Ganesh Kuppala has been admitted to the Freedom of the City of London, recognising his professional and community contributions in the UK.
Kuppala, originally from Miryalaguda in Telangana’s Nalgonda district in India, received the Freedom at a ceremony held at Guildhall on September 16.
Based in London, Kuppala has built a career as a tax director, community leader and motivational speaker.
Kuppala described the award as a significant achievement, he said: “I’m very honoured and humbled to receive the Freedom of the City of London at Guildhall.”
He went on to explain what the recognition means to him beyond the accolade itself, he added: “For me, the real value of the honour is not simply the title itself, but what it represents: a connection with the City of London and its extraordinary tradition of enterprise, leadership, service, culture and civic contribution.”
Kuppala joins an elite list of prominent Indians and people of Indian heritage who have received this award over the years.
India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, was admitted to the Freedom in 1956. More recent Indian recipients have included veteran actor Shabana Azmi and author Kamlesh D Patel, known as Daaji.
Kuppala signed the Freeman’s Declaration Book before receiving the traditional parchment and being welcomed as a “Citizen of London.”
The Freedom of the City of London is an ancient tradition. The City of London Corporation continues the Freedom as a living civic tradition. Freedom ceremonies are typically held at the Chamberlain’s Court at Guildhall, where recipients make the Declaration of Freeman and receive a parchment certificate.
