Vikramjit Singh Sahney, Indian MP from Rajya Sabha (Upper House, Indian Parliament) was presented with the Sikh of the Year award by The Sikh Forum International at the Old Hall, Lincoln’s Inn on Monday 5 June, as they also celebrated the coronation of King Charles III.
Present as Chief Guest was, HE Vikram Doraiswami, the High Commissioner of India to the UK along with Sir Mark Rowley QPM, Commissioner of Met Police and Lord John Stevens.
Receiving the award, Mr Sahney said, “It is my proud privilege to have received this prestigious Sikh of the Year award for my humble contribution to the society, especially in the times of Covid and changing social political spectrum.
“I also take this opportunity to congratulate everyone on the coronation of King Charles III. As Prince Charles came to Amritsar, he visited the Golden Temple. I remember Prince Charles presided over a Saragarhi Polo Cup tournament in London in 2009. And he allowed for the first time all the Sikh polo players to wear turbans instead of mandatory helmets. The late Queen Elizabeth II went to only one holy place in India, when she visited in 1997 and that was Sri Darbar Sahib (or Golden Temple). The English nation has given due respect and recognition to 90,000 Sikh soldiers who martyred in two World Wars…
There are several Punjabi members in both House of Commons and Lords. Today all of them hosted a lunch, and I am also privileged to attend proceedings of the House of Lords…”
He congratulated Britain for its Indian-origin Prime Minister with roots in Punjab.
He also urged to put all Sikh artifacts, otherwise scattered across at different places, to be brought under one museum, with the help of the British government, so that people can admire them.
Applauding the work of Mr Sahney, the Indian High Commissioner, HE Vikram Doraiswami, said, “I am with you in recognising the work Vikramjit Singh Sahney’s has done, in the truest spirit of seva, in the highest conditions of a community that is known for its service and its capacity to be there at any and all time of need, wherever in the world.”
