Indian-UK ties celebrated at the 2024 India UK Achievers Awards

The India UK Achievers Honours are awards given to distinguished Indians who have thrived in the UK, educated in the UK, and went on to make significant social impact. Launched in 2022, and now in its second year, this prestigious accolade undergoes rigorous selection by a distinguished jury. From groundbreaking cancer research to culinary arts, from bureaucratic reforms to pioneering businesses, and from legal advocacy to championing LGBTQIA+ rights, select Indians who pursued British education excellence are considered for this award.

Achievers are based in the UK, India, and countries across the globe. All the finalists were invited to London and honoured at the British Parliament where they have an opportunity to interact with British members of parliament, policymakers, and stakeholders in the education sector. 

The project has been initiated by the National Indian Students and Alumni Union UK (NISAU UK) in partnership with the British Council in India, aligned to their year-long cultural programme ‘India/UK Together Season of Culture’. The UK government’s Department of International Trade is also one of the partners in this project. “The UK’s higher education system has a proud reputation and is one of our most valuable exports. 

2024 India UK Achievers Award Winners

The final winners were announced and honoured in a much-awaited gala ceremony on 28th February in the heart of London among 400 exclusive guests. The winners were announced at a prestigious ceremony in London, which included keynote speeches from parliamentary peer Lord Bilimoria, assistant secretary general of the Commonweath Luis Gabriel Franceshi and the director of The British Council India, Alison Barrett.

Commenting on the importance of the India UK Achievers Honours, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: 

“First I would like to thank you for all that you are doing to champion the special UK-India partnership. I am pleased to see that for the second year, you are showcasing exceptional Indian talent that has been developed in the UK. I am extremely proud of the UK-India partnership and the 2023 Achievers Honours highlights the strong outcomes that can arise through partnership.”

Sanam Arora, Chair of the NISAU UK and Commissioner of the UK International Higher Education Commission said: “As we unveil the finalists of this year’s Achievers Honours here at the UK Parliament, we stand at the confluence of heritage and ambition. Today, we celebrate the indomitable spirit that propels individuals to transcend boundaries and redefine success on a global stage. Each finalist is a symbol of the potential that thrives within our communities and the shared future we are forging through excellence and innovation. Today, we don’t just recognise excellence; we ignite the promise of tomorrow, honouring those who lead by example and inspire greatness in us all. I am so excited to showcase our finalists today and can’t wait to reveal the winners for our class of 2024 tomorrow!”

Education, science and innovation

Raghu Ram Pillarisetti | Graduated from Royal College of Surgeons

Dr. Raghu Ram Pillarisetti OBE is an Indian surgeon, and the Founder and Director of KIMS-Ushalakshmi Center for Breast Diseases at KIMS Hospitals. The award was presented in recognition of Raghuram's extraordinary achievements and trailblazing body of work towards transforming the delivery of breast cancer care in India.

Dr Pillarisetti has revolutionised breast cancer care in India, founding South Asia’s first comprehensive Breast Health Centre and a charity for national awareness. He led South Asia’s largest population-based screening program now expanding nationally across India. He also founded the Association of Breast Surgeons of India.

#LIVINGBRIDGE between 🇬🇧&🇮🇳#AboutYesterday#London   
The Commonwealth Assistant Secretary General, Prof Luis Gabriel Franceschi @lgfranceschi presented me with the prestigious “INDIA-UK Achievers award” in the category “Education, Science & Innovation” yesterday evening in… pic.twitter.com/lcN341GnfM

— Raghu Ram Pillarisetti OBE (@RRPillarisetti) February 29, 2024

Government and politics

Gaurav Dwivedi, ex-advisor, Government of Chhattisgarh, India is a finalist in the Society and Policy category at the India UK Achievers Honours 2024.

Conrad Sangma | Graduated from Imperial College London. Sangma is the current chief minister of Meghalaya, assuming office in 2018.

Jayesh Ranjan | Graduated from LSE

Ranjan is the principal secretary for industries, commerce and IT within the government of Telangana.

Arts, culture and education

Asma Khan | Graduated from King’s College London - Founded the Darjeeling Express after starting the business as a home supper club

Atul Khatri | Graduated from University of Manchester - Khatri was honoured for his transition from Mumbai entrepreneur to comedian

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Atul Khatri (@one_by_two)

Harish R. Bhat | Graduated from University of Leeds - Bhat has spent over 36 years with Tara Sons, a conglomerate with a wide ranging portfolio

Law

Samridhi Arora | Graduated from the University of Oxford

A seasoned advocate ate the Supreme Court of India, Arora serves as a member of the UNESCO-IFAP (WGIA) and chairs the A141A conference.

Media and journalism

Sonia Singh | Graduated from Cardiff University

Singh has been a journalist, senior television anchor, author and editor of Indian network NDTV.

Society and policy

Elsa Marie DSilva | Graduated from University of Oxford

Founder of the not for profit Red Dot Foundation (India) and president of Red Dot Foundation Global (US), DSilva has pioneered the Safecity project, a platform that crowdsources experiences of sexual violence worldwide.

Sport

Neeraj Chopra | Graduated from Loughborough University

Neeeraj is the reigning Olympic , World and Asian Games champion in men’s javelin.

Last year, Achievers Honours celebrated 75 years of India’s independence by honouring 75+ Achievers across 8 categories. Bollywood actor Parineeti Chopra; Raghav Chadha Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha; Adar Poonawalla, CEO of the Serum Institute of India, Samir Saran, President of Observer Research Foundation; Aditi Chauhan, Goalkeeper of the Indian Football Team; Menaka Guruswamy, Senior Advocate at the Supreme Court of India; and Somdip Dey, AI researcher among those who were honoured in London.

In 2023, Utkarsh Amitabh, who was a Chevening Fellow hosted by St Cross College in 2022, won the India UK Achievers award. He founded one of the world’s largest mentorship and career advancement platform, Network Capital; became the Chief Marketing Officer of 5ire.org, a blockchain unicorn valued at U.S.$1.5 billion; authored two books; and helped build India’s first smart village. 

NISAU UK is the apex UK organisation representing students, alumni and young professionals of Indian origin. We are your Home Away From Home; and work passionately towards our goal of ensuring that there is a student safety net for all international Indian students in the UK. From running a multi-year long campaign to bring the Post Study Work Visa to the UK; 360 support to thousands during the Covid pandemic and even supporting Indian students trapped in the Ukraine war, NISAU volunteers painstakingly work towards the welfare of the Indian student and alumni community.