MGR Govindarajan, a Madison’s District 8 alder who just finished up his junior year at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, will be a special guest of Congressman Mark Pocan as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi makes an address to a joint session of Congress today.
Govindarajan himself was born in India, immigrated to the United States with his family at the age of 6 and later became a United States citizen. Majoring in legal studies and political science, Govindarajan is looking to study law and become a practicing attorney. During his time at UW-Madison, he has been an active member of its student government (Associated Students of Madison) where he led efforts to lobby the state legislature in favor of student issues, and is well connected within campus activist groups.
In April, Govindarajan won his alder race and now represents the campus area on the Madison Common Council.
The leaders of the House and Senate this week invited Modi to deliver a speech to Congress on Thursday afternoon looking to strengthen ties between the U.S. and India, the world’s two largest democracies.
“This invitation holds profound meaning for me – It’s a full circle moment, immigrating to the United States and now being invited to the halls of Congress itself,” Govindarajan said in a press release. “India is the world’s largest democracy, and I hope to hear from the Prime Minister about how the two countries can work together. I especially want to see an address of the need for reform, transparency and acceptance for all people within the country I was born in.”
