Apart from the Caribbean nationals, India is also bestowing the award on persons based in the United States, Brazil, Australia, Ethiopia, Germany, Israel, Japan, Poland, the Republic of Congo, Singapore, South Africa, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and Uzbekistan
Three Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nationals, including Guyana’s President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, will be awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA), reported caribbeannationalweekly.com. Other than Ali, the other awardees are Trinidad and Tobago judge, Justice Frank Arthur Seepersad and Suriname’s Dr. Dewanchandrebhose Sharman.
Ali will receive the award for politics and community welfare, while Seepersad’s contribution to community welfare and education, and Sharman’s work for community welfare has been recognized.
The three Caribbean nationals will join 24 other persons of Indian origin or non-resident Indians who have been recognized by the Indian government for their outstanding achievements both in India and abroad.
The 17th PBSA will be conferred by the President of India at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention at Indore, Madhya Pradesh, January 8-10.
The award will be conferred during the valedictory session of the convention on January 10, and the Indian High Commission statement said President Ali had been invited as the “Chief Guest” for the convention and will be travelling to India with a high-level delegation comprising both official and private sector representatives.
Apart from the Caribbean nationals, India is also bestowing the award on persons based in the United States, Brazil, Australia, Ethiopia, Germany, Israel, Japan, Poland, the Republic of Congo, Singapore, South Africa, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and Uzbekistan.
India’s High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr. K J Srinivasa said the award to President Ali is a recognition of the outstanding contributions he has made to Guyana and his efforts to bring about the rapid and equitable development of the country.
Nadesan is the second Sri Lankan national to secure the honour. It may be recalled that Mano Selvanathan was conferred the PBSA in 2011 for his valuable contributions in the business sphere
Kumar Nadesan bags top Indian Diaspora award: Sri Lanka-based Sivakumar Nadesan, Managing Director of Express Newspapers, will be conferred the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA), 2023.
Nadesan was selected for his contribution to the welfare of the Indian-origin community in Sri Lanka. He is the current President of the Sri Lanka chapter of the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) and has been working relentlessly for community welfare. He initiated a fundraiser to assist stranded Indian Citizens in Sri Lanka during the Covid outbreak.
He actively promotes business and cultural exchanges between India and Sri Lanka and has been instrumental in inviting many Indian artists to perform in Sri Lanka. Further, he has supported several initiatives pertaining to classical and traditional fields such as Carnatic music in Sri Lanka. He has spoken at various PBD Conferences and was invited to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Kumbh Mela in 2019.
Nadesan is the second Sri Lankan national to secure the honour. It may be recalled that Mano Selvanathan was conferred the PBSA in 2011 for his valuable contributions in the business sphere.
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