8 months ago
Indian-origin professionals honored in UK New Year Honours
This year, many Indian-origin professionals in the UK were honored by King Charles III for their hard work and contributions to society.
These honors are given every year to recognize people who have done great things in their communities and fields.
Some of the honorees include Meera Syal and Meena Upadhyaya, who received the highest honor, called a Damehood.
Others, like Dhruv Patel and Gurpreet Singh Jagpal, were honored for their work in civic leadership, entrepreneurship, and education.
These honors are a way to say thank you to people who have made a big difference in the lives of others.
Around 30 Indian-origin professionals were honored in the 2025 New Year Honours list.
Meera Syal and Meena Upadhyaya received Damehoods for their contributions to literature, drama, charity, and community cohesion.
Dhruv Patel and Gurpreet Singh Jagpal were honored for their services to civic leadership, charity, and entrepreneurship education.
Other honorees include Rukshana Kapasi, Paavan Popat, and Narinder Kaur Shergill, recognized for their work in healthcare, housing, and justice administration.
Sports stars and artists like Isa Guha and Mani Kohli were also honored for their contributions to inclusivity, cricket, and fashion.
- Who
- Indian-origin professionals in the UK
- What
- Received New Year Honours from King Charles III
- Where
- United Kingdom
- When
- 2025
- Why
- For their achievements and service in various fields
Key facts
- Honor Type
- New Year Honours
- Year
- 2025
- Number of Indian-origin Honorees
- Around 30
- Notable Honorees
- Meera Syal, Meena Upadhyaya, Dhruv Patel, Neeta Avnash Kaur Atkar, Rupesh Mohan Mehta, Gurpreet Singh Jagpal, Rukshana Kapasi, Paavan Popat, Narinder Kaur Shergill, Harjinder Singh Lallie, Isa Guha, Mani Kohli, Avtar Singh Matharu, Ritan Ashvinkumar Mehta, Ranu Mehta-Radia, Balbir Singh
- King
- King Charles III
- Country
- United Kingdom
Quotes
Dhruv Patel
Founder and director of City Hindus Network, honored with a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to civic leadership and charity.
“I’ve always believed that being proud of where you come from only strengthens what you can give back, and that humility matters most precisely when responsibility grows.”
thehansindia.com
“Honours are never destinations: they are reminders of responsibility. If they mean anything at all, it’s that we must keep showing up, keep building bridges, and keep creating space for others to thrive alongside us.”
thehansindia.com
Professor Gurpreet Singh Jagpal
Chief Commercial Officer at Aston University in Birmingham, awarded an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to enterprise, entrepreneurship education and policy.
“As a British Sikh, I hope this honour encourages others from every background and community to pursue their aspirations with confidence.”
thehansindia.com
“Enterprise and entrepreneurship can open doors and transform lives. I remain committed to building partnerships that drive innovation, widen participation and create meaningful real-world impact.”
thehansindia.com
Mani Kohli
Fashion designer, awarded an MBE for services to fashion.
“This recognition is a tribute to my parents, who instilled Sikh values within me as I grew up in an army household.”
thehansindia.com
“The teachings of our gurus, of being disciplined and grounded, laid the foundations for me to pursue this career with determination. My pledge to my work has always been to benefit the people who join us in support.”
thehansindia.com
Dr Harjinder Singh Lallie
Recipient of an OBE for services to musical heritage, faith communities and integration.
“I have never seen my academic work and my community work as separate. In both spaces, teaching is about enriching lives, creating opportunities, and helping people develop beyond the classroom.”
thehansindia.com
