35 NRIs in Queen’s New Year Honours List 2020

As many as 35 Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) feature in the recently released Queen’s New Year Honours List 2020. Among the recipients are 3 Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), 6 Order of the British Empire (OBE), 16 Members of the British Empire (MBE) and 10 British Empire Medals (BEM).

Prominent choreographer Shobana Jeysingh, founder of Shobana Jeysingh Dance company, has been awarded the CBE for services to dance.

Aditi Lahiri, Professor of Linguistics, University of Oxford also received the CBE for services to the study of linguistics, while Paul Pavandeep Thandi, CEO NEC Group received the honour for services to Economy.

Among the OBE recipients are Renuka Priyadarshini Dent, Director of Operations and Deputy CEO Coram UK, for services to children and families and Arundeep Singh Kang for services to development of Black Asian and Minority Ethnic communities.

Also receiving the OBE are Rishi Khosla, CEO Oaknorth Bank, for services to business; Neena Lall, Head Teacher of St Stephen's School and Children's Centre, London Borough of Newham for services to education; Julie Kamla Lithgrow, Director Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, for services to Diversity in the Maritime sector and; Dr Ramesh Damji Devji Pattni for services to interfaith relations and to the Hindu community in the UK.

Some of the prominent MBE recipients include Professor Kalwant Bhopal, a race equality champion, for services to equality in education and Aziza Chaudry, Quality Manager at Wolverhampton, for services to education.

Professor Kalwant Bhopal, professor of education and social justice at the University of Birmingham becomes an MBE for services to race equality in education. Photo courtesy: Twitter/@KalwantBhopal
Professor Kalwant Bhopal, professor of education and social justice at the University of Birmingham becomes an MBE for services to race equality in education. Photo courtesy: Twitter/@KalwantBhopal

Manjit Darby, Director of Nursing Leadership and quality, Midlands NHS England and NHS improvement, is receiving the MBE for services to nursing and patient care and Dr Nalini Jitendra Modha, General Practitioner, Thistleminor Medical Centre, for services to NHS. 

Muksud Ahmed Gangat, Director of Education at Risalah Education Trust, is being awarded for services to the Muslim community and interfaith in South London while Sonia Gharyal, Policy Lead officer of Security and Counter Terrorism, Home Office, is beng honoured for services to National Security.

Some of the other MBE recipients include Shakuntla Gittins from Foster Care London Borough of Ealing, for services to children; Michel Kuldeep Johal, Director Johal Munshi and Co, for services to the economy and community; Dr Sudarshan Kapur, for services to interfaith understanding and to the economy in East London; Dr Mahiben Maruthappu, Co-founder and CEO Cera, for services to Health and Social Care Technology and; Kanti Nagda, for services to charity in the UK among others.

Dr Mahiben Maruthappu, Co-founder and CEO Cera, was made MBE for services to Health and Social Care Technology. Photo courtesy: Twitter/@M_Maruthappu
Dr Mahiben Maruthappu, Co-founder and CEO Cera, was made MBE for services to Health and Social Care Technology. Photo courtesy: Twitter/@M_Maruthappu

The awardees of BEM are Kishan Rajesh Devani for his services to community cohesion, Nicholas Chandra Gupta, formerly Deputy Director for Wessex Environment Agency for services to Environment in West of London and Pamela Payne for her voluntary and charitable services in Bristol and Bath.

Also being awarded the BEM are Afzal Pradhan, Volunteer Cricketer ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, for services to Cricket; Paramjit Singh Sandhu, Immigration Officer Home Office, awarded for services to the community engagement and; Harpreet Singh Virdee, awarded for services to the Black Asian and ethnic minority communities.

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