The most senior Asian woman at West Midlands Police has been recognised for her services to diverse communities across the region. Harvi Khatkar, who received her accolade as part of International Women’s Day, has held a number of roles since joining the force in 1993. First as Neighbourhood Policing Officer and most recently as Superintendent.
Accepting her honour, Superintendent Khatkar said she was “absolutely thrilled” at her accolade and that it had come as “a huge surprise”. She added:“While I wholeheartedly accept this reward, I attribute this to my colleagues at West Midlands Police who collective dedication and commitment to making our region safer for us all is next to none. I am genuinely humbled.”
Also honoured was Her Majesty’s Vice Lord Lieutenant for the West Midlands, Dr Beverly Lindsay OBE OD DL. Born in Jamaica, Dr Lindsay came to British shores as a teenager. In 2011, she was awarded an OBE for her services to business and to the community in Birmingham. The honours have become an integral part of the annual Birmingham Thyagaraja Festival (BTF) organised each year by Shruthi UK, a Solihull-based South Asian arts & culture organisation.
The BTF is dedicated to Thyagaraja, one of the legendary composers of Indian and Carnatic classical music. Thyagaraja is also known as the singing saint who composed thousands of devotional hymns, most in praise of the Hindu God, Lord Rama, many of which remain popular today.
The Festival, which took place last Saturday (10th March) at Dorridge Village Hall, brought together people of all ages and from all faith, race and cultural backgrounds. The Chief Guest was Dr Paul Sabapathy CVO CBE, Her Majesty’s former Lord Lieutenant for the West Midlands. A charity raffle raised funds for the British Heart Foundation.
Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Anne Underwood, said: “I am proud to be part of such a vibrant and culturally City, and to be able to participate in events such as the wonderful Birmingham Thyagaraja Festival.” Participants had travelled from far and near distances including from Middlesbrough, Sweden and London.
