Indian-American lawmaker of New Jersey general assembly Upendra J Chivukula has been felicitated by his peers and the state governor for receving the prestigious 'Pravasi Bharatiya Samman'.
59-year old Chivukula who was conferred the honour during the Pravasi Bharatiya Sammelan in New Delhi, was given a standing ovation as he returned to the assembly, with Majority Whip John F McKeon heaping praise on him. "Upendra is one of the most intelligent, committed and principled individuals I have had the privilege of knowing. Being singled out for an honour from a country of more than one billion is a matter of pride not only for him but for all of us who are his peers in the
"Assemblyman Chivukula has been an important voice for this state's Asian-American community, building bridges with this administration and the New Jersey Legislature," said Governor Jon S Corzine. "It is fitting that the Indian government recognise him with their highest honour for international Indians for his dedicated service to the Garden State's Indian-American community," he said.
Chivukula, a Democrat, is the first and only South Asian lawmaker in the New Jersey Legislature and the only Asian-American member in the general assembly, to which he was first elected in 2001. Chivukula said he was humbled at being selected for the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman.
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