Best wishes to all the nominees of Sikh Awards in UK : SikhsIndia

Sikhs in Business

BUSINESS MAN - MR HARDEEP SINGH BEDI VSM - INDIA Hardeep Singh served in the Indian army for over 22 years, before he took a voluntary retirement and started his own company at the age of 42. Under his leadership, Tulip Telecom has established itself as one of the leaders in the enterprise data services market, with a network spreading across 2000 cities it has most of the Fortune 500 companies in India as its customers. With 3800 employees and an annual turnover of $600m, Tulip has received numerous national and international awards. Hardeep Singh is a well-known philanthropist was recently awarded the Vishist Seva Medal (VSM) by the President of India for his role in the computerisation of the Indian army. BUSINESS MAN - MR JINDY SINGH KHERA - UNITED KINGDOM Jindy Singh is the Co-founder and Managing Director of KTC Edibles Ltd. Set up in 1973, KTC is one of Britain’s largest manufacturers and distributor of oils and fats with a turnover in excess of £220m. Operating from Wednesbury and Liverpool, they now offer their customers over 1,000 different products. Jindy has previously been a board member of Birmingham and Solihull Learning Skills Council, Chairman of Walsall Primary Care Trust and Chairman of the Institute Of Asian Businesses for over 2 years. He is currently a trustee of Sangat TV and a Fundraiser for CLIC Sargent where he ran the London Marathon in 2012 and raised in excess of £35,000. BUSINESS MAN - MR RAJINDER SINGH BARYAN - KENYA Rajinder Singh is a respected businessman and philanthropist. He is the Co-founder and Managing Director of Multiple Hauliers (East Africa) Ltd, which is the flagship of the ‘Multiple Group of Companies’. The Group has an annual turnover of over $200m, employs 3000 individuals and operates a fleet of over 1,300 trucks. Multiple Hauliers are market leaders in the Transport Industry. Rajinder also assembles and distributes renowned franchises like RANDON Trailers and VW Trucks and Buses, imports petroleum products, owns a Construction Company, operates Inland Container and Warehousing Terminals, Clearing and Forwarding, Plastics and Polypropylene Industries and has recently invested in a Port Facility which will be East Africa’s largest private infrastructure development this decade. BUSINESS WOMAN - MRS ARINDER KAUR BHULLAR - UNITED KINGDOM Arinder moved from a career in legal publishing to set up her own business providing exquisite, bespoke and tailored outfits for all occasions. After a decade of continual hard work, dedication and innovation within the Asian fashion scene, Arinder Bhullar was presented the Best Wedding Designer Award in 2010 at the International Asian Fashion Awards for her unique contribution to the industry. She is an active committee member of Action for Children’s Charity, for which she has participated in several fund raising projects.  Recently she became a committee member for LOROS a local hospice. BUSINESS WOMAN - MRS GURJIT KAUR CHAHAL - UNITED KINGDOM In 2003 Gurjit Kaur set up Charles & Co Solicitors. The firm has steadily grown over the years and now has four Partners to add to her ever growing team. Gurjit was the first Sikh female lawyer to appear live on radio and television to raise awareness of family law issues in the UK. Giving to the community is very important to Gurjit and she will regularly undertake work for distressed members of the Asian community which includes spending time at community advice centres and undertaking international child abduction cases as well as publishing regular articles in newspaper publications. BUSINESS WOMAN - MRS SUKHINDER SINGH - UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Sukhinder began her career in investment banking, media and online services while working at Merrill Lynch, British Sky Broadcasting and Amazon. She started her first company Yodlee Inc in 1999, based in Silicon Valley she was the Co-founder and Vice President of business development, Yodlee is a leading software provider. Sukhinder then served as President of Asia Pacific and Latin America at Google for over six years. More recently she was Chief Executive Officer of Polyvore.com, a leading fashion community website. With the wealth of experience behind her she is now the Founder and Chairman of Joyus.com, the first premium online video shopping destination. ENTREPRENEUR - MR ASH SINGH - SINGAPORE Ash is one of Asia's up and coming serial entrepreneurs. While a student at the Chinese University in Hong Kong, he conceived and launched Social Network Business Systems, a business network development company which was he acquired when he was just 22 years old. His entrepreneurial escapades have led to him receiving several awards including being named one of Asia’s Top Young Entrepreneurs in 2009 by Business Week. In his free time, Ash promotes his favourite hobby, ‘Turbans’.  His mobile application Turbanizer is on track for one million downloads this year. He is also the creator of Sikhiwiki the largest online repository of Sikh information. ENTREPRENEUR - MR SUNEET SINGH TULI - INDIA Suneet is the founder and CEO of DataWind Ltd, he has 22 years of experience as a serial entrepreneur having previously launched two successful companies that conducted Initial Public Offerings on the Nasdaq stock market. Suneet has patented many technologies which were created to develop scanning, printing and imaging products that have set world records in both price and performance, these ventures have received numerous awards and accolades, including recognition by the Guinness Book of Records. DataWind has received awards from CNBC TV 18, Mercedes Benz, The Young Turks Innovation Award and earlier this year DataWind was awarded the UK’s Most Innovative Mobile Company for 2012. ENTREPRENEUR - MR TEJPAL SINGH JHEETA - UNITED KINGDOM Tejpal started his career in India as a trainee pilot. He immigrated to London in 1996 and soon after gained a merit in post-graduation from the Central School of Fashion. He went on to perfecting the art and craft of cutting, fitting and making ladies and men's hand-made garments. In 2008 he launched his own label 'Paul Jheeta', he is the first and youngest Sikh designer and master tailor at Savile Row. Tejpal has an in-exhaustive list of clients from mega industrialists, cricketers to Bollywood stars like Siddhartha Mallya, GMR Group, the Mittals, Sachin Tendulkar, Farhan Akhtar to name but a few.

