Asians on Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2022

The Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2022 has been released and 1,134 people across the UK have been recognised for their contributions to UK society.

This is the most ethnically diverse list to date, with 13.3% of recipients coming from a minority ethnic background. 1,002 candidates have been selected at BEM, MBE and OBE level.

The Queen’s Birthday Honours List has been brought forward to coincide with the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

Speaking about the Queen’s Birthday Honours List, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:

“This historic Platinum Jubilee is not only a celebration of the monarch but of the qualities she possesses.

“The honours she confers this week reflect many of those qualities that have been invaluable from all different walks of life and to communities across the UK.

“I pay tribute to all of this year’s winners. Their stories of courage and compassion are an inspiration to us all.”

As for the Asian contributions, the Queen’s Birthday Honours List honours the hard work and efforts by men and women with South Asian roots who have made a major impact on communities around the UK.

Author Sir Salman Rushdie has been awarded a Companion of Honour – of which there are only 65 recipients at any time – for his services to literature.

England cricketer Moeen Ali received an OBE and he said:

“It is obviously an honour and the more you think about it, the more you realise how nice it is and how rewarding it is.

“More than anything, I know it makes my parents happy and that’s the most important thing – one of the main reasons for accepting. It’s amazing and my family are really proud and happy.

“I think it’s more about the journey I’ve been on, my background, my upbringing and all that.

“Maybe the way I played a little bit and the way I go about my cricket, maybe that’s what people have liked or whatever.

“From the word go, as soon as I played for England, people labelled me as being a potential role model. It is a big responsibility because you don’t want to let people down.

“But then as time has gone on, you kind of accept it and deal with it a lot better.

“You kind of do inspire a lot of people, especially from the inner city.”

Of the total recipients, 673 undertook outstanding work in their communities. This included Badrun Nesa Pasha and Razia Tariq Hadait who both received MBEs.

British Asians who have been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2022 include:

Order of the Companions of Honour

  • Sir Salman Rushdie – Author. For literature.

Knighthoods

  • Rohinton Minoo Kalifa – Chair, Network International. For financial services, technology and public service.
  • Professor Aziz Sheikh OBE FRSE – Chair, Primary Care Research and Development, University of Edinburgh. For Covid-19 research and policy.

Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

  • Avnish Mitter Goyal – Chair, Care England. For social care and philanthropy.
  • Navin Fakirchand Shah – Lately London Assembly Member for Brent and Harrow. For political and public service.
  • Ramesh Kanji Vala OBE – Consultant, Ince Group plc. For the community and to the Covid-19 response.

Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

  • Shahina Ahmad – Principal, Eden Girls’ School, London Borough of Waltham Forest. For education.
  • Osman Ahmed – Senior Officer, National Crime Agency. For law enforcement.
  • Moeen Ali. For services to cricket.
  • Dr Raghib Ali – Consultant in Acute Medicine, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust and Senior Clinical Research Associate, Epidemiology, University of Cambridge. For services to the NHS and to the Covid-19 response.
  • Kishorkant Bhattessa (Vinu Bhattessa) Managing Director, Mandeville Hotel Group and Trustee, Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Temple. For charitable and voluntary services, particularly during Covid-19.
  • Dr Shamil Chandaria. For services to science and technology, finance and philanthropy.
  • Afia Choudhury –  Foster Carer, London Borough of Tower Hamlets. For services to children.
  • Jasbir Singh Dhesi – Principal and Chief Executive Officer, Cheshire College South and West. For services to education.
  • Dr Noha Elsakka – Consultant, Medical Microbiology and Virology and Service Clinical Director, NHS Grampian. For services to the NHS and the Covid-19 response.
  • Abdul Hai – Lately Cabinet Member for Young People, Equalities and Cohesion, London Borough of Camden. For services to young people and to the community in Camden and London.
  • Hifsa Haroon-Iqbal MBE – Regional Prevent Co-ordinator, Department for Education. For services to social cohesion.
  • Dr Azeem Ibrahim – Director, New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy. For services to the union, diversity and foreign policy.
  • Haroon Karim – Chair, Balham and Tooting Mosque and Trustee, World Memon Organisation. For services to philanthropy and to the community in South London and Pakistan.
  • Kamruddin Kothia – Chair of Trustees, Star Academies. For services to education.
  • Shivani Lakhani – Society Team Lead, Covid-19 Taskforce, Cabinet Office. For services to vulnerable communities during the Covid-19 response.
  • Sumeet Kaur Matharu – Chief Pharmacist, Defence Primary Healthcare, Ministry of Defence. For services to armed forces healthcare.
  • Mohammed Abdul Munim. For services to the British Bangladeshi catering industry.
  • Rohit Naik – Headteacher, Hope School, Liverpool. For services to education.
  • Vippen Paul Sagoo – Founder, Global Asian Awards. For services to the Asian community, and to diversity and inclusion.
  • Tariq Navid Shah – Philanthropist. For services to charity.
  • Professor Parveen Yaqoob – Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Reading. For services to higher education.
  • Dr Asim Yusuf – Consultant Psychiatrist and Islamic Scholar. For services to the Muslim community.
  • Dr Sabir Zazai FRSE – Chief Executive, Scottish Refugee Council. For services to refugees.

Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

  • Rozina Ahmed – Principal Policy Officer, Mayor of London’s Office. For services to equality, diversity and inclusion in education, culture and sport.
  • Dr Rizwan Yahya Ahmed – Consultant Respiratory Physician, Bolton NHS Foundation Trust. For services to public health during Covid-19.
  • Tariq Ali. For services to the community in Wolverhampton during Covid-19.
  • Mohammad Asad – Imam and Muslim Chaplain. For services to charitable fundraising and to the NHS during Covid-19.
  • Mohammed Sadiq Badat. For voluntary and charitable services in the community of Leicester and abroad.
  • Pranav Bhanot – Councillor, Chigwell Parish Council. For services to the community in Chigwell, Essex.
  • Dr Chila Kumari Singh Burman – Artist. For services to visual art, particularly during Covid-19.
  • Professor Indranil Chakravorty – Chair, British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, Institute for Health Research and Consultant Physician, St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. For services to the healthcare sector.
  • Ghazain Choudhry. For services to wheelchair basketball.
  • Dr Umakant Ramchandra Dave – Consultant Physician, Swansea Bay University Health Board. For service to the NHS.
  • Razia Tariq Hadait – Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Himaya Haven CIC. For services to the community in Birmingham.
  • Humera Haqqani – Managing Director, Let’s Talk. For services to business and to the community in Rochdale.
  • Safia Jama – Chief Executive Officer, Women’s Inclusive Team. For services to the voluntary and charitable sector.
  • Ameet Jogia – Councillor, London Borough of Harrow and Co-chair, Conservative Friends of India. For political and public service.
  • Dr Manojkumar Narottam Liladhar Joshi – Volunteer. For voluntary services to the community in Bradford during Covid-19.
  • Najma Khalid – Founder, Women’s CHAI Project and Lead Organiser, Parent Power Oldham. For services to the community in Oldham.
  • Zamir Khan – Community Volunteer. For services to the Blackburn Muslim Burial Society and to the community in Blackburn, Lancashire, particularly during Covid-19.
  • Sevcan Kudu – Diversity and Inclusion Lead, HMP and YOI Bedford. For services to prisoners and to refugees.
  • Barjinderpall Lall – Head of Skills, JGA Group, London. For services to apprenticeships and skills training.
  • Nitin Natwarlal Madhavji (Nick Madhavji) – Founder and Chief Executive, Joskos Solutions Ltd. For services to education, business and charity.
  • Sandeep Mahal – Lately Director, Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature. For services to literature, the arts and culture in Nottingham.
  • Kiritkumar Jamnadas Modi (Kirit Modi) – Honorary President, National Kidney Federation and the National Black Asian and Minority Ethnic Transplant Alliance. For services to organ donation particularly in ethnic minority communities.
  • Professor Srimathi Rajagopalan Murali – Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. For services to international doctors working in the NHS.
  • Professor Daljit Nagra – Chair, Royal Society of Literature. For services to literature.
  • Badrun Nesa Pasha – Co-founder, Bangladeshi Women’s Association. For services to the Bangladeshi community in the West Midlands.
  • Sharan Pasricha – Founder, Ennismore. For services to the hotel industry.
  • Kawan Deepakchandra Patel – Lately Deputy Director, Head of Social Contact, Cabinet Office and Covid-19 Directorate Lead, Home Office. For services to the Covid-19 response.
  • Bhawana Ramanbhai Patel – Human Resources Consultant, Defence Business Services, Ministry of Defence. For services to defence.
  • Bharat Patel. For services to the community in Greater London, particularly during Covid-19.
  • Dr Chithra Ramakrishnan – South Indian Classical Vocalist and Dancer, and Founder Director, British Carnatic Choir. For services to the promotion of South Indian classical music and dance.
  • Raja Suleman – RAZA Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Spice Village. For services to business and philanthropy, particularly during Covid-19.
  • Gurvinder Singh Sandher – Chief Executive Officer, Cohesion Plus. For services to the arts and to the community in Kent.
  • Harshad Purshottam Saujani – Community Safety Educator, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service. For services to fire safety.
  • Suman Raj Shrestha – Professional Lead, Royal College of Nursing and Nurse Consultant in Critical Care, Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust. For services to critical care nursing.
  • Sujitha Trowsdale – Senior Officer, National Crime Agency. For services to law enforcement.
  • Anwar Uddin – Fans For Diversity Campaign Manager, The Football Supporters’ Association. For services to association football.
  • Sanjaykumar Jayantilal Vadera – Chief Executive Officer, The Fragrance Shop and Per-Scent. For services to international trade.
  • Dr Nikita Kirit Ved – Research Fellow and Lecturer in Medicine, University of Oxford. For services to the Covid-19 response.
  • Ameeta Virk – Markets Leader, Department for International Trade. For services to the economy.
  • Rukhsana Yaqoob – Education Consultant. For services to education.

DESIblitz congratulates all of the honoraries on the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2022!