Surjit Singh Ghuman awarded [MBE]

A Great Honor to a Noble Sikh – Surjit Singh Ghuman [MBE] – Founder of Panjab Radio

A Great Honor To A Noble Sikh

The BBC and the Guardian newspaper brought some brilliant New Years news for me and the whole of the Sikh community and for once the honors system has recognised someone from a minority community not for their wealth or their connections with political parties. But the genuine worth of someone who has contributed a great deal at a great personal expense to the needs of the Punjabi and the Sikh community across the United Kingdom and Europe through its Digital Broadcasting Radio Station – Panjab Radio.

Surjit Ghuman has done this with success and determination – I was asked during the mid part of this year (2011) to help look at Panjab radio and areas of further development. As part of this work I was struck with the figures that were presented to me – at the time I saw past independent RAJAR figures of Panjab Radio, which recorded its listenership being over 120,000 people per week. This was considerably favorable and far in excess of other asian media radio broadcasters. During this process I also saw a strongly committed staff and volunteer team as well as a phenomenal amount of participation from its Panjabi listeners and non listeners in the work of the station. I am looking forward to the day when the analogue signal is switched off and the station takes a further leap when digital broadcasting is the norm in every household, at the moment its listenership is confined to a small, well 120,000 plus people across the country per week.

This honor hasn’t come cheap for someone like Surjit Singh Ghuman, he had to face number of challenges and like a renowned Tendulkar, Bishan Singh Bedi and other cricketing greats he has stayed at the crease, whacking the sixes and serving us with vigor and an uncharacteristic social charm that warms and draws people to him.

I hope this bestowed honor serves as a true beacon to others in our community who are working tirelessly against all odds, not to give up hope and continue doing their good work, which at most times seems like a thankless task. Also keeping faith,hope and trust that the honors system does work and does truly recognise the real champions in our communities.

I congratulate Surjit and his staff, his listenership and everyone else who has made Panjab Radio special – Moreover you are important to the Panjabi Community and I say on a personal note – Together with a small group of others, you are our Last Hope that is keeping the Panjabi Culture and Language Live and Kicking.

More information about Panjab Radio can be found at http://www.panjabradio.co.uk/