Madhukeshwar Desai
{{short description|Indian lawyer and politician|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Madhukeshwar Desai
| office = Vice President Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha
| term_start = 2013
| image = File:Madhukeshwar Desai Portrait.jpg
| caption = Desai in 2017
| party = Bharatiya Janata Party
| birth_date = {{birth-date and age|25 August 1987}}
| birth_place = Mumbai
| nationality = Indian
| alma_mater = Christ College
| profession = Lawyer
}}
Madhukeshwar Desai (born 25 August 1987) is an Indian lawyer and politician; he is the great grand son of former Prime Minister of India Morarji Desai. In 2013, he was appointed the National Vice President of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, the youth wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party{{Cite web|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-05-30/news/39629167_1_youth-wing-bharatiya-janata-yuva-morcha-bjp-fold|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130613193028/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-05-30/news/39629167_1_youth-wing-bharatiya-janata-yuva-morcha-bjp-fold|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 June 2013|title=Morarji Desai's great grandson Madhukeshwar Desai joins BJP's youth wing as vice-president|website=timesofindia-economictimes|access-date=2016-05-18}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.mumbaimirror.com/columns/mumbai-001/Srinivasans-woes-compound/articleshow/20363505.cms|title=Srinivasan's woes compound - Mumbai Mirror -|website=Mumbai Mirror|access-date=2016-05-18}} at 25, making him the youngest vice president in the history of the party.{{Cite web|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/bjp-makes-morarji-great-grandson-youth-wing-vp/1122544/|title=BJP makes Morarji great grandson youth wing V-P - Indian Express|website=archive.indianexpress.com|access-date=2016-05-18}} He was re-appointed as a National Vice President for a second and third term in 2017 and 2021.{{Cite news|url=http://ahmedabadmirror.indiatimes.com/columns/the-informer/face-value/articleshow/57899861.cms|title=Face value - Ahmedabad Mirror|work=Ahmedabad Mirror|access-date=2017-03-31}}{{Cite web|title=Tejasvi Surya announces his new BJYM team, Raju Bista made gen secy|url=https://www.sify.com/news/tejasvi-surya-announces-his-new-bjym-team-raju-bista-made-gen-secy-news-national-vhon4ufbfhggi.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210716083540/https://www.sify.com/news/tejasvi-surya-announces-his-new-bjym-team-raju-bista-made-gen-secy-news-national-vhon4ufbfhggi.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 July 2021|access-date=2021-07-16|website=Sify|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=NYOOOZ|title=Tejasvi Surya names new BYJM team Chandigarh s Amandeep is media in charge {{!}} Chandigarh NYOOOZ|url=https://www.nyoooz.com/news/chandigarh/1594246/tejasvi-surya-names-new-byjm-team-chandigarh-s-amandeep-is-media-in-charge/|access-date=2021-07-16|website=NYOOOZ|language=en}}
Madhukeshwar set up the Mumbai Centre for International Arbitration in 2016 and currently serves as its CEO.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mumbaimirror.com/mumbai/others/International-arbitration-centre-to-open-in-August-at-Nariman-Point/articleshow/51759979.cms|title=International arbitration centre to open in August at Nariman Point - Mumbai Mirror -|website=Mumbai Mirror|access-date=2016-05-18}} He was named one of the 50 most influential young Indians for the year 2017 by GQ Magazine.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gqindia.com/content/gqs-influential-young-indians-2017-next-gen/#madhukeshwar-desai|title=GQ's Most Influential Young Indians 2017: Next Gen|website=GQ India|date=7 July 2017 |language=en-US|access-date=2017-07-18}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.india.com/showbiz/gq-50-most-influential-young-indians-awards-ranveer-singh-rajkummar-rao-graced-the-ceremony-with-their-style-game-on-point-2303715/|title=GQ 50 Most Influential Young Indians Awards: Ranveer Singh, Rajkummar Rao Graced The Ceremony With Their Style Game On Point|last=Kulkarni|first=Prachi|date=2017-07-08|work=India.com|access-date=2017-07-18|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=https://apolitical.co/lists/100-government-leaders/|title=100 Future Leaders: The World's