The winners of the 14th annual Asian Achievers Awards were announced on September 19th at a star-studded gala event at the Grosvenor House Hotel, on London’s Park Lane. Winners included Hanif Kureshi CBE for Media, Arts and Culture; Mahmud Kamani, co-founder of boohoo.com for Business Person of the Year; and Wasim Khan MBE, the first British-Pakistani to play professional cricket in England, for Achievement in Community Service.
Picking up the Editor’s Award for Rising Star, was ground-breaking music producer, Naughty Boy, aka Shahid Khan, who shot to fame and critical acclaim last year with his hit single, ‘La La La’; and also the late Flight Lieutenant Rakesh Chauhan, whose parents collected the Editor’s Award for Bravery and Patriotism. Fl Lt Chauhan tragically lost his life in Afghanistan during a routine flight and was honoured for his service to his country.
Rakesh's father, 61-year old Kishor Chauhan, said: “It’s with great pride that I accept this award. It’s a very difficult thing to accept and I’m proud of Rakesh and what he achieved in his short life. That is why I agreed to accept this recognition.”
The young pilot died alongside fellow Intelligence Corps non-commissioned officer Lance Corporal Oliver Thomas, Captain Thomas Clarke, Warrant Officer Class 2 Spencer Faulkner and Corporal James Walters from the Army Air Corps. The funeral service for the 29-year old drew in more than 1000 mourners in Leicester, who lined the streets to pay their final respects.
Receiving the Editor's award Naughty Boy, aka Shahid Khan said: “To receive this level of recognition from my peers of fellow Asians is such a privilege. I’m proud of being a British Pakistani and I’m proud to represent the Asian community. I grew up immersed in Bollywood movies, where music, songs and extravagant dance sequences dominate, and that has really influenced the way I produce music today.
“Although I’ve worked hard, I’ve been so lucky to have such amazing support from my incredible family and friends. Making music is all I’ve ever wanted to do, and if I can do that while being a positive influence in my community, then that is just the icing on the cake for me.”
Shahid Khan was hand-selected by Founder and Chairman of The Asian Achievers Awards, CB Patel for his remarkable achievement in music. The self-made producer began his meteoric rise to fame in 2005 after he was awarded a grant of £5,000 from The Princes Trust. Later that year he also appeared on Channel 4’s hit game show Deal Or No Deal, presented by Noel Edmonds, winning £44,000, which enabled him to purchase equipment and begin recording music.
The 29-year-old has since worked with internationally acclaimed artistes like Emeli Sandé, Chipmunk, Tinie Tempah, Katy Perry and most recently with Zayn Malik of One Direction. He now runs his own production company, Naughty Boy Recordings, and his 2013 smash hit, ‘La La La’, featuring Sam Smith was a global summer sensation, with over 386 million views on YouTube, to date.
Chief Guest Rt Hon Phillip Hammond MP, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, said in his speech: “There is much to celebrate in the contribution of British Asians made to our national life - be it in sports, in culture, in academia, in public service and in community life. But perhaps most strikingly and most dramatically in business and the professions where the British Asian community hunches well above its weight and produces some outstanding successes… the PM has asked me specifically to add his congratulations to all of you.”
HE Ranjan Mathai, the Indian High Commissioner to the UK said, “Indians always say that it’s not just merit and hard work, in our culture, irrespective of your background you always acknowledge that there is a greater force that sometimes helps. So there is a famous quote by an American actor who said 'Men give awards and God gives rewards'. The achievements of the Indian community in this country have been recognised by the host society, which is why we are so honoured to have Foreign Secretary with us tonight...”
Mr. CB Patel, Publisher/Editor, ABPL Group says: “Our winners at this year’s Asian Achievers Awards have truly reached remarkable heights of success and achievement, and it gives me great pride to celebrate these incredible individuals, who are no doubt exceptional role models for the next generation.”
The Asian Achievers Awards celebrates individuals who have inspired communities and achieved outstanding accomplishments in their respective fields.
Since launching 14 years ago, The Asian Achievers Awards has helped raise millions of pounds for charity and this year, the chosen charity partner is the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women.
ASIAN ACHIEVERS AWARDS 2014 WINNERS
- Business Person Of The Year - Mahmud Kamani, Co-Founder boo.hoo.com
- Entrepreneur Of The Year - Dr. Richie Nanda, Executive Chairman, The Shield Group, the UK’s largest independent Total Security Solutions provider
- Sports Personality Of The Year - Dilawar Singh MBE, Sports Council for Glasgow Elected Director
- Uniformed And Civil Services - Nazir Afzal OBE, Chief Crown Prosecutor for the North West
- Media, Arts And Culture - Hanif Kureishi CBE, Playwright, screenwriter, filmmaker and novelist. In 2008, The Times included Kureishi in their list of "The 50 greatest British writers since 1945"
- Woman Of The Year - Priya Lakhani OBE, Ethnic food entrepreneur, founder of Masala Masala, an Indian stir-in sauce
- Achievement In Community Service - Wasim Gulzar Khan MBE, Chief Executive, The Cricket Foundation and CEO, Chance to Shine.
- Professional Of The Year - Prof Sir Tejinder Singh Virdee, FRS, Experimental physicist and Professor of Physics at Imperial College London and one of the 'founding fathers' of CMS
- Editor’s Award for Rising Star – Shahid Khan, aka Naughty Boy, Music producer, acclaimed for his global summertime hit single ‘La La La’, featuring Sam Smith and A-list collaborations
- Editor’s Award for Bravery & Patriotism – The Late Fl Lt Rakesh Chauhan, 29-year-old RAF Officer who died in Afghanistan when his helicopter (Lynx) crashed during a routine flight.
