Indian-origin medics, professionals on King Charles III’s first Birthday Honours List

Over 40 Indian-origin medics, business leaders and community champions are among those on King Charles III’s first Birthday Honours List as the British monarch released by the U.K. government.

Over 40 Indian-origin medics, business leaders and community champions are among those on King Charles III’s first Birthday Honours List as the British monarch released by the U.K. government.

Dr Parvinder Kaur Aley, Director of Global Operations at the Oxford Vaccine Group, University of Oxford, has been honoured as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her services to vaccination during COVID-19.

Professor Prokar Dasgupta, Foundation Professor of Surgery, King’s Health Partners and Chair in Robotic Surgery and Urological Innovation at King’s College London has also been conferred with an OBE for services to surgery and science.

Among the British Indian business leaders honoured are Anuj Chande, Partner and Head of South Asia Business Group at Grant Thornton U.K. LLP, who receives an OBE for services to international trade and investment, and Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for Hina Solanki, founder of Sol Cosmedics for services to business and charity.

The list was released by the U.K. government in London on Friday night.

"This year's honours list is a testament to ordinary people who have demonstrated extraordinary community spirit, and I pay tribute to all those who have been recognised today," said Oliver Dowden, U.K. Deputy Prime Minister.

A total of 1,171 people have received an honour, of which 52% are people who have undertaken outstanding work in their communities either in a voluntary or paid capacity and 11% of the successful candidates come from an ethnic minority background.