"I am truly humbled to be honoured in such a profound way"
Year on year, outstanding individuals from a BAME background are named on the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for their social contribution and 2017 is no different.
10 percent of the 1,109 names mentioned in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list are from a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic background. This number highlights the growing diversity of the prestigious Birthday Honours list, and 50 percent of all honorees are women.
Areas of recognition include work in the arts, medicine, technology, law, and education.
74 percent of recipients are people who have done outstanding work in their communities, with an impressive number of British Asians building strong links across the board.
One of the highest honours is a damehood which has been awarded to Professor Parveen Kumar of Bart’s and the London School of Medicine, Queen Mary, University of London for services to Medicine and Medical Education.
Commanders of the Order of the British Empire or a CBE have been given to London’s Professor Aisha Kulwant Gill for services to Tackling Forced Marriage, Honour Crimes and Violence against Women, and Shamit Saggar for services to Social Science and Public Policy.
Kamel Hothi of Lloyds Banking Group was awarded an OBE for services to Diversity in the Banking Sector. Speaking about the recognition, Hothi says:
“I am truly humbled to be honoured in such a profound way but feel this recognition is for my parents who survived the partition of India and Pakistan – the biggest migration of refugees and brought us here to the UK to build a better life.
“My father was a civil engineer in India but unfortunately in the 60’s his skills were not acknowledged. He did struggle with this biasness and refused for me to go onto further education believing there was no point and arranged my marriage at 19.
“It was these experiences that have driven me to improve and create a level playing field for all concerned.
“I just wished my parents were alive today to witness me receiving my OBE from the Queen so to prove that hard work is recognised regardless of your background.”
See the full list of Asians on the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2017 here:
Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE or DBE)
- Professor Parveen June KUMAR, CBE ~ Professor of Medicine and Education, Bart’s and (Mrs Leaver) the London School of Medicine, Queen Mary, University of London. For services to Medicine and Medical Education. (Epsom, Surrey)
Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
- Professor Aisha Kulwant GILL ~ Professor of Criminology, University of (Professor Kulwant Gill) Roehampton. For services to Tackling Forced Marriage, Honour Crimes and Violence against Women. (London, KT4)
- Shamit SAGGAR ~ Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor, Professor of Political Science and Public Policy, University of Essex. For services to Social Science and Public Policy. (London, N12)
Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
- Sultan Ahmed CHOUDHURY ~ CEO, Al Rayan Bank. For services to the UK Market for Islamic Finance.
(Birmingham, West Midlands) - Sital Singh DHILLON ~ Head of Law and Criminology, Sheffield Hallam University. For services to Higher Education. (Loughborough, Leicestershire)
- Asif Abdul HASEEB ~ For services to Racial Equality, Health and Education in Scotland and Pakistan.
(Giffnock, Renfrewshire) - Dr Kamaljit Kaur HOTHI ~ Head of Colleague Volunteering and Group Kamel Hothi Fundraising, Lloyds Banking Group. For services to Diversity in the Banking Sector. (Slough, Berkshire)
- Arvind Michael KAPUR, DL ~ Chairman, National Space Centre and Founder and Director, Signum Corporate Communications Ltd. For services to Science, Technology, Business and Enterprise. (Oadby, Leicestershire)
- Chandrakant KATARIA ~ Group Chief Executive, East Midlands Housing Group. For services to Housing in the East Midlands. (Loughborough, Leicestershire)
- Idris KHAN ~ For services to Art. (London, N16)
- Dr Nikesh KOTECHA ~ Chief Executive Officer, Morningside Pharmaceuticals. For services to Entrepreneurship, Innovation in Pharmaceutical Services and Philanthropy. (Rothley, Leicestershire)
- Dr Ramesh Dulichandbhai MEHTA ~ President, British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin. For services to the NHS. (Renhold, Bedfordshire)
- Harinder Singh PATTAR ~ Headteacher, The Heathland School, London. For services to Education. (Hitchin, Hertfordshire)
- Mohammad Shahed QURAISHI ~ Consultant Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeon and Director ENT Masterclass, Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals. For services to the NHS and Medical Education. (Ravenshead, Nottinghamshire)
- Nardeep SHARMA ~ CEO, The Thrive Partnership Academy Trust, Executive Principal, Colne Community College and Philip Morant School and College, Essex. For services to Education. (Coventry, West Midlands)
- Rakesh SHARMA ~ Chief Executive, Ultra Electronics. For services to Defence Capability. (Hunningham, Warwickshire)
- Professor Mahendra Pratap Singh VARMA ~ For services to Cardiology in Northern Ireland. (Bellanaleck, Fermanagh)
- Sandeep Singh VIRDEE ~ Founder and Director, Darbar Arts Culture and Heritage Trust. For services to the Promotion of Indian Musical Heritage in the UK. (Birmingham, West Midlands)
Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
