New Delhi, Delhi, India
-- Joins the ranks of prestigious Indians like Dadabhai Naoroji, Piara Khabra and Keith Vaz
-- Chosen by Labour Party after 14 years of service as Doctor in over 24 hospitals in UK and several years as a Labour Party worker
-- Elected to Lambeth Council in May 2006
As the United Kingdom prepares itself for another parliamentary election; Indians around the globe have much to cheer about. Dr. Neeraj Patil, a 38-year-old doctor and consultant at the Kingston Hospital in South-East London earned the distinction of being the first Indian Citizen after Dadabhai Naoroji, Piara Khabra and Keith Vaz to contest for a Parliamentary seat in Britain on behalf of a major political party. He will represent Britain's Labour Party pitched against Conservative Education minister Michal Gove in the forthcoming British parliamentary elections due to be held in May 2009.
Originally from Gulbarga in Karnataka, Dr. Patil, who spent 14 years in the UK practicing medicine has achieved significant recognition as a Labour Party representative after he was elected as councilor of Lambeth council in London in 2006. 38% of Lambeth's population are from ethnic minorities.
"Rich Nations have poor politicians and Poor nations have rich politicians," says Dr. Neeraj Patil pointing out the irony in the sentence. "Working as a doctor in the NHS and having spent 25 years in a developing country, I have seen much poverty, deprivation and underachievement. I want to make our societies emerge stronger and help poor nations to achieve social justice." he continues.
As Lambeth Councilor Dr. Patil was instrumental in improving civic and medical facilities, security, education, culture, environment, promoting community cohesion amongst other services, which earned him recognition and credibility leading to his latest distinction.
Dr. Patil lays special emphasis on the Britain's National Health Service (NHS), having worked as a Doctor in over 25 NHS Hospitals across the UK for 14 years, and currently serving as Governor of Guys & St Thomas Hospital, London. At a meeting with the then Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair, Dr Neeraj Patil challenged Mr Blair's consideration of involving the private sector in the NHS and, addressed 200 doctors, nurses, health workers, MP's and members of the community at a mass lobby of Parliament urging the Government to listen to the people who handed them power, thus gaining recognition as someone who is not afraid to speak his mind.
With a sound backing of his hands-on experience in hospitals and his roots in a developing nation like India, it is not surprising that Dr. Neeraj Patil has taken a keen interest in the development of health care services, eradication of poverty in the developing world and international affairs. With his unambiguous and aggressive approach to solving social and civic issues he is a worthy contender for the Parliamentary seat, and will prove to be a key lobbyist in promoting Indian interests in British Parliament.
About Dr. Neeraj Patil: Dr. Patil was born and brought up in Kamalapur, Gulbarga in North Karnataka. His Grandfather Shankar Shetty Patil was a part of India's struggle for freedom and later became a Member of the Legislative Assembly from Kamalapur. His mother Dr. Parvati Devi Patil is a retired medical professor.
Dr. Patil completed his MBBS from M.R. Medical College, Gulbarga in 1992 and worked for some time in the Osmania Medical College before going to UK for higher studies. He worked as an Accident and Emergency Consultant and as a Doctor in over 25 NHS Hospitals across the UK for 14 years.
His qualifications include FRCS, MRCS and FCEM in Accident and Emergency from Royal college of Surgeons of Edinburgh. He has served as a Governor of the Prestigious Kings college hospital and Guys & St Thomas Hospital, London. In 2006 he achieved the distinction of becoming a councillor of Lambeth council in London. And in 2008 he became the first Indian after Dadabhai Naoroji and a few prestigious others to contest for Parliamentary elections in Britain.
Dr. Patil lives in London with his 5-year-old daughter Nikita and wife Anagha who is also a Doctor.
Links to Press Articles on Dr. Neeraj Patil:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=429297&in_page_id=1770
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/05/16/nblair216.xml
To view the photograph, please click on the link given below:
Gordon Brown. Lambeth TH. Oct 06 206
Source: PR S.P.A.C.E (Business Wire India)
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