Additional Solicitor General Amarjit Singh Chandhiok has been conferred with the prestigious 'Sikh of the Year 2010' Award for his outstanding achievement in his profession and for the betterment of society.
Britain's Secretary of State for the Home Department Theresa May presented the award instituted by the Sikh Forum International to Chandhiok last night at The Great Hall of Lincoln's Inn in the presence of an august gathering including Lord Swraj Paul, Lord Khalid Hameed and Sir Mota Singh QC.
The previous recipients included Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia.
Listing Chandhiok's achievements, the citation said "a significant dimension to Chandhiok's profile is his ability to find time for being a humanitarian. He takes special interest in environmental protection, and care of elders in the society. He has rendered immense help in organising blood donations, arranging special treatments for the lower strata of the society by providing means to run charitable clinics.
"... It is for these reasons that The Sikh Forum is pleased to present this award to Chandhiok for his outstanding achievement in his profession and for the betterment of society."
Accepting the award, Chandhiok said, "It is indeed a matter of pride, privilege and pleasure to address this august gathering. This occasion is very special, because, apart from the Annual day and Award of Sikh of the Year, it also marks the silver jubilee year of The Sikh Forum International."
He said Sikhs who constituted 26 million worldwide, played a very prominent role in business, governance and academics.
"Their presence is felt in every sphere of business and service, from pin to plane, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.
"Dr Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister of India, not only authored the economic reforms that have made India an economic power to reckon with, but also is very ably leading the country for a second term," he said.
He said Government of India has not only brought about great economic reforms but "reforms in law and justice delivery system as well."
Disposal rate has accelerated considerably, he said. "The present government has brought about judicial reforms and futuristic changes in law curriculum," he said.
Chandhiok dedicated the award to his wife and his mother-in-law.
S Ranjit Singh, Global President of the Forum, announced a 10,000 pounds donation from the Forum to the welfare of British soldiers wounded in Afghanistan and Iraq wars.
Theresa May lauded the "tremendous contributions made by Sikhs in the UK to the life and society - British business, art and sports."
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