In PHOTOS: 15 overseas INDIANS who made INDIA proud

President Pratibha Patil on Monday conferred the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awards to 14 eminent overseas Indians, including Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, and a Canada-based institution, for their outstanding contributions in enhancing India's image globally.

Bringing the curtains down on the 10th edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, President Patil said: "Overseas Indians, who number over 27 million, are symbols of India in their adopted countries. They have done extremely well in their chosen fields and have done us proud. We always look forward to meeting with them and learning from their rich experiences."

Image: President Pratibha Patil presenting the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

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P V Radhakrishna Pillai was rewarded for his yeomen service to Indians living in the Gulf, particularly in Bahrain. He has been the head of many social organisations in Bahrain and has been instrumental in raising the profile of Indians there. Pillai was also chairman of the Indian School of Bahrain for 6 years and used it to spread Indian culture, dance, and art there. 

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Professor Sachchidanand Sahai from Cambodia has written books that not only helped people in his country but also South East Asia understand India and its culture. He was advisor to the government of Cambodia for restoration of the great temple of Angkor Wat. His books tell people about how India is connected to Cambodia and to the other nearby South East Asian countries. He has written volumes on the Ramayana. 

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The Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce is the largest and oldest organisation of the Indian Diaspora in Canada. It has top businessmen and professionals among its members. It has helped build bridges between India and Canada for many years. 

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Deepak Naraindas Shivdasani, a Cote D'Ivoire-based businessman, advises the local government on many matters. During the civil war in Cote D'Ivoire he helped evacuate Indians there to safety. In times of disaster, he has always been in the forefront to protect Indians in Cote D'Ivoire.

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Dr Victor Shahed Smetacek, a renowned scientist from Germany, was awarded for his research on Marine life. He has been in the forefront of Indo-German joint research and has published many papers based on his research. 

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Sri Prakash Lohia from Indonesia was awarded for encouraging cooperation between Indonesia and India. He is a member of the chamber of commerce there and thus was instrumental in increasing business between the two countries. He has imported Indian culture, dance and drama to Indonesia. 

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Businessman Jose Parayanken from Mozambique has joint ventures with the Government of Mozambique in defence, infrastructure and logistics. An influential person in Mozambique, he has looked after the needs of the Indian community there.

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Kiran Navinchandra Aher from Oman has looking after the welfare of Indians in Oman. He has joint ventures with the government there for investments in India. He has promoted India-Oman cooperation. 

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Hassan Abdulkarim Chougule from Qatar runs two Indian schools in Qatar.

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Dr Khorshed Noshir Ginwala-Rustomjee from South Africa is a medical practitioner. Closely associated with the government there in health and social welfare, Dr Rustomji has a trust which runs schools and creches.

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Rajesh Kumar Saraiya went to Ukraine 20 years ago. Since then he has been promoting Indian culture there and has arranged for Indian troupes to perform dance and drama there regularly.

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Professor Surendra Kumar Kaushik from the United States has done incredible service to promote India. He has set up a trust to help the girl child pursue higher education in Rajasthan. He looks after the welfare of Indians abroad. 

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Dr Kalpalatha Kummamuri Guntupalli is the head of the department of critical care in a major hospital in the United States. She is the first women to head many public bodies of doctors there.

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S R Nathan, former President of Singapore, was unable to come to receive his award owing to health problems

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