Commonwealth – but in 2009 India must register its new position in the world by deepening its dealings with the large economic blocs in our new globalised world – China, the US and the European Union. "But these relationships must be built not on exploitation, but fair trade and mutual respect, on issues from trade and climate change, to immigration and the position of the Indian Diaspora, which must receive fair treatment within western migration rules and labour conditions." more pti hsrldn002Menon-Moraes two last Moraes said the Indian diaspora in the UK and the Europe as a whole is growing and changing. Moraes, who will be visiting India next month said he was highly impressed with the leadership of Dr Manmohan Singh and efforts he is making to eradicate poverty in India. Dr Maprayil said Krishna Menon took on himself the Herculean task of educating the British people about India and the need to grant independence to India without further delay. "He liaised, interacted, lobbied the British parliamentarians of all persuasions to support Indian independence from Britain." He described Krishna Menon as a role model for an Indian immigrant. "The institute feels proud to make this award to Moraes who has assimilated the best of the East and the West and who has managed to bring and preserve dignity and self-respect to politics at a time when we are beginning to lose faith in politics." Sir Peter Lloyd said he was all praise for the Indian community’s contribution to the growth of the British economy. "Indian community’s contribution is immense," he said adding that Claude Moraes richly deserved the V K Krishna Menon Annual Award for 2009.

The V K Krishna Menon Institute Award for Sri. Anand Patil

The second VK Krishna Menon award has been given to Sri Anand Patil, ex-councillor of the London Borough of Newham on VK Krishna Menons death anniversary this month. Anand Patil served the people of East London tirelessly and selflessly for over 40 years and in many capacities. He was an elected councillor in the London Borough of Newham for 16 years. Anand Patil was born in Maharashtra (India). He came to the UK in 1964 for higher studies but stayed on to work for the welfare of working people from the Indian subcontinent. V K Krishna Menon Institute was established to celebrate and commemorate the life and times of a prodigiously talented, deeply patriotic, academically and intellectually gifted lawyer, an expert on international law and a most eloquent orator and statesman, one of the greatest that ever lived. Anand Patil with the Institutes Director Apart from his work with the India League, Krishna Menon was also a councillor in what was then the Borough Council of St. Pancras, now Camden. He briefly served as Indias first High Commissioner in London after independence. Nehru appointed Menon the leader of the Indian Delegation to the UN. Subsequently he served as Indias Defence Minister. As Defence Minister he was as controversial as he was effective. He was widely admired for his anti-imperialist, anti-colonialist stance, playing a vital role in the eventual defeat of apartheid. It is to foster Menons principles the spread of freedom, peace and settlement of disputes by peaceful means that the Institute has decided to set up The V K Krishna Menon Award for Indians and people of Indian origin. This annual award will be given to individuals who have distinguished themselves in the following areas: diplomacy, science, economics, philanthropy, literature, human rights, philosophy etc. London, 15 October 2008