Loading ...... A multifaceted personality, Pheroze Nowrojee is one of the most respected members of the Parsi community from India and one of the most successful attorneys in Kenya. He is chairman of the Asian Heritage Foundation and has been actively involved in cultural activities related to migration of Indians to Kenya in particular and Africa in general. ...
On the concluding day of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas held in New Delhi, fifteen prominent overseas Indians for all over the world who have excelled in their respective fields were honoured by the President of India, Mr. A P J Abdul Kalam. The awardees included two stalwarts from the Gulf - Dr. B. R. Shetty, President of the NMC Group of Companies and Mr. Syed M. Salahuddin, Managing Director of the ETA Ascon.
The largest number - four - of the awardees is from the United States. Two are from the United Arab Emirates and the others from the United Kingdom, Canada, Fiji, Portugal, Kenya, Malaysia, Germany, Jamaica and South Africa.
The other award winners are: Dave Sukhdip Singh Hayer (Canada), Sir Moti Tikaram (Fiji), Sibabrata Roy (Germany), P. Jayaraman, Nirmal K. Sinha, Dr. M. Anirudhan and Gopal Raju (all from the US), Kenneth S. Benjamin (Jamaica), Pheroze Nowrojee (Kenya), Abdool Magid Abdool Karim Vakil (Portugal), Billy Nair (South Africa), Dr. K.R Somasundaram (Malaysia) and Lord Daljit Rana (United Kingdom).
The President praised the overseas Indians for keeping India high in their respective countries and also for their concern and support for their mother India. He spoke on his theme World Knowledge Platform A Mission and provide the overseas Indians with his vision on what he can give as a message to overseas Indians. He asked the overseas Indians to work unitedly to alleviate the problems of their brethren in their respective countries and work with dignity for the success of their adopted countries. In particular, he mentioned that large number of people of Indian origin living abroad do not have proper education and have no opportunity to upgrade their skills. They dont have time to empower themselves to higher education and higher earning potential. He proposed that while we meet annually in India, we should also select 10 places in different parts of the world and hold a meeting at least once in two years and invite those who cannot afford to participate on their own with their families.
Meanwhile, empowering them with education and training must commence immediately. He spoke of launching a World Knowledge Platform to achieve this global objective through collaboration similar to the Bramhos missile project which was achieved in record time through a Indo Soviet joint venture. The success of the Bramhos project is through the shared expertise of two countries and this product is internationally competitive and is the fastest operational cruise missile existing in the world today and can be launched from any type of platform land, seas and air and precisely reach the targets either on land or at sea with high lethal effect.
The President highlighted his vision for a Developed India by 2020. He said if this vision is achieved then the people below poverty line will be close to zero and our literacy rate nearly 100%. Every Indian will either have an university degree or quality training with employable vocational skill. E-governance would be in a position for all Government-to-Government (G2G) and Government-to-Citizen (G2C) transactions making the governance system transparent with citizen identity card in position. Tele density will reach over 75%. All our villages will be electrified. The interlinking of the rivers and water bodies will result in equitable distribution of water in irrigation, drinking and navigation and there will be no shortage of water. We will be using more of renewable energy such as solar energy, wind power and thorium based nuclear energy and adding less to the pollution. Through venture capital system and entrepreneurial training both in schools and colleges, we will have more enterprises leading to large number of employment generators rather than employment seekers. The country will become a destination for world citizens coming to India for quality affordable medical attention. The President requested all overseas Indians to participate in this mission of Developed India 2020 and to make it a reality by your attitude of give, give and give of the knowledge and experience that they have gained over the years.
Previous report from IANS
Fifteen distinguished overseas Indians, including Syed M. Salahuddin, B.R. Shetty (UAE) and Indian American publisher Gopal Raju, were honoured with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman by President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on the concluding day of the 5th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas here Tuesday.
The largest number - four - of the awardees is from the United States. Two are from the United Arab Emirates and the others from the United Kingdom, Canada, Fiji, Portugal, Kenya, Malaysia, Germany, Jamaica and South Africa.