- Saeeda, Mrs ALI ~ Higher Executive Officer, Ministry of Defence. For services to Defence. (London)
- Mohammad ASHFAQ ~ Founder and Managing Director, Kikit Pathways to Recovery, Birmingham. For services to Vulnerable People. (Birmingham, West Midlands)
- Miss Samera Jabeen ASHRAF ~ For services to Sport and Diversity. (Edinburgh)
- Shazia, Mrs AZHAR ~ Member, Diverse Leaders Network. For services to Education. (Huddersfield, West Yorkshire)
- Ms Aqila CHOUDHRY ~ For public and political service. (Leeds, West Yorkshire)
- Dr Pushpinder CHOWDHRY ~ For services to the Asian community in the UK. (London, HA5)
- Vilasgauri Ratilal, Mrs DHANANI ~ For voluntary and charitable services. (London, HA7)
- Captain (Rtd) Gaubahadur GURUNG ~ Executive Officer, Ministry of Defence. For services in Support of Service Personnel. (Saffron Walden, Essex)
- Asif HAMID ~ Chief Executive Officer, The Contact Company and Chair, Wirral Chamber of Commerce. For services to Small and Medium Sized Businesses. (Liverpool, Merseyside)
- Imam Monawar HUSSAIN ~ Tutor and Imam. For services to Interfaith Relations and the community in Oxfordshire. (Cowley, Oxfordshire)
- Razia, Mrs ISMAIL ~ Chair and Founder, Aaghee. For services to Women in the Asian community in Birmingham. (Birmingham, West Midlands)
- Mohamed Amin ISSA ~ Senior Lecturer, Ministry of Defence. For services to the Defence Centre for Languages and Culture. (High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire)
- Abdul JABBAR ~ For political and public service. (Oldham, Greater Manchester)
- Surinder Singh JANDU ~ For services to Community Cohesion. (London, E12)
- Dr Serbjit KAUR ~ Dentist, Leicestershire. For services to Dentistry. (Leicester, Leicestershire)
- Asif Amir KHAN ~ For services to Architecture. (London, E9)
- Dr Shah Noor KHAN ~ For services to the Muslim community and Community Cohesion. (Leeds, West Yorkshire)
- Vikas KUMAR ~ For services to the Arts and Culture. (Gateshead, Tyne and Wear)
- Mohammad Ajman (Tommy) MIAH ~ Chef and Restauranteur. For services to the Hospitality Industry and charity. (Edinburgh)
- Majid MUKADAM ~ Transplant Surgeon, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham. For services to Transplantation Patients. (Birmingham, West Midlands)
- Pritpal Singh NAGI, DL ~ For services to Business and charity in Staffordshire. (Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire)
- Nitin PALAN ~ For services to Interfaith Relations. (London, NW6)
- Miss Anjna Morarji PATEL ~ Principal Officer, Road Safety and Parking, Sandwell Council. For services to the Parking Profession. (Perton, Staffordshire)
- Sazeda, Mrs PATEL ~ For services to the community in Blackburn. (Blackburn, Lancashire)
- Dr Bharti RAJPUT ~ Director, Sole Body Soul. For services to Podiatry and the Economy in Dundee. (Dundee)
- Dr Khalid RASHED ~ Consultant in Stroke Services, Yeovil Hospital. For services to Stroke Care in Somerset. (Tintinhull, Somerset)
- Asif SADIQ ~ For services to Policing and the community in London. (London)
- Tejinder Kumar SHARMA ~ For services to Hindi Literature and to Community Cohesion in London. (London, HA3)
- Dr Shobba SRIVASTAVA ~ For voluntary service to Community Cohesion in North East England. (South Shields, Tyne and Wear)
- Vernon Chandrasiri UDUGAMPOLA ~ For services to Humanitarian Aid, particularly in Sri Lanka and the UK. (London, HA6)
- Tariq Zamir USMANI ~ Founding Chair, Better Community Business Network. For services to Community Cohesion. (Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire)
- Deepak VERMA ~ For services to the Arts. (London, IG1)
Medallist of the Order of the British Empire (BEM)
- Ajaz AHMED ~ Mentor, Mosaic Network and Council Member / Advisory Board Member, Huddersfield University. For services to Young People. (Huddersfield, West Yorkshire)
- Noor Jahan, Mrs ALI ~ Senior Buying Manager – World Foods, WM Morrison Supermarkets Plc. For services to Diversity in the Retail Industry. (Leeds, West Yorkshire)
- Suraj Bhan KHANDELWAL ~ Chairman and Managing Director, S&A Drapers Ltd and SDL Secure Deposit Ltd. For services to Business and the community in Leicester. (Birstall, Leicestershire)
- Vinod Mathuradas KOTECHA ~ For services to the Asian community in North London. (Watford, Hertfordshire)
- Mohammed Tauqeer MALIK ~ Councillor, Aberdeen City Council. For services to the community in Aberdeen. (Aberdeen)
- Iffet Anwar, Mrs MIAN ~ Founding Member, All Pakistan Women’s Association Birmingham Branch. For services to the community (Birmingham, West Midlands)
- Dr Sohail MUNSHI ~ General Practitioner, Five Oaks Family Practice, North Manchester. For services to Primary Care. (Greater Manchester)
- Mohinder Singh SANGHA ~ Member, Board of Jathadars, Sikh Council. For services to the community in Leicester. (Rushey Mead, Leicestershire)
- Kandiah SIVAYOGAISWARAN ~ For services to the Midlands Tamil Cultural Association and to Young People in Birmingham. (Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands)
The Queen’s Birthday Honours List recognises a diverse array of individuals from all backgrounds. It celebrates their contributions to the UK and their communities as British citizens.
2017, which also marks 100 years of the Order of the British Empire, sees an impressive 10 percent of BAME names.
They represent the growing vitality of Asian and BAME contributions are to the UK.
Congratulations to all the honorees!
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