Most Influential Young People in Government|work=Apolitical|access-date=2018-11-29|language=en-US}} His journey was captured in a biographical account along with eight political leaders in the book, 'The Young And the Restless'{{Cite web|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/book-review-the-young-and-the-restless-youth-and-politics-in-india/1608856/|title=Book Review – The Young And The Restless, Youth And Politics In India|date=2019-06-16|website=The Financial Express|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-17}} and subsequently in the book, 'India Tomorrow: Conversations with the Next Generation of Political Leaders' by authors, Prof. Pradeep Chhibber and Harsh Shah.{{Cite web|last=Vij|first=Shivam|date=2020-09-09|title=How politicians win and lose the trust of voters|url=https://theprint.in/opinion/how-politicians-win-and-lose-the-trust-of-voters/498873/|access-date=2020-09-11|website=ThePrint|language=en-US}}
The World Economic Forum named Madhukeshwar one of the 100 Young Global Leaders for the year 2023.{{Cite news |last=PTI |date=2023-03-14 |title=Aaditya Thackeray, BJP Yuva Morcha's Madhukeshwar Desai on World Economic Forum's Young Global Leaders list |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/aaditya-thackeray-bjp-yuva-morchas-madhukeshwar-desai-on-world-economic-forums-young-global-leaders-list/article66618080.ece |access-date=2023-03-15 |issn=0971-751X}}{{Cite web |title=जागतिक युवा नेत्यांच्या यादीत आदित्य ठाकरे, मधुकेश्वर देसाई |url=https://www.loksatta.com/desh-videsh/aditya-thackeray-madhukeshwar-desai-in-the-list-of-global-youth-leaders-ysh-95-3520282/ |access-date=2023-03-15 |website=Loksatta |language=mr}}
Personal life
Madhukeshwar Desai did his schooling from G.D Somani and Kensri School, subsequently completing his education in Law from Christ College, Bangalore.
Madhukeshwar married Sneha Menon Desai a journalist by profession who hails from Bangalore.{{Cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2014/12/01/L-K-Advani-Gowda-Attend-Wedding-of-Morarji-Desai-Kin/article2549535.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141213082149/http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2014/12/01/L-K-Advani-Gowda-Attend-Wedding-of-Morarji-Desai-Kin/article2549535.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 December 2014|title=L K Advani, Gowda Attend Wedding of Morarji Desai Kin|website=The New Indian Express|access-date=2016-05-21}} They have a son. The couple currently resides in Mumbai.{{Cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/events/bangalore/Late-Morarji-Desais-great-grandson-gets-married-in-Bengaluru/articleshow/45360383.cms|title=Late Morarji Desai's great grandson gets married in Bengaluru - Times of India|website=The Times of India|access-date=2016-05-18}}
Political life
Madhukeshwar is the great grandson of former Prime Minister of India, Morarji Desai.{{Cite web|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/in-bihar-morarji-great-grandson-to-root-for-modi/1149046/|title=In Bihar, Morarji great grandson to root for Modi - Indian Express|website=archive.indianexpress.com|access-date=2016-05-18}}{{Cite web|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/narendra-modi-nsui-actvists-join-bjp-in-gujarat/1/277612.html|title=In Gujarat it's only NaMo. 1000 NSUI activists join BJP, even Congress foot soldiers don't want Rahul baba's democracy|website=indiatoday.intoday.in|access-date=2016-05-18}}
The legacy of India's first non-congress Prime Minister{{Cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Can-Modi-follow-in-Morarjis-footsteps/articleshow/20513588.cms?referral=PM|title=Can Modi follow in Morarji's footsteps? - The Times of India|website=The Times of India|date=10 June 2013 |access-date=2016-05-18}} was claimed by both The Indian National Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party. Prior to his entry into Indian Politics he was approached by both major political parties in India.{{Cite web|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/morarji-desai-s-great-grandson-is-bjp-youth-wing-vp/1122614/|title=Morarji Desai's great grandson is BJP youth wing V-P - Indian Express|website=archive.indianexpress.com|access-date=2016-05-18}} He chose the BJP because of its ideology and is considered to be a close ally of current Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi.
