"great pleasure to be in a room full of change-makers.”
The 21st edition of the Asian Achievers Awards (AAA) took place on September 15, 2023, at the London Hilton on Park Lane.
The glamorous event was organised with support from the specialist finance company Market Financial Solutions (MFS), the Royal Air Force (RAF), SBI UK, clothing leasing firm Ayrela, translation specialists Language Interpreters and Moussaieff Jewellers.
Think tank Bridge India, media partners Asian Voice, Gujarat Samachar and Sunrise Radio were also partners of the event.
More than 600 guests from around the world attended the awards ceremony, which saw leading South Asians in the UK honoured for their contribution to building British society.
Attendees included Deputy Mayor of Business for London Rajesh Agrawal, founder of Sigma Pharmaceuticals Dr Bharat Shah CBE, the first Gujarati to represent the Conservative Party in
the Upper House Lord Dolar Popat and novelist Lord Jeffrey Archer.
Several stars of leading Marvel, Netflix, Nickelodeon and BBC shows also attended the awards ceremony.
Lord Archer ran a charity auction on behalf of charity partner One Kind Act, which provides grants for poverty alleviation and education causes across Africa and South Asia, raising £200,000.
The charity said this figure would help uplift several thousands of young people out of poverty in the neediest areas of the world. With this fundraiser, it takes the total raised for good causes by the Asian Achievers Awards over the last two decades to over £5 million.
Nitin Ganatra and Ainy Jaffri Rahman hosted the AAA’s, which saw 11 awards given out.
Among them was WBO European light-middleweight champion Hamzah Sheeraz, who received Sports Personality of the Year.
The undefeated boxer won his 18th bout in August 2023, defeating Ukraine’s Dmytro Mytrofanov by second-round TKO.
The last few years have been difficult for healthcare workers in the UK.
At the Asian Achievers Awards, three NHS workers were recognised for their work.
This included Dr Lalitha Iyer, who was honoured for her dedication during the Covid-19 pandemic, targeting a reduction in deaths for ethnic minorities.
Dr Harren Jhoti FRS OBE won the Business Person of the Year award for being at the forefront of British science and innovation, particularly his leadership in discovering and developing drugs in oncology and diseases of the central nervous system.
For this contribution to the British real estate industry and the charitable sector, the Lifetime Achievement award went to Shashikant K Vekaria.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:
“The Asian Achievers Awards provide a great opportunity for us to recognise the outstanding accomplishments of British Asians in the UK.
“It is good to celebrate the positive impact and contribution all the nominees have made in creating a more modern, dynamic and globally-facing economy in the UK.”
Kanika Kapoor received the Special Award for Contribution to Music honour as her songs have been streamed nearly 200 times on Spotify.
The singer said: “After more than a decade in the film and music industry, I am delighted to receive this special recognition at the Asian Achievers Awards.
“With the Prime Minister of the UK himself commending these Awards, it gives me great pleasure to be in a room full of change-makers.”
As well as the awards, there were mesmerising performances, including a string quartet.
The event was organised by global advisory company EPG and bridging loan company Market Financial Solutions (MFS).
Paresh Raja, CEO of MFS, said: “We need to celebrate British South Asian successes given just how unlikely they could have been.
“It takes a lot for generations of families with overseas roots to adapt and fit in with a different society.
“Not to mention all the other civil challenges they may face such as culture clash, or potential xenophobia.
“Yet, even with odds against them, we’ve seen British South Asians not only integrate but thrive.”
Pratik Dattani, Managing Director of EPG, said:
“The last year was a watershed for South Asians in the UK. Leaders of the government or main political parties in Westminster, Scotland, Ireland and London are all from a South Asian heritage.
“It was important for this year’s Awards to recognise the gems in our community across the country.”
“Our community is leading the way in helping Britain to level up, something sorely needed in a cost-of living crisis.”
Here is the full list of winners for the 21st Asian Achievers Awards:
Art and Culture
Jasdeep Singh Degun
Business Person of the Year
Dr Harren Jhoti FRS OBE
Community Service
Poulomi Desai
Entrepreneur of the Year
Tani Dulay
Lifetime Achievement Award
Shashikant K Vekaria
Media
Anila Dhami
Professional of the Year
Dr Nikki Kanani
Special Award for Contribution to Music
Kanika Kapoor
Sports Personality of the Year
Hamzah Sheeraz
Uniformed and Civil Service
Salman Desai BEM
Woman of the Year
Dr Lalitha Iyer
The 2023 Asian Achievers Awards was a spectacular event, recognising the achievements of British Asians.
It is easy to say that the Asian Achievers Awards will continue to grow.
DESIblitz congratulates all the winners!
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