The award winners are: Dave Sukhdip Singh Hayer (Canada), Sir Moti Tikaram (Fiji), Sibabrata Roy (Germany), P. Jayaraman, Nirmal K. Sinha, Dr. M. Anirudhan and Gopal Raju (all from the US), Kenneth S. Benjamin (Jamaica), Pheroze Nowrojee (Kenya), Abdool Magid Abdool Karim Vakil (Portugal), Billy Nair (South Africa), Dr. K.R. Somasundaram (Malaysia), Syed M. Salahuddin and B.R. Shetty (UAE) and Lord Daljit Rana (United Kingdom).
Roy (Germany) and Nair (South Africa) could not attend the packed function at the Vigyan Bhavan convention centre that included more than 1,100 delegates from as many as 47 countries.
Gopal Raju founded the New York-based India Abroad, the oldest and largest circulated newspaper serving the Indian American community, as well as the India Abroad News Service - that later became what is the present-day Indo-Asian News Service (IANS).
He also started the Indian American Center for Political Awareness (IACPA) in 1994 to empower the community and to encourage them to participate in the political process and public policy in the US.
The President, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam giving away the Pravasi Bharatiya Awards for Media to Mr. Gopal Raju from USA
Dave Sukhdip Singh Hayer has been playing an active leadership role in the community and has held several important positions in the Canadian government. He is recognised for his contributions in the field of public service.
Sir Moti Tikaram was the first Fijian of Indian origin to be appointed as a judge of that country’s Supreme Court in 2000. He is recognised for his outstanding achievements in the field of legal and juridical services and for his contribution to the community.
As president of the German-India Society, Hamburg, Sibabrata Roy has actively promoted Indian culture and tradition in Germany. Roy is a community leader of outstanding repute.
P. Jayaraman is the founder director of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan USA and has promoted Indian culture and education in the US. He has been teaching Hindi and Sanskrit and has authored several books on Indian languages and literature.
The President Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam giving away the Pravasi Bharatiya Awards for Community Affairs Mr. Nirmal K Sinha from USA
Nirmal K. Sinha played an important role in mobilising support of prominent American leaders in favour of the Indo-US civil nuclear deal. He has been extensively involved in community activities, served on the board of the National Federation of Indian Associations and as president of the Asian Indian-American Business Group.
The President Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam giving away the Pravasi Bharatiya Awards for Business to Dr. M Anirudhan from USA
Dr. M. Anirudhan is a prominent businessman in the field of nutrition and has also actively promoted Indo-US ties. His roles as a director of the National Federation of Indian Associations, as founding director of the US-India Chamber of Commerce of Mid-West, and as director of the Chicago Red Cross Society have won him recognition as a leader of the community.
Kenneth S. Benjamin, an eminent businessman, diplomat, environmentalist and art lover, has been actively promoting Indian culture in Jamaica. He is recognised for his business and political acumen and his role in enhancing understanding of India in the Caribbean region.
The President Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam giving away the Pravasi Bharatiya Awards for Community Affairs to Mr. Pheroze Nowrojee from Kenya
A multifaceted personality, Pheroze Nowrojee is one of the most respected members of the Parsi community from India and one of the most successful attorneys in Kenya. He is chairman of the Asian Heritage Foundation and has been actively involved in cultural activities related to migration of Indians to Kenya in particular and Africa in general.
A leading banker and economist, Dr. Abdool Magid Abdool Karim Vakil has served on the boards of several important public sector undertakings of Portugal. He has been very active in the Portuguese Islamic community and is known for his secular and modern approach. Vakil has been decorated by the Portuguese government with several awards.
Billy Nair has been a champion in the fight against apartheid and in protecting the interests of people of Indian origin in KwaZulu Natal Province. He spent 20 years in prison on Robben Island.
The President Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam giving away the Pravasi Bharatiya Awards for Public Affairs to Tan Sri Dato Dr. K.R Somasundram from Malaysia
Dr. K.R. Somasundaram major contributions include service in the Indian National Army during 1944-1945 and in the Malaysian Indian Congress from 1947 to 1960. He served as a senator in the Malaysian parliament and devoted much of his life for the well being of the plantation workers through the National Land Finance Cooperative Society, which he was instrumental in founding.
