Several people of Indian origin have been featured on Queen Elizabeth’s birthday honor roll (Archive)
London:
A pair of billionaire siblings of Indian descent, a prominent Oxford University scholar, and a septuagenarian fundraiser affectionately referred to as the Skipping Sikh, top the “most ethnically diverse” queen’s birthday honors list ever published. today.
Zuber and Mohsin Issa, who recently made headlines with their multi-million dollar takeover of UK supermarket chain Asda, have been honored with CBE for their services to businesses and charities.
The Blackburn brothers, whose parents moved to the UK from Gujarat in the 1970s, own the Euro Garages chain of gas stations as part of their EG Group business.
They are joined by Yadvinder Singh Malhi, a professor of ecosystem science at Oxford University, who receives a CBE (Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) for his services to ecosystem science. Mr Malhi had been appointed administrator of the Natural History Museum in London earlier this year.
British Indians honored with an OBE (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) include Nilay Shah, professor of chemical engineering at Imperial College London for her services to the decarbonization of the UK economy, and Dr. Sanjiv Nichani, Founder and CEO. of Healing Little Hearts for services to medicine and charity.
The list, which had been deferred from its regular release in early June to consider nominations of people who played crucial roles during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, includes numerous British Indians in this category headed by Rajinder Singh Harzall. .
Skipping Sikh, 74, receives an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for his inspiring health and fitness videos during the lockdown. Harzall, who has raised nearly £ 14,000 for the National Health Service (NHS), joins Lavina Mehta, who is also receiving an MBE for health and fitness services during COVID-19 for her work encouraging people to support themselves. active during the confinement.
“The hard work and dedication of these often anonymous local heroes has helped us keep going,” said British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Among other community heroes celebrated for their work during the lockdown is Sandeep Singh Daheley, who receives his MBE for taking the initiative to create an online portal for prayers while the Gurdwaras were closed, to keep the community spirit of British Sikhs alive. .
MBE recipients recognized for their broader community work include Manjit Kaur Gill, founder of Binti, for services for supplying menstrual products to women in developing countries, the United Kingdom and the United States; dance teacher Pushkala Gopal for her services to South Asian dance; Vasant Patel, Senior Policy Officer, Department of Education, for services for adopted children and their families; and Baljeet Kaur Sandhu, founder of the Center for Knowledge Equity, for his services to equality and civil society.
The honors list, which is traditionally released to coincide with the 94-year-old British monarch’s official birthday celebrations in early June, showcases 414 exceptional contributions from anonymous heroes across the four UK nations in response to the COVID-pandemic. 19.
These recipients include Captain Tom Moore, the WWII veteran who also served in India and became a hero earlier this year with his achievement of raising millions of pounds for the NHS by hanging around his own garden. using a walker.
However, most of the list, dubbed a “bumper list” this year for adding 1,495 honors, was compiled before the ongoing pandemic and 72 percent is from those who have worked tirelessly for their local community.
The UK Cabinet Office, in charge of compiling the list, said it reflects the huge volunteer effort across the country in response to COVID-19, with beneficiaries cumulatively providing millions of free meals and logging in countless volunteer hours to support those at risk.
He described it as the most ethnically diverse list to date, with 13% of recipients being of minority ethnic origin.
Sir Philip Barton, former British High Commissioner in India and now Permanent Under Secretary of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and Head of the Diplomatic Service, said: I congratulate all who receive an honor and thank them for their hard work and years of service. . .
“The UK’s impact around the world depends on exceptional people such as those honored at this year’s Queen’s Birthday. We are grateful for their outstanding contribution.
Well known British broadcaster and natural historian Sir David Attenborough receives the high honor of a Knight of the Grand Cross (GCMG) in the Order of St Michael and St George for his outstanding and sustained international contribution to broadcasting, natural history and the medium. ambient.
English actor David Suchet, best known for playing Agatha Christie’s detective Hercule Poirot on screen, is honored with the title of Knight for his services to the arts.
The Cabinet Office said health and social care workers make up 14 percent of the list this year, for contributions as diverse as the creation of COVID-19 hospitals to provide healthcare on the front lines, and 740 women are recognized in the list. which represents 49 percent of the total.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is posted from a syndicated channel.)
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