Indian-Origin 'Unsung Heroes' Recognized in King Charles' 2025 New Year Honours List

The 2025 New Year Honours List, released in London on Friday night, celebrates the extraordinary contributions of individuals from various fields, including over 30 Indian-origin professionals. Community leaders, campaigners, academics, and medics have been recognized for their exceptional service to the UK.

Among the honorees is Ranil Malcolm Jayawardena, a Conservative MP of Sri Lankan and Indian heritage, who has been awarded a Knighthood for his contributions to political and public service. He joins notable figures like Gareth Southgate, the recently resigned England football team manager, who was also knighted for his services to football.

The list includes more than 1,200 recipients across various sectors such as healthcare, academia, voluntary work, and sports, showcasing the invaluable contributions of unsung heroes.

Honoring Indian-Origin Achievers

Prominent Indian-origin honorees include:

• Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE):

  • Satwant Kaur Deol for services to further education.
  • Charles Pritam Singh Dhanowa OBE for services to competition law.
  • Professor Sneh Khemka for contributions to healthcare, science, and technology.
  • Leena Nair, CEO of Chanel, for her impact on the retail and consumer sector.
  • Mayank Prakash, President of the British Computing Society, for advancements in technology.
  • Purnima Murthy Tanuku OBE, CEO of the National Day Nurseries Association, for early years education.

• Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE):

  • Professor Sanjay Arya, a cardiologist, for his work with black and minority ethnic healthcare.
  • Nandini Das, an academic at Oxford University, for interdisciplinary research and public engagement.
  • Tarsem Singh Dhaliwal, CEO of Iceland Foods, for contributions to the Welsh economy and charity.
  • Jasmine Dotiwala, for her work in broadcasting and promoting diversity.

Other OBE recipients include Monica Kohli, for her work in the maritime industry, and Soumya Majumdar from the Crown Prosecution Service for her contributions to law and order.

• Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE):

  • Tech expert Dalim Kumar Basu, nursing chief Marimouttou Coumarassamy, and rheumatologist Professor Bhaskar Dasgupta.
  • Professor Ajay Jaikishore Vora, for contributions to paediatric haematology.

• Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM):

  • Community workers Sanjib Bhattacharjee and Jagrupe Binnig, along with postal worker Hemandra Hindocha.
  • Musician Balbir Singh Khanpur Bhujhangy was honored for his contributions to Bhangra music and Punjabi culture in the UK.

Recognizing Excellence Across the Nation

This year’s honors also included Stephen Fry, actor and mental health advocate, who received a Knighthood for his work. Author and Nobel Prize laureate Sir Kazuo Ishiguro was awarded the prestigious Companion of Honour for his contributions to literature.

Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden congratulated all the recipients, highlighting their selfless contributions to their communities and society. “These individuals represent the very best of the UK,” he said.

The 2025 New Year Honours List reflects a diverse group of achievers, with 54% of the honorees being recognized for community service and 12% coming from ethnic minority backgrounds.