Highly regarded in the community, Syed M. Salahuddin has promoted India’s interest in the UAE. He has supported sports and cultural activities in the UAE and has made significant contribution towards the construction of the Indian Social and Cultural Centre in Abu Dhabi.
B.R. Shetty was the first Asian to receive the prestigious Abu Dhabi Order Award instituted by the Abu Dhabi government besides several other awards. He was also instrumental in the setting up of the Indian Social and Cultural Centre in Abu Dhabi.
The President, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam giving away the Pravasi Bharatiya Awards for Business to Mr. Lord Diljit Rana from UK
Lord Daljit Rana was made a Member of the British Empire in 1996 and was appointed to the House of Lords in 2004 for his contribution to the peace process in Northern Ireland. He is recognised for furthering India’s interests and for enhancing the understanding of India.
President urges overseas Indians to help transform India
Outlining his vision of a developed India by 2020, President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam called upon Indians across the world to join in the mission of taking the country into the league of advanced nations in the next decade.
Speaking at the valedictory session of the 5th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) that brought together 1,100 delegates from 47 countries in the annual celebration of India’s engagement with its vast diaspora, the president
said a great opportunity awaited overseas Indians in contributing to the transformation of their motherland.
“When we are away from our home across the oceans our urge to give to our dear ones multiplies. The spirit of ‘What I can give?’ becomes the song of our lives. That’s how today, 25 million Indians who are away from India are bubbling with an urge, what I can give to my country,” he said.
Illustrating his speech with his usual Powerpoint presentation that never fails to impress the audience, the president shared with the NRI delegates and other distinguished invitees at the Vigyan Bhavan convention centre his idea of how India would be 13 years from now.
He talked of his lofty concept of a World Knowledge Platform, which will integrate the core competencies of partner countries to develop knowledge products.
As an example, the scientist-president talked of the joint development of the BrahMos missile by India and Russia and said: “This proves that if the core competencies of nations are combined, the best of knowledge products can emanate well ahead of time.”
By 2020, said the president, “we expect the people below poverty line to come to near zero and our literacy nearly 100 percent. Human Development Index of India will be around 50. Every Indian will have either a university degree or quality training with employable vocational skill.”
“I request all of you to participate in this mission of ‘developed India 2020′ and to make it reality by your attitude of give, give and give of the knowledge and experience you have gained over the years,” he said.
“I am convinced it is possible for the country to be developed by 2020,” he said to resounding cheers from the delegates.
Earlier, addressing the gathering, Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi said several ideas, that can constitute new initiatives in the field of health and education, agriculture and pooling of knowledge as well as approaches to address the issues, pertaining to the youth and women, have emerged.
“We now have before us, a partnership agenda, that we must take forward through well thought-out projects,” he said.
On the final day of the three-day diaspora conclave, the president conferred the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman on 15 distinguished overseas Indians, including noted New York publisher Gopal Raju.
Accepting the award, Raju said, “The perception of NRIs has changed dramatically; they are not only considered valuable resources but also ambassadors of India and are publicly honoured for their contributions.”
Others who received the award from the president were: Dave Sukhdip Singh Hayer of Canada, Sir Moti Tikaram of Fiji, Kenneth S. Benjamin of Jamaica, Pheroze Nowrojee of Kenya, K.R. Somasundaram of Malaysia, Abdool Magid Abdool Karim Vakil of Portugal, Syed M. Salahuddin and B.R. Shetty, both from the UAE, Lord Diljit Rana of Britain, and Dr. M. Anirudhan, P. Jayaraman and Nirmal K. Sinha, all from the US.
Two awardees - anti-Apartheid activist Billy Nair from South Africa and noted community leader from Germany Sibabrata Roy - could not come in person to receive the award.
The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, that connects and engages India with its vast and dispersed diaspora in 130 countries, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Sunday.
Loading ...
