Pravasi Bharatiya Samman

Pravasi Bharatiya Sammannnnn
Civilian award for contributions to International
Description	to honour exceptional NRIs and PIOs
Sponsored by	President of India
First awarded	2003
Highlights
Total awarded	136

The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman (Overseas Indian Honour/Award) is an award constituted by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, Government of India in conjunction with the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (Non-Resident Indian Day), to honour exceptional and meritorious contribution in their chosen field/profession. The award is given by the President of India.

The official list of awardees can be found on the website of the Indian Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs.

Awardees for 2015

• 1.Mala Mehta, for her contribution to Hindi language. She is founder of Indo- Australian Bal Bharatiya Vidyalaya in Thornleigh suburb in Sydney. Since its establishment, she has been pursuing the growth of Hindi in Australia.
• 2.Donald Rabindernauth Ramaotar, President of Guyana and awarded for his work for the Indian diaspora in Guyana.
• 3.Dr Rajaram Sanjaya, an India-born Mexico scientist, is winner of the '2014 World Food Prize' for developing 480 wheat varieties that have been released in 51 countries.
• 4.Kanwal Singh Bakhshi, He is Member of Parliament (MP) from New Zealand. He is also known for work he had done for the Indian diaspora in New Zealand.
• 5.Rajmal Parakh, a leading philanthropist, active in social services and charitable work in Oman and India.
• 6.Duraikannu Karunakaran, Justice of the Supreme Court, Republic of Seychelles
• 7.Essop Goolam Pahad, He is a South African politician. He was Minister in the Presidency from 1999 to September 2008 in South Africa.
• 8.Shah Bharatkumar Jayantilal, senior social worker for charities and philanthropic work in UAE.
• 9.Ashraf Palarkunnummal, Malayalee Social activist, UAE
• 10.Mahendra Nanji Mehta, a Uganda-based businessman of Indian roots
• 11.Professor Nathu Ram Puri, of Purico Group. He is founder of Purico Group are also chosen for their contribution to Indian diaspora.
• 12.Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft Corporation
• 13.Dr. Nandini Tandon, She has been given this award for her work in life sciences and Healthcare and IT in USA and India along with other emerging markets.
• 14.Dr. Kamlesh Lulla, He is chief scientist for Earth observation in the Human Exploration Science Office at the Johnson Space Centre at NASA. He has named for the award for his exceptional service to the space science.
• 15.Raj Loomba, Baron Loomba, is a philanthropist and founder of clothing company Rinku Group. He is a Liberal Democrat member of the House of Lords, United Kingdom.

Awardees for 2014

• 1. Ms. Senator Lisa Maria Singh – First member of South Asian descent in Australian Parliament
• 2. Kurian Varghese – Leading overseas Indian businessman in Bahrain
• 3. Vasdev Chanchlani – Entrepreneur and philanthropist based in Canada
• 4. Ramakrishna Mission – Fiji
• 5. Bikas Chandra Sanyal – Renowned educationist in France
• 6. Satnarainsing Rabin Baldewsingh – Significant contribution to promoting better understanding of India in The Netherlands
• 7. Sasindran Muthuvel – First Member of Parliament of Indian origin in Papua New Guinea
• 8. Shihabudeen Vava Kunju – Contributor to welfare of Indian community in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• 9. Ms. Ela Gandhi – Contributions in promoting ties between India and South Africa, and the cause of freedom in South Africa
• 10. Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil Parambath – Contribution in field of healthcare business and for promoting better understanding of India in UAE
• 11. Shailesh Lakhman Vara – First Indian origin Govt. minister for Conservative Party in UK
• 12. Dr. Parthasarathy Chiramel Pillai – Contributions in field of science, and fostering closer relations between India and USA
• 13. Dr. Renu Khator – One of the first persons of Indian origin to head a higher system and a research university in the United States. Chancellor of the University of Houston System and President of the University of Houston.
• 14. Dr. Namita Roy-Chowdhury – First Indian woman to become a full professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York. Discoverer of the genetic bases of inherited jaundice (Crigler-Najjar syndrome and Gilbert Syndrome).

