The winners of the Asian Achievers Awards 2013 were celebrated last week at the prestigious Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane in London, England.
These awards recognize and honour the outstanding work of people from all over the world across all businesses and professions and highlight the accomplishments of UK’s finest Asian community. This year’s event particularly focused on women’s achievements from Asian communities and across all types of professions.
Asian Business Publications Ltd (ABPL) along with published newspapers, 'Asian Voice' and 'Gujarat Samachar' hosted the event and welcomed social elites including prolific dignitaries, cross party politicians, celebrities, and many selected high achievers from the Asian community.
Among them were the honorary chief guest, Cherie Blair CBE, QC, American Civil Rights Leader, Reverend Jesse Jackson and Rt Hon Keith Vaz MP. Rt Hon, Lord Dholakia OBE DL, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats chaired the panel of judges for the event.
Sky News presenter Ashish Joshi and comedian Shazia Mirza presented. A charity auction was also created to raise funds for the LILY foundation. LILY foundation is an NGO, which focuses on raising funds and awareness of anti-trafficking work through advocacy, campaigning and legislation with an ultimate goal to end trafficking of women and children.
In his opening speech, Mr. CB Patel, Chairman, Asian Business Publications Ltd. (ABPL) said, “The theme of this year's awards is solely dedicated to women. We all are aware of the manifold roles of a woman. The most unique and the greatest being that of a mother.
She is also a wife, a sister, a daughter, a friend, and every bit of her role has its unique significance in a man's life. In a way, it is a happy occasion for me but at the same time, I feel very unhappy that women in every part of the world, including in Britain, suffer gruesome and unfortunate experiences – they are murdered in the name of honour, beaten up, trafficked and the nightmare is unbelievable. Even in the professional world, many of the women suffer endless obstacles, the lack of exposure and equal rights- the 'invisible' glass ceiling we have heard about.
Tonight we are celebrating the achievements, might and bravery of all those women who have not only dealt with the odds in their lives, but have fought for equal opportunities and have made significant contributions, sometimes more than men in this society.”
Ruqsana Begum, the winner of the Asian Awards Personality of the Year Award said, "I am deeply honoured that I won the AAA Sports Personality of the Year award amongst other deserving winners and nominees. I was delighted to even be nominated and that my achievements and hard work were recognised. I couldn't ask for more, and this is definitely one of my career highlights so far. I think this will open up doors for others and hopefully I can inspire others to follow their passion as I have done."
Winners of the Asian Achievers Awards 2013 are:
AAA Gold Award for Achievement in Media, Arts and Culture:
Seeta Indrani, Actress and Performer
AAA Gold Award for Achievement in Community Service:
Professor Naina Patel OBE, Founder, Policy Research Institute on Community and Inter-faith Relations (PRIAE) in the UK
AAA Gold Award for Sports Personality of the Year:
Ruqsana Begum, Kickboxer, British Champion, European Gold Medallist, World Bronze Medallist
AAA Gold Award for Uniformed and Civil Service:
Surjeet Manku, Chief Superintendent
AAA Gold Award for Professional of the Year:
Nandita Parshad, Director, Power & Energy Utilities Team at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD);
AAA Gold Award for Young Entrepreneur of the Year:
Rajeeb Dey, Founder and CEO, Enternships
AAA Platinum Award for Business Person of the Year:
Firoz Tejani, Chief Executive of the Lenlyn Group
AAA Platinum Award for Woman of the Year:
Farida Gibbs, CEO of GibbsS3, a globally certified, woman-owned business empire
AAA Platinum Award for Lifetime Achievement:
Hinduja Brothers, industrialists and philanthropists
Editor’s Award for Lawyer of the Year:
Mitesh Patel, Partner, Levenes Solicitors
Editor's Award for Philanthropist of the Year:
Anita Choudrie, Founder of Path to Success charity
Images & Source: Tony Gill/Canvas London
Feature Image: (L-R) Hinduja family members; Gopichand Hinduja; Cherie Blair CBE, QC; Lord Noon; Srichand Hinduja; guest; Kamlesh Patel
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