London/Jaipur, July 3:
The prestigious Bharat Gaurav Awards ceremony was held at the historic House of Commons in the UK Parliament, echoing the spirit of Indian culture and patriotism as the Indian national anthem resonated through the British legislature. Organized by the Sanskriti Yuva Sanstha, the event honored 25 distinguished personalities from India and around the world for their outstanding contributions in various fields.
This annual award ceremony, initiated in 2012, witnessed participation from dignitaries representing countries such as India, the UK, the USA, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, Malaysia, Singapore, Dubai, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Poland, Hong Kong, Bangkok, and more.
Chief Guest Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma addressed the gathering virtually, highlighting the growing global influence of Indians. "It is a moment of great pride that those who once ruled over us are now honoring us in their own Parliament. Indians today are leading in every field and making a mark worldwide," he said.
UK Members of Parliament Navendu Mishra and five-time MP Virendra Sharma also addressed the audience, emphasizing the global prominence and achievements of the Indian diaspora.
Sanskriti Yuva Sanstha President Pt. Suresh Mishra, who chaired the event, expressed his commitment to preserving and promoting Indian identity and culture. "Holding this ceremony in the UK Parliament is a matter of immense pride. I urge the awardees to inspire youth and contribute to India’s development," he said.
Prominent awardees included:
Padma Shri & Padma Bhushan Javed Akhtar (Renowned lyricist and author).Padma Shri Gulabo Sapera (International folk artist).Padma Shri & Padma Bhushan Dr. Tejas Patel (Cardiologist).Manoj Muntashir (Poet and lyricist).Major Munish Chauhan (Indian-origin officer in the British Army).Mrs. Kiran Agarwal (Founder, Vedanta Group & WOKA).Sunil Khetpaliya (Chennai-based industrialist & philanthropist).Ranju Alex (VP, Marriott Hotels International Group).Varun Sheth (CEO & Co-founder, Ketto.org).Ajit Narayan (Head of Aviation Finance, Investec Bank, London).Dr. I Made Darmayasa (International spiritual leader, Indonesia)
Additionally, young prodigies Dheer and Vayu Parsaramka, who have set five world records, were honored with the International Super Talented Kids Award. guests and speakers included:House of Lords members Remy Ranger and Baroness Sandeep Verma, who praised the influence of Indian culture across the world and the deep bond shared with the Indian diaspora.
Former London Mayor Sunil Chopra and Rakesh Kumar Shukla, advisor to the Prayag Mahakumbh, also shared their insights.
The ceremony was coordinated by Sanskriti Yuva Sanstha’s UK Chapter Chair Pankaj Harsh, along with Gaurav Dhamani, Alok Sharma, Gajraj Singh, and former senior IPS officer Hariprasad Sharma. Soumya Mishra anchored the event, which began with a welcome address by Hariprasad Sharma.
The program concluded with renditions of both the Indian and British national anthems, marking a symbolic celebration of unity, heritage, and mutual respect.