| Cllr Dr. Neeraj Patil ಡಾ. ನೀರಜ್ ಪಾಟೀಲ್ |
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|---|---|
| Born | Kamalapura, Gulbarga, Karnataka[1] |
| Residence | Lambeth, UK |
| Alma mater | M. R. Medical College FRCS, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh |
| Occupation | Mayor of The London Borough of Lambeth (2010-2011) |
| Children | 2 |
| Parents | Late Sharatchandra Patil Dr. Parvati Devi Patil |
| Awards | Karnataka Rajyotsava Award Aryabhata Award |
| Website | |
| neerajpatil.com | |
Cllr Dr. Neeraj Patil (Kannada: ಡಾ. ನೀರಜ್ ಪಾಟೀಲ್), a Kannadiga, was the First Mayor of Asian origin in the London Borough of Lambeth from 2010-2011.[2] He is a consultant[3] in Accident and Emergency Medicine who completed his fellowship from the prestigious Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and was first elected as a Labour Councillor for the Larkhall ward in 2006 and re-elected in 2010. He has been elected from the British Labour Party.[4] The important event during his mayoralty was to receive The Pope Benedict the XVI during his official visit to London on 18 Sept, 2010. This was the first papal visit to the London Borough of Lambeth.
Hailing from the Indian state of Karnataka, he was born in Gulbarga district's Kamalapura town and is now settled in the United Kingdom.[5] He was awarded the highest civilian award by the Government of Karnataka - "The Rajyotsava Award" in the year 2008 for promoting accountable democracy in India.[6] Dr. Patil has taken the initiative of installing the statue of the 12th century philosopher and founder of Indian Democracy, Lord Basavanna at the Albert Embankment Gardens in the London borough of Lambeth, South London.[7]
Dr. Neeraj Patil is one of the few respected dignitaries who mesmerized the audience in his speech at the 2nd Kannada Vishwa Sammelana held on 11 Mar, 2011 at Belagavi, Karnataka addressing to a crowd of 2.5 million.[8] His famous quote during the speech was, "you can take Indian out of India but you cannot take India out of an Indian; you can take a Kannadiga out of Karnataka but you cannot take Karnataka out of the heart of a Kannadiga."