THE BENGAL'S PRIDE AWARDS HONOUR GLOBAL BENGALIS AT HOUSE OF COMMONS

Rupanjana Dutta Thursday 07th June 2018 01:58 EDT
 
 

The Churchill Room in the House of Commons buzzed with excitement as renowned faces from the Bengali community gathered to attend the first ever Bengal's Pride Awards on the evening of Thursday 6 June. Hosted by the Asian Business Publications Limited, publisher of the Asian Voice newsweeklies, these annual awards aim to recognise global Bengalis and Bangladeshis for their work in different walks of life. 

Recipients at this inaugural awards included Noble laureate Dr. Amartya Sen, who was conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award, while the newly appointed counter-terrorism chief of Scotland Yard, Mr. Neil Basu, won an award for his Contribution to Public Services. 

Not just Bengalis, winners on the night also included key personalities who work closely with the community, especially in the UK, West Bengal and Bangladesh. The initiative has been supported by Hippo Cabs, UK’s first branded disability transportation services. Mr. Prabir Chattopadhyay of Little Kolkata, founder of a pop up venture and upcoming Bengali restaurant in London's Covent Garden won the Young Entrepreneur of The Year award, while Mr. Enam Ali MBE, the Bangladesh born British businessman won the Bengal’s Pride Award. NSHM Knowledge Campus has been honoured as the Educational Institution of The Year and SME of the Year has been conferred to Ms. Mohua Banerjee of Shree Ganesh Paper Mill, Naihati.

Dr. Pronnoy Roy of NDTV won the Media Person of the Year award. Ms. Sahana Bajpaie, enthralling audience with her singing and honeyed rendition of Tagore songs and folk music, was honoured in the field of Contribution to Art & Culture. Dr. Prathap Reddy won the award for his commendable contributions in Health & Social Care and Nova IVI Fertility Clinic received the IVF Clinic Of The Year award. 

Prime Minister Theresa May, in her exclusive message to the winners said, “It is important to recognise the achievements of the Bengali community, and honour those who are key role models in business, politics, public services, art, philanthropy and across many other sectors. The Bengali community should be proud of what they have achieved over the years. The breadth of the awards being celebrated today is a testament to the positive impact the group has had, both here in the UK and across the world.” 

Mr. CB Patel, Publisher/Editor of Asian Voice, mentioning Bengali contribution to the NHS added, “The UK is home to Bengalis from both India and Bangladesh, and although the latter forms a larger community, both have many customs and traditions in common, coming as they do from the same ancestry. The Bengali community in the UK can harness the commonalities for the greater good of the UK economically and culturally. 

“The Bengal's Pride Awards is our humble acknowledgement of the lofty accomplishments of the Bengali community and I do hope that it will scale greater heights in the years to come."

Chief Guest for the evening, Sir Malcolm Grant CBE, the Chairman NHS England told the audience, “We have over 40,000 physicians of Indian-origin working in the NHS. Our hospitals, primary cares would collapse without the participation of this extraordinary community. I pay tribute this evening to the immense strength of the NHS based on the support from this community.”

Mr. Samit Kumar Biswas, Director and CEO, Advatech Healthcare Europe Ltd said, “I strongly believe in giving back to the society and this awards is our humble way of doing so. Through this awards, we would also like to pay tribute to the extreme passion of Bengalis towards their diverse profession.” 

Sir David Amess MP, hosting the evening told the audience, "On 9th of June, I would have been in this Parliament for 35 years. This is the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the Bengali diaspora in the UK as well as the Bengali community in India and Bangladesh...From a rich history and countless achievements in various fields Bengalis have a lot to be proud of. We always show huge gratitude to the tremendous contribution made by young Bengalis who travelled here to help rebuild this country following the Second World War...

"The Bengali community now is one of the most prominent cultural groups in the world."

The Bengal’s Pride Awards will be televised on Zee Tv’s flagship community show OUT & ABOUT this weekend. Saturday 16th June @6:30 pm and repeated on Sunday 17th @ 9:30am.


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