Sikhs in Charity

MR HARPAL SINGH KUMAR - CANCER RESEARCH UK - UNITED KINGDOM Harpal Singh studied chemical engineering at Cambridge and an MBA at Harvard, he worked in scientific research and management consultancy, before taking on a number of CEO roles in both the commercial and charity sectors. Harpal managed the ‘Cancer Research Trust’ where he was responsible for discovering new cancer drugs. Today he is Chief Executive Officer of Cancer Research UK, the world’s leading cancer research charity. He is responsible for a £500m annual budget and for driving the strategy that ensures survival rates improve for every type of cancer. He advises senior ministers on cancer and tobacco control and is a regular media spokesperson. MRS SUKHVEER KAUR - HIMMAT SUPPORT GROUP - MALAYSIA The Himmat Support Group was formed in 2008 while Sukhveer Kaur was recuperating from surgery, a cancer survivor herself. The organisation provides emotional support, counselling, hospital visits, educating carers and patients. She does a lot of outreach work with cancer patients and their families, accompanying patients to hospital appointments and visiting patients at home. She is a full time volunteer with various NGO's such as the National Cancer Society of Malaysia, Mitta For Life, The Women’s Centre For Change and The Lighthouse Group. She has helped organise many successful medical camps and talks. The charity received the International Hero of Hope award from the American Cancer Society. MS TRISHNA SINGH - SIKH SANJOG - UNITED KINGDOM Born and raised in Glasgow in 1989 Trishna Singh and a group of other women came together and founded the charity Sikh Sanjog. This organisation was primarily setup to promote the needs of Sikh women while remaining within the boundaries of the culture of the community; it empowers women to assume their own identity in life. Sikh Sanjog has helped countless Sikh women to move on from the confines of their homes where they felt they were isolated and disempowered. In 2004 Trishna was given the opportunity to do a degree in Community Learning and Development at Glasgow University and she graduated in 2007.

Sikhs in Education

DR JAGIR SINGH - INDIA Dr Jagir Singh is a rare combination of teacher, researcher and kirtankar. He has served as a lecturer at The Guru Gobind Singh College in Chandigarh, he was a professor and chairman of the Gurmat Sangeet Department at The Punjabi University in Patiala and as Deputy Director of The Punjab School Education Board, he introduced the subject of Gurmat Sangeet at senior secondary level. He has spread his knowledge of Kirtan and Gurbani through his well-known magazine called ‘Amrit Kirtan’. Jagir Singh’s academic research and practical achievements in the world of music are well known and among contemporary professionals, he is seen as an academician of exclusive eminence. MR HARINDER SINGH - UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Harinder Singh traded his roots as an Aerospace engineer in 1997 to embark on community building via education. He has been globe-trotting to ignite the revival of Sikh spirit as inspired by the Infinite Wisdom of the Sikh Gurus. Spearheading the revival worldwide are two organizations co-founded by him. Sikh Research Institute has trained over 300,000 Sikhs to revitalise Sikh values and build institutions to continue the Sikh revolution. Panjab Digital Library is preserving the rich culture through the digitization of 6.5 million pages, making it the world's largest repository of Sikh and Panjabi heritage. An educator and an activist, he is leveraging the original freshness of Sikhi as a fulcrum for social change. PROFESSOR KIRPAL SINGH KAZAK - INDIA Kirpal Singh is a professor of Folklore and Punjabi studies at the Punjabi University in Patiala, India. His journey to this point is an emotional one. He was disowned by his parents, lived as a nomad, struggled in life and did not complete school. He found comfort among the tribes of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. During this period Kirpal wrote about his experiences and was a known name among Punjabi literary circles. When he returned to his hometown in the early 80s, he was an established man within the education arena. It is said, whatever roles he may don, all those who know Kirpal unanimously agree that he is a ‘fine example of a human being’.