Awardees for 2013

• 1. H E Mr. Rajkeswur Purryag – The President of the Republic of Mauritius.
• 2. Narendra R Kumar – a doctor specialising in otolaryngology (head and neck surgery)
• 3. Mohammed Rabeeh Karuvanthodi – He runs polyclinics in the Middle East.
• 4. Bava Haji Pandalingal – United Arab Emirates.
• 5. Patricia Maria Rozario – Her contributions in the field of music, is the Only Women who won this Award.
• 6. Professor Gurusharan Singh Chatwal, Germany (Science).
• 7. Ashok S. Vaswani, Guinea (community service).
• 8. Tan Sri Ravindran Menon, Malaysia (Community service).
• 9. Dr. Rasik V.Joshi, Mexico (Literature).
• 10. Dr. Satendra K. Singh, New Zealand (Community service).
• 11. Gilbert. C. Moutien, Reunion Island (Business).
• 12. Ismail E. Ebrahim, South Africa (Public service).
• 13. Subhash Razdan, US, (Public service).

Awardees for 2012

• 1. Mr. Radhakrishna Plavalil Kizhakkethil Vasudevan Pillai, Bahrain.
• 2. Mr. Sachchidanand Sahai, Cambodia
• 3. Indo‐Canada Chamber of Commerce, Canada
• 4. Mr. Deepak Naraindas Shivdasani, Côte d'Ivoire
• 5. Mr. Victor Shahid Smetacek, Germany
• 6. Mr. Prakash Lohia, Indonesia
• 7. Mr. Jose Parayanken, Mozambique
• 8. Mr. Kiran Navinchandra Asher, Oman
• 9. Mr. Hassan Abdulkarim Chougule, Qatar
• 10. Mr. S. R. Nathan — The former President of Singapore
• 11. Ms. Khorshed Noshir Ginwala, South Africa
• 12. The Rt. Hon. Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago
• 13. Mr. Rajesh Kumar Saraiya, Ukraine
• 14. Prof. Surendra Kumar Kaushik, USA
• 15. Ms. Kalpalatha Kummamuri Guntupalli, USA

Awardees for 2011

• 1. Prof. Veena Harbhagwan Sahajwalla, Australia (Science)
• 2. Ms. Lata Pada, Canada (Arts)
• 3. Shri Harindrapal Singh Banga, Hong Kong (Business)
• 4. Shri Hohammad Munir Nazir Hassan Ansari, Israel (Community Service)
• 5. Shri Upjit Singh Sachdeva, Liberia (Community Service)
• 6. Tan Sri Dato’ Ajit Singh, Malaysia (Public Affairs)
• 7. Sir Anand Satyanand, New Zealand (Public Affairs)
• 8. Shri Saleh Wahid, Netherlands (Community Service)
• 9. Indian Community Benevolent Forum, Qatar (Community Service)
• 10. Dr. Mohiaddin Syed Karimuddin, Pediatrician, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (Community Service)
• 11. Shri Mano Selvanathan, Sri Lanka (Business)
• 12. Shri Mohan Jashanmal, U.A.E. (Community Service)
• 13. Baroness (Dr.) Sandip Verma, U.K. (Public Affairs)

Awardees for 2010

Country	Name	Description	Field of Merit
United Arab Emirates	Dr. Azad Moopen	Chairman of Aster DM Healthcare	Healthcare

Awardees for 2009

Country	Name	Description	Field of Merit
Netherlands	Ram Labhaya Lakhina	Founder and Executive President of the Netherlands India Chamber of Commerce and Trade (NICCT)	Community Affairs

