Indo-British Citizens Honoured

BRITISH INDIANS HONORED BY QUEEN ELIZABETH II

 

Kartar Singh Lalvani, founder of pharmaceutical major Vitabiotics in Britain, has been awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II in her Birthday Honours The list was announced recently.

 

Dr. Lalvani, whose family fled to Mumbai from Karachi during the Partition, has been chosen for the honor for his services to the pharmaceutical industry and charity in London.He recently established Indali Lounge, recognized as the 'healthiest curry house in world.' UK's Channel4 listed Indali Lounge as No.1 among the top 10 healthy restaurants.

 

Besides Lalvani, 18 other Non-resident Indians figure in the List - 10 OBEs, eight Members of the British Empire (MBEs) and one Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO).

 

Anil Kumar Bhanot has been honored for services to the Hindu Community and to Inter-Faith Relations, while Janti Champaneri figures in the list for services to the local government in Birmingham, and Kailash Chand Malhotra for services to healthcare in Cheshire.

 

World Sikh University vice-chancellor Sukhbir Singh Kapoor has been honored for services to community relations in Harrow.

 

Deepak Lakwani, the India director at London stockbroker Astaire and Partners, is also among the awardees.

 

Launde Primary School Headteacher Inderjit Kaur Sandhu has been honored for services to education in Leicestershire.

 

Reading-based Prem Dutt Sharma is included in the list for services to community relations, while Baljit Ubhey has been honored for services to the Crown Prosecution Service.

 

Daljit Singh Ahluwalia has been awarded the OBE for voluntary service to community and inter-faith relations in Derbyshire, and Prakash Daswani, founder and CEO of Cultural Co-operation, for services to the arts. Preihdath Joyram, who is involved with the Cruse Bereavement charity organization that offers free, confidential help to the bereaved in Lancashire, also figures in the list.

 

Also honored in the list is Veena Kumari Mohindra, Executive Officer of Jobcentre Plus in Eastleigh, Hampshire. Also honored are Mukesh Patel, administrative officer, Revenue and Customs in Leicestershire, and Balvinder Singh Sokhi, for services to the community in Nottingham.

 

The list, drawn up independently of government, was seen in draft form by former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and cleared by successor David Cameron before being approved by the Queen.

 

NEERAJ PATIL ELECTED AS MAYOR OF LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH

 

Dr. Neeraj Patil, a leading NRI doctor, has been elected Mayor of the Borough of Lambeth. 40-year-old Dr Patil succeeded councilor Christopher Wellbelove.

 

Speaking after his election, Patil said "the trust in politicians is all-time low" after last year's MPs expenses scandal and it would be his endeavor to live up to the expectation of the people.

 

"Our main effort will be to restore the trust," he said. Dr Patil is currently working as a consultant with A&E and a governor of Guys and St Thomas Hospital in central London.

 

Born and brought up in Kamalapur in Gulbarga district in Karnataka, Patil completed his MBBS from M R Medical College, Gulbarga in 1992 and worked for some time in the Osmania Medical College before coming to the UK for higher studies. He worked as an Accident and Emergency Consultant and as a doctor in over 25 National Health Services hospitals across UK for 14 years.

 

COUNCILOR JAGJIT SINGH GREWAL BECOMES MAYOR OF LONDON BOROUGH OF SLOUGH

 

An NRI Sikh councilor Jagjit Singh Grewal has become new mayor of London Borough of Slough. 73 year old Grewal, who was honored with the Glory of India award last year by India International Friendship Society, succeeded Joginder Singh Bal.