The VK Krishna Menon Award for Claude Moraes MEP - 2009-07-24

The V.K.Krishna Menon Institute has decided to confer the V.K.Krishna Menon Award for 2009 on Claude Moraes MEP.

This is in recognition of the huge contribution made by Claude Moraes 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 European Union.

Claude Ajith Moraes was first elected to the European Parliament for London in 1999, and most recently in 2009, when he led the London list of candidates. One of the first Asian MEPs ever elected to the European Parliament, Claude was previously Director of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI), a national refugee charity.

Claude was born in Aden of Indian parents and arrived in the UK at a very young age. He grew up in Dundee and Stirling and studied Law at Dundee University and subsequently in London including The London School of Economics.

The award will be presented at a function hosted by the V.K.Krishna Menon Institute next month when Claude will be delivering The V.K.Krishna Menon Memorial Lecture. The press will be given more specific details within the next fortnight.

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. It became a powerful force in the overseas movement to help liberate India.

Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister, became aware of Krishna Menon on visiting to London, and they quickly became close friends and political collaborators. It was a friendship that lasted until Nehru's death.

One of the V.K.Krishna Menon Institute's objectives is to present awards such as that given to Claude Moraes, to outstanding Indian patriots who have served in the Diaspora and also distinguished themselves in various fields including science, literature, economics, politics, diplomacy, etc.

For further information, you may contact the Director at drdrcyriac@yahoo.co.uk and on their website at www.tkminstitute.org.

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