Sikhs in Entertainment

MR GURPREET SINGH - INDIA Gurpreet played the lead role of Sardar Baghel Singh in first feature film on Sikh History ‘Baba Deep Singh Ji’. He has since starred in various movies and soaps with leading roles like great general Baba Banda Singh Bahadur and Sardar Jassa Singh Ramgariah. When not filming he worked for IBN 7, MH 1 and India News as a journalist. On the channel Zee Punjabi he hosted the series ‘Ek Onkar’ and later became head of the religious programs division. Currently Gurpreet is the Managing Editor at the channel 7 Sea and hosts programmes such as ‘Eknoor’, ‘Daso Leader Ji’ and Prime 7 Talk. MRS MANPREET SINGH - AUSTRALIA Manpreet migrated to Australia in 1991 and has been working with the Special Broadcasting Service since 1993. She broadcasts nationally across Australia, and maintains a significant presence on television, radio, print and on many websites. Her radio broadcasts are becoming the front-runner in setting the agenda for most mainstream media in Australia, India and the rest of the world. She was recently recognised by the state government of Victoria with the award for Excellence in Media. She was a finalist at the UN Media Peace Awards on four separate occasions. Manpreet was one of the torch–bearers for the Queen’s Baton Relay at the XIX Commonwealth Games. MS BALJEET KAUR JOHAL Baljeet is a well-known television personality and model living in Amritsar, India. She has presented a variety of shows and recently covered The Commonwealth Games, The World Cup 2012 and The Gali Cricket. She has hosted more than 100 shows of the series Pindan Vichon Pind on the channel Zee Punjabi. Baljeet, throughout her career has received several awards including The National Sports Award, Hind Sangram Parishad Award, Rotary Club Award and the Big Punjabi Rising Female Star Anchor Award. In her spare time she volunteers and holds classes for young children to learn Punjabi.

Sikhs in Media

MR GURUKA SINGH - UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Guruka Singh is the original founder of SikhNet. He is co-founder of the computer consulting firm Sun & Son. He served as Senior Producer at a major entertainment software company and now serves as President and C.E.O of SikhNet. Guruka Singh is a teacher, writer and inveterate punster. His love of poetry and Gurbani has led him to translate Yogi Bhajan's Gurmukhi poems in several publications like Furmaan Khalsa, The Game of Love, Heros, Saints & Yogis and the Path of Sikh Dharma. His writings and videos are a source of inspiration to the Sikh community throughout the world. MR SIRMUKH SINGH MANKU - UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Sirmukh is a well-known journalist who covers major events throughout America on television channels such as Jus Punjabi and TV Asia and newspapers like India Times and India Abroad. He worked on Prime Minister Manmohan Singhs visit to The White House, Pope Benedict’s visit to Washington, the Vaisakhi Celebrations at the Maryland Governor’s House and many Interfaith Conferences at The Washington Cathedral. Sirmukh Singh is the first Sikh to receive an official White House media pass. Sirmukh is known for his selfless voluntary service which he does for the local community by designing and consulting with the local places of worship. MR TEJINDER SINGH SODHI - PAKISTAN Tejinder is one of the youngest and the only Sikh accredited journalists in Kashmir, Pakistan. He has worked with a number of prestigious national newspapers like The Hindustan Times, The Tribune and Press Trust of India. He was awarded the prestigious Ford Foundation International Fellowship and is currently at the University of Kansas, he is the only Sikh to achieve such a feat in India. Tejinder has also set up a website gurbani.info which has a daily live broadcast from the Golden Temple in Amritsar. This website reaches out to Sikh’s throughout the world.

