INDIA NEWS

 

HIGH COMMISSION OF INDIA, LONDON

PRESS RELEASE JANUARY 26, 2001

REPUBLIC DAY FUNCTION AT THE HIGH COMMISSION



On the 51st anniversary of India’s Republic Day, High Commissioner Shri Nareshwar Dayal unfurled the National Flag, accompanied by the singing of National Anthem.  All the officers and staff of the High Commission attended the function.

High Commissioner Shri Nareshwar Dayal also hosted a felicitation ceremony to honour outstanding British citizens of Indian Origin who had been included in the New Year’s Honour’s list (complete list of awardees appended).  They were felicitated for their contribution to the community and presented with ‘Videsh Samman’ plaques.  Welcoming the recipients of the New Year’s Honours, High Commissioner Shri Nareshwar Dayal said that the ceremony marked the “significance of your achievements in strengthening and enriching the unique historical relationship between India and United Kingdom”.  High Commissioner further said that the achievements of the awardees “are a source of strength not only to the community or the groups you represent but also to the country you came from”.

The felicitation ceremony was followed by a reception at which Ministers John Spellar and Keith Vaz represented the Government of UK.  The distinguished gathering also included a large number of Members from both the Houses of British Parliament.  Different sections of British society, including the Indian community, diplomats, Business executives, Scholars, Artists and Journalists, also attended the reception.

 

List of New Years’ honours recipients attending the honouring ceremony at India House on 26th January 2001

  1. Mr Ramesh Kanji Vala, services to the Asha Foundation

MBE

  1. Dr Avtar Brah, Reader in Sociology, Birkbeck College, services to race, gender and ethnic identity issues

  2. Mrs Dolatkhanu Lakhani, Admin Officer, DFEE, services to Dept. of Education and Employment

  3. Mrs Manikam Susheela Lourie, services to race equality in North Wales

  4. Mr Rajesh Patel, services to Black Training Enterprise Group

  5. Dr. Prem Lata Pathak, GP, Cheshire, services to health care

  6. Mrs Balwant Kaur Soor, Chairperson, Bebe Nanaki Charitable Trust, for international charitable services (Mr Samir Singh Soor attended on her behalf)

  7. Dr Nand Srivastava for services to palliative care in Sandwell, West Midlands

  8. WO Class 2 Mahindra Jethwa, AGC(TA)

 

Press Release No. 8/2001

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