From Siddipet to UK parl: T’s Nagaraju takes his seat in House of Lords

Hyderabad: From the bylanes of Siddipet to the red benches of Westminster, Uday Nagaraju's journey reached a historic milestone on Feb 10 when he was formally introduced as a life peer in the House of Lords, the Upper House of Britain's Parliament.The 46-year-old public policy professional took the oath of allegiance on the Bhagavad Gita and was formally styled as Lord Nagaraju of Bloomsbury. Conferred the peerage by King Charles III on the advice of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Nagaraju will serve for life in the House of Lords, contributing to legislative scrutiny and national debates. He is the first Telugu to enter the House of Lords and among the youngest Indians to do so.
Nagaraju is from Shanigaram village in Koheda mandal of Siddipet district. "I was raised in a middle class family, and my early life in Warangal and Hyderabad influenced my outlook on community and public responsibility," he said. His formative years in Telangana, followed by higher education in the UK, shaped a career in public policy and civic engagement.The introduction ceremony unfolded in the historic Lords chamber. Led by the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, the ceremonial procession marked his formal entry into Britain's legislative establishment. Lord Raval and Baroness Berger supported his introduction. He was conferred the title Baron Nagaraju of Bloomsbury, and signed an undertaking to abide by the code of conduct before taking his seat.For Telangana, his elevation carries symbolic weight. At a time when the Indian diaspora is gaining visibility in global institutions, Nagaraju's appointment underscores the growing influence of professionals with roots in regional India shaping international public policy conversations. He moved to the UK about 25 years ago.Gandhian valuesAcademically, Nagaraju completed his postgraduate studies in public administration at University College London and continues to contribute as a guest lecturer. He said he founded the Mahatma Gandhi Future Leaders' Programme, drawing inspiration from Gandhian values and centred on public policy and leadership development.His work lies at the intersection of governance and emerging technologies. Nagaraju said he is engaged in questions around artificial intelligence and ethics in public administration. He founded Artificial Intelligence Policy Labs, a think tank examining the societal and policy implications of AI, an area that increasingly features in legislative debates in the UK and beyond.The House of Lords, comprising life peers, bishops and hereditary peers, plays a key role in revising legislation, debating public policy and holding the govt to account. As Baron Nagaraju of Bloomsbury, his presence adds a new Indian—and distinctly Telugu—voice to those deliberations.