Pravasi Samman Awards for 15 NRIs

The 5th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas ended in New Delhi on Tuesday with the conferment of the Pravasi Samman Awards to 15 people of Indian origin by President A P J Abdul New Delhi's Vigyan Bhavan.

The awardees are:

• Gopal Raju (US) for his contribution in the field of media.
• Lord Diljit Rana, MBE and member of the House of Lords, for furthering India's interests and enhancing the understanding of India.
• Dave Sukhdip Singh Hayer (Canada) for his contribution in the field of public Service.
• Dr M Anirudhan (US) for his outstanding contribution towards furthering Indo-US relations and dedicated service to the Diaspora.
• Billy Nair (South Africa) for his exemplary role in the fight against apartheid and for his dedicated service to the community.
• Pheroze Nowrojee (Kenya) for his immense contribution to the community.
• Nirmal K Sinha (US) for his contribution to India's causes and services to the Diaspora.
• Dr K R Somasundram (Malaysia) for his public service and contribution to the Diaspora.
• Kenneth Benjamin (Jamaica) for enhancing the understanding of India in the Caribbean region.
• Sibabrata Roy (Germany) for community service.
• Syed M Salahuddin (UAE) for his contribution in the field of business philanthropy and culture.
• Dr B R Shetty (Abu Dhabi) for his business acumen and services to the Diaspora.
• Moti Tikaram (Fiji) for his outstanding achievements in the field of legal and juridical services and contribution to the community.
• Abdul Magid Abdool Karim Vakil (Portugal) for his contribution to the field of business and enhancing the understanding of India.
• Dr P Jayaraman (US) for his dedication towards the dissemination of Indian culture and his outstanding contribution to the Diaspora.

Two of the awardees -- Billy Nair from South Africa and Sibabrata Roy from Germany -- were unable to make it for the presentation.

Earlier, President Kalam, who received a thunderous applause from the 2,500 delegates and guests in the auditorium, walked up to hug a visually handicapped musician who led a team of young schoolgirls while singing the national anthem and then a song based on a poem written by the President.

The annual three day summit was started in 2002 to give the Indian Diaspora a platform to interact and to forge and revive ties with the land of their origin.