Sikhs in Profession

MR GURMANT SINGH GREWAL - CANADA Gumant was elected an MP within six years of immigrating to Canada and was the first minority to serve as Deputy House Leader, Foreign Affairs Shadow Minister and Chair of a Joint Committee of both Houses. He has raised many issues including the right to wear a Turban rather than a hardhat and the recognition of Sikh 5 K’s. He organises the annual Vaisakhi celebration in Parliament and all political leader’s visits to Amritsar. He has delivered more speeches than any other MP and presented over 50 Bills in Parliament. The Prime Minister of Canada called Gurmant “the Ironman of the Canadian Parliament”. He was awarded Queens Golden Jubilee Medal. MR SIMMARPAL SINGH BHURJEE - ARGENTINA Simmarpal Singh is an Agricultural Sciences graduate from Amritsar, India. He joined Olam in 2001 where he got to work in multiple geographies of Africa. In 2005 he was mandated to startup the operations in Argentina. He was first Indian most Argentines ever met. He pioneered and spearheaded the business to grow from 29th position to 6th in the global peanut industry. Today, Simmarpal is the better known as ‘The Peanut Prince’ and is now the Country Head for the Argentina Operations of Olam International. The Argentine Government recently awarded him with a Certificate of Gratitude for his contribution to the local economy. MS JAGDEEP KAUR RAI - UNITED KINGDOM Jagdeep has worked for Barclays since 1995 having joined its graduate management training programme. Since then, she has undertaken a number of wide ranging roles including strategic, client facing and leadership positions within the Retail and Corporate environment. Jagdeep is currently a Director, responsible for the Corporate Banking division of Barclays which looks after businesses operating with a turnover of over £5m in the Heathrow and Slough area. She was previously the 2011 winner of the Asian Who’s Who Leadership in Diversity Award, and a shortlisted candidate in the business category for the 2012 Asian Women of Achievement Awards.

Sikhs in Seva

MR BAWA SINGH JAGDEV - AUSTRALIA In 1975 he established the first ever Gurudwara and then two Punjabi schools in Sydney. In 1998 he was responsible for the amendment to the Weapon’s Bill so that Sikhs could legally wear their Kirpan. Bawa Singh established the Sikh Council of Australia, this organisation got Sikhs in Australia recognised as a denomination. He setup a Senate Committee which received fair compensation for the Sikh farmers in Woolgoolga. Recently he started a help line for women victims of domestic violence. Bawa Singh has been awarded the Lifetime Community Services Award from NSW Government, Australian Sikh of the year and the “Order of Australia” award for his services to the community. MR BHUPINDER SINGH KOHLI - INDIA Bhupinder Singh lives in Mumbai and works for the State Bank of India in Belapur. He participated in relief efforts during the Gujarat Earthquake 2000, the Tsunami and Mumbai floods in 2005, and the Surat floods in 2006. He helped the victims of the 2011 Mumbai train blasts and Mumbai terror attacks by taking them to hospital in his own private car which he converted into an ambulance once he noticed officials were struggling with the numbers needing medical attention. He ensures that his private car is always available for the free emergency ferrying of "patients" to and from hospital. He is a member of numerous charitable causes and organisations. MR SURENDER SINGH KHANDHARI - UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Surender Singh was the youngest President of the Automobile Association of Andhra Pradesh and the youngest Captain of the Emirates Golf Club in Dubai. He is now the Chairman of Al Dobowi Group, one of the largest tyre distribution companies in the world. Contributing a total of 65million Arab Emirate Dirhams he has helped to build the first legal Gurudwara in the United Arab Emirates. Built on land donated by the ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the structure is over 100,000sq foot and has served over 40,000 worshippers in a single day. The Gurudwara had its opening ceremony in 2012 and many VIP’s attended.

Sikhs in Sports

MR PARANVEER SINGH SETHI - UNITED KINGDOM Paranveer is extremely passionate about football and has been always praised on his skills when playing football at county level, at the David Beckham Academy and semi- professional. His skills and passion have been recognised allowing him to represent clubs such as West Ham, Leyton Orient and Watford. Aged 18 he made his debut for a non-league first team who appeared in the FA cup. Paranveer was shortlisted to carry the Olympic torch to represent the East London Area for his achievements. He continues to work hard and progress with determination, dedication and commitment to achieve ambitions of becoming a professional footballer. MS AMRIT KAUR BHINDER - UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Amrit has been fencing for eleven years.  Her father, Ranjit Singh is her coach and has also coached her two sisters. She has competed on a collegiate, national and international level. Some of her most notable accomplishments are when she came 5th in the 2008 Cadet World Cup Bonn in Germany, she came 2nd in the Division 1 National Championships 2009, 1st in Division 1 Team at the National Championships in 2009, NCAA All-America 2011 and 2012, All-Ivy 2010, 2011 and 2012. She is also currently Captain of University of Pennsylvania’s varsity fencing team.