On 17 October, the Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, announced the winners of the inaugural Dadabhai Naoroji Awards at a reception in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, bestowed by the British Government for services to UK-India relations, in presence of Indian External Minister Mrs Sushma Swaraj who also gave away the awards to the winners jointly with the DPM and Priti Patel MP.
The Awards were judged by ministers following nominations from the public in three categories: commerce, culture and education, and presented at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office reception for the British Indian diaspora attended by Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
Before making an appearance at the FCO reception, Deputy PM Clegg and Mrs Swaraj had a brief meeting, where they addressed issues that Mr Clegg touched upon during his visit to India, such as immigration- how to attract students from India, the ICT routes, tackling threats of terrorism etc. Mr Clegg also met the members of Indian press briefly before the reception, where he spoke about his india visit.
Hosted by the Coalition government jointly, the evening reception at the FCO's historic and majestic Durbar Court, started with a welcome speech by MP Priti Patel, Cameron's Indian diaspora Champion and Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury.
Indian Minister for External Affairs, Mrs Sushma Swaraj, addressing the gathered audience said, “I am most grateful to Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for inviting me to this reception. It is a testimony to the strength and success of overseas Indians in this country and the respect they enjoy by the British Government.
“I am pleased to know that the inaugural Dadabhai Naoroji awards to individuals with outstanding achievements in India-UK relations are being presented today. We regard Dadabhai Naoroji, the first British Asian in the UK Parliament, who also brought the first Indian business to the UK, as a founder of Indian nationalism during the colonial rule. Dadabhai strived for political reforms and justice for India. He informed the world of India's plight as a colony. He worked to educate the British about their responsibilities as rulers of India to secure fair treatment for the Indian people. Naming the awards after him is a tribute to Dadabhai...
“On behalf of the Government of India, I wish the Indian community continued success.”
Concluding with an impromptu speech in Hindi, pretty much like the inauguration ceremony in the morning, she urged the Indian diaspora to continue making their family back in India proud by setting example through their achievements and contributions in Britain, as they have done for so long. This comment was hugely embraced by the diaspora present in the audience, who almost immediately reacted with loud and patriotic slogans “bharat mata ki jai”, accompanied by resonating applauds.
Thereafter Deputy PM Nick Clegg announced the winners of the Dadabhai Naoroji award. The winners included: Madhav Sharma, for Culture, Dame Asha Khemka OBE, for Education and Rt Hon Patricia Hewitt, for Commerce.
Presenting the awards, the Deputy Prime Minister said: “It gives me great pleasure to present these awards to three outstanding individuals on behalf of the British Government. Patricia Hewitt, Asha Khemka and Madhav Sharma have worked tirelessly to strengthen the bond between the UK and India.
“As advocates of UK-India relations, their work continues in the same spirit as that of Dadabhai Naoroji, helping our two great nations work together to achieve fairness, mutual understanding and economic prosperity.
“The awards remind us that our relationship with India is one which we must continue to foster, and one from which both our nations have a great deal to gain.”
The awards were announced by the Deputy Prime Minister during his trade mission to New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore in August and are designed to celebrate individuals who have furthered bilateral relations in the fields of culture, commerce and education.
The new awards are dedicated to Dadabhai Naoroji, the first Asian Member of the British Parliament and the man who brought the first Indian business to the UK. The fact that the awards are in his name pays tribute to his commitment to the Indian people and his key role in historical events.
Over 80 nominations for the awards were received from members of the public. After a thorough shortlisting process, agreed by a Ministerial panel comprising David Laws, Hugo Swire, Lord Livingston, Greg Clarke and Ed Vaizey, the Deputy Prime Minister selected the winner for each category.
The awards trophies made of sandstone were designed by Andrew Vickers, a prominent stone sculptor from the north of England who creates abstract and figurative sculptures in a variety of stone. He took inspiration from the striking image of Dadabhai Naoroji in turban and glasses, whose figure he has set upon the stone block.