While in College, he organised student events under the name, The Young Leaders Collective{{Cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report-platform-to-encourage-young-leaders-1302012|title=Platform to encourage young leaders {{!}} Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis|date=2009-10-23|website=dna|language=en-US|access-date=2016-05-21}} which focused on political sensitization and student related issues.{{Cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/article131146.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160611032726/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/article131146.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 June 2016|title=YLC: Student politics sans the party line|website=The New Indian Express|access-date=2016-05-21}}
In 2011, he started working with the Bharatiya Janata Party, informally. Madhukeshwar accompanied Shri L. K. Advani on his Jan Chetana Yatra for 40 days across 23 states. He assisted in the form of researching and writing on the topic of black money, corruption and inflation for his speeches as well as contributed towards the white paper on black money subsequently. He was appointed National Vice President of the BJYM in May 2013, the youngest in the history of the party and given the charge of Bihar. He toured extensively across Bihar, strengthening the organization at the grass root level & fulfilled this role until 2015, after which he was given the charge of Kerala. Besides working in Karnataka, Gujarat and Bihar, for the 2014 General elections, he worked specifically in the Mumbai North Central Lok Sabha constituency, which the BJP won for the first time in the history of the party. The BJP rewarded Madhukeshwar for his work, and re appointed him National Vice President of the BJYM in 2017 for a second consecutive term.
Madhukeshwar was part of the core team responsible for bringing Global Citizen Festival to Mumbai.{{cite web|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/sachin-tendulkar-and-chris-martin-meet-school-children-in-mumbai-speak-about-importance-of-hygiene/449748/|title=Sachin Tendulkar and Chris Martin meet school children in Mumbai, speak about importance of hygiene|date=19 November 2016|publisher=}} The event saw a crowd attendance of over 80,000 people,{{cite news | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Heres-how-the-Global-Citizen-India-movement-is-taking-the-youth-by-storm/articleshow/55177159.cms | title=Here's how the Global Citizen India movement is taking the youth by storm | first=Riddhima | last=Kanetkar | newspaper=The Times of India | accessdate=29 November 2018 }} with over 5.8 Billion US Dollars committed towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.{{cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/coldplays-india-concert-how-to-earn-tickets-explained-by-global-citizen-charity-3000490.html|title=Coldplay's India concert: How to 'earn' tickets, explained by Global Citizen charity|date=12 September 2016|website=Firstpost}} The headline acts for the Festival were Coldplay and Jay Z. The prime minister of India, Narendra Modi also addressed the festival.{{cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/movies/global-citizen-festival-india-pm-narendra-modi-addresses-80000-young-attendees-1313592.html|title=Global Citizen Festival India: PM Narendra Modi Addresses 80,000 Young Attendees|website=News18|date=20 November 2016 }}
In 2017, Madhukeshwar was elected vice chair of the International Young Democrat Union. the IYDU is a union of 71 democratic countries, bringing together young leaders from across the world. With his election to the IYDU board, this will be the first time that India will find representation at this forum.{{Cite news|url=http://iydu-network.org/about-2/iydu-board-2016-2017/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170124062955/http://iydu-network.org/about-2/iydu-board-2016-2017/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=24 January 2017|title=IYDU Board 2016 – 2017|date=2016-11-18|work=International Young Democrat Union|access-date=2017-03-31|language=en}}
