Trinidad & Tobago President, 26 others get coveted Pravasi Bharatiya Samman

Trinidad & Tobago President Christine Carla Kangaloo and 26 others were conferred the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award by President Droupadi Murmu on the last day of the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention here. The Trinidad & Tobago President got the award in the public affairs category.

European politicians, India-Americans medicos, Saudi royal family doctor, CEO of US IT-company and spiritual leaders in foreign lands are among the 27 people from the Indian diaspora who were today awarded.

Among the European politicians who got the award are Baroness Prashar, whose original name is Usha Kumari Prashar. She is currently a member of the House of Lords.

Also on the list is Punjab-born Robert Masih Nahar who is the first Asian to be elected to Spain’s Upper House. Three Indian-Americans — Sharad Lakhanpal, Sharmila Ford and Ravi Kumar S — have also received the highest overseas honour.

President Murmu and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar — during separate functions at the convention — on Friday highlighted the role of the Indian diaspora for India’s development and also for the nation’s image as a resurgent civilisation.