Virendra Sharma MP is the recipient of The V k Kirshna Menon Institute’s 4th award. This is in recognition of the huge contribution made by Mr. 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.
Virendra Sharma was born in India and 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.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 Nehru’s 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.