Madhukeshwar's YouTube interview with comedian Kunal Kamra went viral on the internet in 2017, creating a new genre of political communication.{{Cite web|last=Chatterjee|first=Suprateek|date=2018-03-16|title=Kunal Kamra: The accidental revolutionary|url=https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/C39AsWWaic7qvGsONZNCnJ/Kunal-Kamra-The-accidental-revolutionary.html|access-date=2021-01-18|website=mint|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Rao|first=Soumya|title=A new Indian comedy podcast is finally making politicians laugh. How many will say Shut Up Ya Kunal?|url=https://scroll.in/magazine/845671/a-new-indian-comedy-podcast-is-finally-making-politicians-laugh-how-many-will-say-shut-up-ya-kunal|access-date=2021-01-18|website=Scroll.in|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Quint|first=The|date=2021-01-18|title=Why Do I Need to Sign Consent Form for Covaxin But Not Covishield?|url=https://www.thequint.com/coronavirus/faq/covaxin-consent-form-what-information-is-needed-who-pays-for-adverse-event|access-date=2021-01-18|website=TheQuint|language=en}}
Madhukeshwar was included in the Lok Sabha strategy committee for the 2019 General elections by BJP National President, Amit Shah.{{Cite web|url=https://hindi.mynation.com/news/bjp-constitute-committee-for-ahead-election-jaitly-lead-election-campaign-and-rajnath-manifesto-pky23a|title=भाजपा ने शुरू की चुनाव की तैयारी, बनाई चुनाव के लिए समितियां|website=Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd|access-date=2019-02-11}}
During the 2019 elections, Priyanka Sharma a BJYM activist in Kolkata was illegally arrested for sharing a meme of West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee on Facebook.{{Cite web|last=Johari|first=Aarefa|title=BJP worker arrested for Mamata meme is free. What happens to others targeted for social media posts?|url=https://scroll.in/article/923845/bjp-worker-arrested-for-mamata-meme-is-free-what-happens-to-others-targeted-for-social-media-posts|access-date=2021-06-26|website=Scroll.in|language=en-US}} Madhukeshwar and his team filed a petition in the Supreme Court of India, challenging her arrest, leading to her immediate release and strictures being passed against the West Bengal government.{{Cite web|last=Mahajan|first=Shruti|title=Mamata Banerjee: SC censures Kolkata Police, WB Govt for not releasing Priyanka Sharma immediately|url=https://www.barandbench.com/news/mamata-banerjee-sc-censures-kolkata-police-wb-govt-for-not-releasing-priyanka-sharma-immediately|access-date=2021-06-26|website=Bar and Bench - Indian Legal news|language=en}}
Professional life
An Advocate by profession, Madhukeshwar works with the Government of Maharashtra on the International Financial Services Centre coming up at the BKC, and established the Mumbai Centre for International Arbitration, where he currently serves as its CEO.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-mumbai-documents-to-float-proposal-for-ifsc-centre-in-bkc-to-be-ready-in-couple-of-weeks-2200557|title=Mumbai: Documents to float proposal for IFSC centre in BKC to be ready in couple of weeks {{!}} Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis|date=2016-04-11|website=dna|language=en-US|access-date=2016-05-18}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/business/maharashtra-gujarat-in-the-race-for-indias-first-iac/article8420944.ece|title=Maharashtra, Gujarat in the race for India's first IAC|date=2016-04-01|newspaper=The Hindu|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|access-date=2016-05-18}} The MCIA is the product of a joint effort between the international and domestic arbitration community and the business community.
Madhukeshwar was elected vice president of the Maharasthra Basketball Association in March, 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.loksatta.com/krida-news/maharashtra-basketball-association-election-in-controversy-1866176/|title=महाराष्ट्र बास्केटबॉल संघटनेची निवडणूक वादाच्या भोवऱ्यात!|date=2019-03-29|website=Loksatta|language=mr-IN|access-date=2019-03-29}}
Desai serves as a director on the Dravid-Padukone Centre for Sports Excellence in Bangalore, the largest private sports facility in the country.{{Cite web|url=http://www.uniindia.com/padukone-dravid-centre-for-sports-excellence-launched/sports/news/1078791.html|title=Sports facility Bangalore}}
References
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Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Maharashtra