Awardees for 2008

Country	Name	Description	Field of Merit
Saudi Arabia	Dr. Mohammed Roshankt	Chairman of TCS-FNS
Bahrain	Dr. Ravi Pillai	Managing director Nasser Al Hajri Corporation	Business
Mauritius	Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam	Prime Minister Mauritius	Public Affairs
Australia	Neville Joseph Roach	Chairman of TCS-FNS
Japan	A. P. S. Mani	Founder and coordinator of Indian Community Activities in Tokyo
New Zealand	Judge Ajit Swaran Singh	District Judge in New Zealand
Saudi Arabia	Dr. Rafiudin Fazulbhoy	Founding member of the Indian school at Jeddah and the Indian Pilgrims' Welfare Forum
Sweden	Bicky Chakraborty	CEO Elite Hotels, Sweden
United Arab Emirates	Krishnamurthy Kumar	Founding governor of the Indian Business and Professional Council
United Kingdom	Lord Karan Bilimoria	Chancellor Thames Valley University
United States	Dr. Thomas Abraham	Founder chairman Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO Inc.)
United States	Joy Cherian	Commissioner at the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Trinidad and Tobago	National Council of Indian Culture	NGO dedicated to the promotion of Indian culture in Trinidad and Tobago

Awardees for 2007

Country	Name	Description	Field of Merit
United States	Gopal Raju	journalist, founder-editor India Abroad	Media
United Kingdom	Lord Diljit Rana	Hon. Consul Belfast, Managing Director Andras House	Business
Canada	Dave Sukhdip Singh Hayer	Member of Legislative Assembly of British Columbia	Public Affairs
United States	Dr. Madhavan Anirudhan	President Essen Nutrition	Business
South Africa	Billy Nair	Member of Parliament, ANC South Africa	Public Affairs
Kenya	Pheroze Nowrojee	Advocate, Human Rights Activist	Community Affairs
United States	Nirmal K. Sinha	Community Leader, Significant contribution to fostering friendship between India and USA	Community Affairs
Malaysia	Tan Sri Dato K.R. Somasundram	Executive Chairman, National Land Finance Co-operative Society	Public Affairs
Jamaica	Kenneth S. Benjamin	Founder and chairman of the Guardsman Group	Business
Germany	Sibabrata Roy	President Indo-German Society Hamburg, Promoter of Indian Culture in Germany	Community Affairs
United Arab Emirates	Syed M. Salahuddin	Managing Director, ETA-Ascon Group	Business
United Arab Emirates	Dr.Bavaguthu Raghuram Shetty	Businessman Pharmaceuticals, Chairman Board of Governors Abu Dhabi Indian School	Business
Fiji	Sir Moti Tikaram	Justice, National President Fiji World Jurist Association	Public Affairs
Portugal	Dr. Abdool Magid Karim Vakil	President Comunidade Islamica de Lisboa	Business
United States	Dr. Panchapakesa Jayaraman	Writer, Promoter of Hindi language and literature	Culture

Awardees for 2006

Country	Name	Description
Thailand	Shivnath Rai Bajaj
Israel	Eliahu Bezale
Mauritius	Abdool Raouf Bundhun
Philippines	Pratima Kale
Saudi Arabia	Majid Uddin Kazi
Qatar	C. K. Menon
United Kingdom	Gulam Kaderbhai Noon
United States	Sudhir M. Parikh
Guyana	Yesu Persaud
Seychelles	V. Ramadoss
South Africa	Sisupal Rambharos
United States	Niranjan S. Shah
Hong Kong	Rusy M. Shroff
Singapore	Shan V
Réunion	Jean-Paul Virapoullé
United States	Fareed Zakaria	journalist, editor of Newsweek International

