The Sikh Awards were held at The Park Plaza Hotel, Westminster Bridge, London on Sunday 21st October 2012. The Awards recognised Sikh contributions and excellence in a variety of fields from nominations received from around the world.
Indian-origin steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal has received a Special Recognition Award from the Sikh community here for his outstanding contribution in setting up a USD 4 billion joint venture refinery in Punjab.
Receiving the Sikh Award a programme here last night, Mittal, Chairman and CEO of ArcelorMittal the world's largest steel producer, said, "The Sikh Award given to a non-Sikh is very important... This award is for the Sikhs and the people of Batinda and Punjab".
Referring to the refinery set up by Mittal Energy Ltd jointly with the State-owned Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd in Bhatinda, Mittal said he received "tremendous support" from the state government and the refinery is fully operational with 9 million tonnes of oil a year or 180,000 barrels a day.
Sant Baba Iqbal Singh, an educationist who set up hundreds of schools in Punjab and Inderjit Kaur Ji, who has broadened the Pingalwara movement received Sikh Lifetime Achievement Awards.
Harpal Singh Kumar, CEO of Cancer Research UK, a leading cancer research charity, received the "Sikhs in Charities" award. Jagir Singh, who has served as a lecturer at The Guru Gobind Singh College, was chosen for the Sikhs in Education Award.
Other recipients of the Sikh Awards were Guruka Singh (US, Media), Gurpreet Singh (India, Entertainment), Rashpal Kaur (India, Sports) and Surender Singh Khandhari (UAE, Seva).
Paul Singh Uppal, the only Sikh Member of British Parliament won the Sikh People's Choice award while Gurmant Singh Grewal of Canada), who was elected as an MP within six years of immigrating to Canada won the Sikhs in Profession award.
Rajinder Singh Baryan, a respected businessman and philanthropist of Kenya, won the Sikhs in Business Award while Sukhinder Singh (US) won the Sikhs in Business – Business Woman award.
India's Suneet Singh Tuli, founder and CEO of DataWind Ltd, received the Sikhs in Business - Entrepreneur Award.
In response to the awards being held in London the Mayor Boris Johnson said, “I consider London to be the most multicultural city in the world, and have seen first-hand the hard work, dedication and religious strength that sits at the heart of everything the Sikh community do. Sikhs are a credit to this city and bring pride and respect where ever they go in the world through their actions, deeds and unique identity".
This year, the gala ceremony was presented by former Mayoral advisor Mr Kulveer Ranger and model/actress Ms Anu Singh. Over 750 guests attended including Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, BBC’s Head of religious programming Mr Tommy Nagra, Ms Charlotte Leslie MP, Mr Paul Uppal MP and Dr Kate Wharton from the Archbishop of Canterbury’s office.
Also on the night which was hosted by the media organisation The Sikh Directory, the first Sikh 100 power list detailing the most prominent Sikhs in the global community was launched.
The Sikh 100 is available on request - [email protected]
Here are the Sikh Awards 2012 winners in all categories:
Sikhs in Business:
Business Man – Mr Rajinder Singh Baryan (Kenya)
Business Woman – Mrs Sukhinder Singh (USA)
Entrepreneur – Mr Suneet Singh Tuli
(India)
Sikhs in Education – Dr Jagir Singh (India)
Sikhs in Charity – Mr Harpal Singh Kumar (UK)
Sikhs in Sport – Ms Rashpal Kaur (India)
Sikhs in Media – Mr Guruka Singh (USA)
Sikhs in Entertainment – Mr Gurpreet Singh (India)
Sikhs in Seva – Mr Surinder Singh Khandari (Dubai)
Sikhs in Profession – Mr Gurmant Singh Grewal (Canada)
The Sikh People’s Choice Award – Mr Paul Singh Uppal MP (UK)
Special Recognition Award – Mr Lakshmi Niwas Mittal (UK)
Sikh Lifetime Achievement Award – Ms Bibi Inderjit Kaur Ji (India)