The 2025 New Year Honours List, announced by King Charles on New Year’s Eve, recognises more than 30 Indian-origin professionals from various sectors including community service, healthcare, academia, and sports. Among the distinguished honorees are community leaders, campaigners, academics, and medical professionals, who have made significant contributions to British society.
Ranil Malcolm Jayawardena, a Conservative Member of Parliament of Sri Lankan and Indian descent, has been awarded a Knighthood for his services to politics and public service. Alongside him, Gareth Southgate, the recently resigned England men’s football team manager, received a Knighthood for his contributions to the game.
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Other prominent individuals honored with Knighthoods include London Mayor Sadiq Khan and former West Midlands Mayor Andy Street, who are recognised for their outstanding leadership in public service.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed his admiration for those honored, highlighting the everyday contributions of “ordinary people who do extraordinary things for their communities.” He emphasised that the New Year Honours List celebrates these unsung heroes who represent the values of service and commitment.
Indian-origin professionals among top honorees
Several professionals of Indian heritage were also awarded Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), including:
- Satwant Kaur Deol, for services to further education
- Charles Pritam Singh Dhanowa OBE, for services to competition law
- Professor Sneh Khemka, for services to healthcare, science, innovation, and technology
- Leena Nair, Global CEO of Chanel, for services to retail and the consumer sector
- Mayank Prakash, President of the British Computing Society, for advancing technology
Other notable Indian-origin awardees include Purnima Murthy Tanuku, CEO of the National Day Nurseries Association, for services to early years education, and Nandini Das, Professor of Early Modern Literature at Oxford University, for services to interdisciplinary research and public engagement.
Officers and members of the Order of the British Empire
Among those honored with the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) award are:
- Cardiologist Professor Sanjay Arya, for services to healthcare
- Jasmine Dotiwala, for services to broadcasting, music, and equality
- Monica Kohli, for promoting diversity in the maritime industry
Meanwhile, Seema Misra was awarded an OBE for her tireless campaign supporting subpostmasters, and Sravya Rao was honored for her public service in the Department for Business and Trade.
The list also includes recipients of the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) and Medallist of the Order of the British Empire (BEM) titles, celebrating individuals who have made contributions to their communities. Notable among them are tech expert Dalim Kumar Basu, rheumatologist Professor Bhaskar Dasgupta, and musician Balbir Singh Khanpur Bhujhangy, who was recognized for his services to Bhangra music in the West Midlands.
The prestigious Companion of Honour was awarded to Sir Kazuo Ishiguro, the Nobel Prize-winning author, for his remarkable contributions to literature. Renowned actor, broadcaster, and writer Stephen Fry was knighted for his work in promoting mental health awareness.
The UK government emphasises its commitment to recognising the contributions of individuals from all walks of life. Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden congratulated all the awardees, stressing the importance of honoring those who give selflessly to their communities.
According to the Cabinet Office, 54 percent of the recipients this year have made outstanding contributions to their communities, and 12 percent of awardees belong to an ethnic minority background.
Agency
Published: 01 Jan 2025, 11:22 am IST
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