Awardees for 2005

Country	Name	Description
Hong Kong	M. Arunachalam	President, Asia Pacific India Chambers of Commerce
United States	Jagdish Bhagwati	Indian American economist
South Africa	Amina Cachalia	Women's activist, politician
Tanzania	J.K. Chande	Chancellor, International Medical and Technological University, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Germany	Alokeranjan Dasgupta	Poet, philosopher, academic
South Africa	Ahmed Kathrada	South African anti-apartheid activist
United States	Sunil Khilnani	Political scientist, writer
Trinidad and Tobago	Basdeo Panday	Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago
United Kingdom	Bhikhu Parekh	member, British House of Lords
United States	Sam Pitroda	Indian American entrepreneur and Indian communications policymaker
United Kingdom	Vikram Seth	Novelist and poet
United States	M. Night Shyamalan	Indian American film screenwriter, director and producer
Fiji	Vijay Singh	Indo-Fijian golfer
Sri Lanka	A Vijayan	Disaster Search & Rescue - Indian Ocean Tsunami
United States	Sant Singh Virmani	Rice scientist
United Arab Emirates	M. A. Yousuf Ali	Owner of EMKE Group (Abu Dhabi based Indian conglomerate)

Awardees for 2004

Country	Name	Description
Thailand	Dipak Jain	Dean, Kellogg School of Management
United States	Kalpana Chawla	NASA Astronaut
Zimbabwe	Justice Ahmed Moosa Ebrahim
Guyana	Bharrat Jagdeo	President of Guyana
Fiji	Mahendra Pal Chaudhry	Fmr. Prime Minister of Fiji
Kuwait	Dr. Marian Chisti
United Kingdom	Lord Meghnad Desai	Economist, Writer, Labour politician
United States	Narinder Singh Kapany
United States	Shashi Tharoor	Politician, Diplomat, Writer
New Zealand	Sukhi Turner	Fmr. Mayor of Dunedin, New Zealand
India	Dr P Mohamed Ali

Awardees for 2003

Country	Name	Description
Mauritius	Rt. Hon’ble Sir Anerood Jugnauth	Prime Minister of Mauritius
South Africa	Prof. Fatima Meer	she took active part in political, social and philanthropic causes, deeply influenced by the Gandhian values and approach
Hong Kong	Dr. Hari N. Harilela	Business ventures and community welfare activities, he has been long considered the standard-bearer and the most recognizable symbol of the Indian Diaspora in Hong Kong.
Oman	Shri Kanaksi Gokaldas Khimji	The Khimjis have utilized their proximity to the ruling family in the cause of the Diaspora and strengthening links between India and Oman.
Kenya	Shri Manilal Premchand Chandaria	He has used his resources to propagate Indian ethos and values. He helped set-up Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Academy Society and Gandhi Smarak Nidhi Fund in Kenya.
United Kingdom	Shri Manilal Premchand Chandaria	Lord Dholakia made significant contributions in the fields of community care and issues relating to ethnic unrest. He played an important role in addressing the sensitive issue of racial discontent.
USA	Shri Rajat Gupta	Shri Gupta has embarked on work relating to community welfare and social and Philanthropic causes. He played a key-role in the establishment of the Indian School of Business at Hyderabad.
Guyana	Sir Shridath Surendranath Ramphal	Sir Ramphal is a distinguished Jurist having been Solicitor General and Attorney General of Guyana and Member of International Commission of Jurists. Sir Ramphal also held positions of responsibility in international organizations such as Independent Commission on International Development Issues, Independent Commission on Disarmament and Security Issues, Independent Commission of International Humanitarian Issues and World Commission on Environment and Development, Chairman UN Committee for Development Planning and President, World
Malaysia	Dato’ Seri S. Samy Vellu	Deputy Minister of Local Government and Housing (1978–79); Minister for Works (1979–85) and Minister of Energy, Tele communications & Posts, Malaysia (1989–95). He has been a Member of the House of Representatives of the Malaysian Parliament since 1974.
Canada	Shri Ujjal Dosanjh	In 1991 Shri Dosanjh was elected as Member of Legislative Assembly in the Vancouver Kensington constituency and then as Caucus Chair. He became the Minister for Human Rights, Multiculturalism, Sports and Immigration in 1995 and then was appointed the Attorney General of British Columbia. In a historic development, he was elected as the 33rd Premier and President of the Executive Council of the British Columbia, which is first for a person of Indian origin in Canada.

External links

• List of Previous Pravasi Bhartiya Samman Awardees MOIA website
• Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, Official webpage at Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA)
• Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, Official website