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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 assembly," McKeon said.
"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.