Chicago, USA: The Vice-President of India chaired a committee that unanimously selected the recipients of the prestigious 2025 Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards (PBSA).
The Indian government has revealed the list of this year’s awardees for the PBSA, the highest accolade granted to overseas Indians for their exceptional achievements. Among the 27 honorees are three Indian-Americans: Sharad Lakhanpal, Sharmila Ford, and Ravi Kumar S.
These awards will be presented by the President of India during the valedictory session of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention, scheduled from January 8 to 10, 2025. The event, themed "Diaspora's Contribution to a Developed Bharat," highlights the role of the global Indian community in shaping a prosperous India.
Dr. Sharad Lakhanpal, a prominent rheumatologist based in Dallas, has been honored for his groundbreaking contributions to medical science. With decades of experience, he has participated in numerous clinical trials as an investigator and serves as a clinical professor of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center. A globally recognized speaker, Lakhanpal has also held the position of president at the American College of Rheumatology.
Sharmila Ford, a passionate advocate for Bengali culture and a key supporter of ISKCON, has been recognized for her remarkable community service. As the spouse of Alfred Ford, the great-grandson of Henry Ford, she has been instrumental in promoting Bengali heritage in the United States. Her work supporting ISKCON projects, such as the Chandrodaya Temple in Mayapur, underscores her dedication to fostering cultural and spiritual connections worldwide.
Ravi Kumar S., CEO of Cognizant, has been celebrated for his visionary leadership in the IT and consulting sectors. With a career that includes significant roles in global corporations like Infosys, Kumar continues to influence business strategy and innovation. He also serves on key boards, such as the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum, furthering ties between the two nations.
The list of other esteemed awardees includes Ajay Rane, Marialena Joan Fernandes, Philomena Ann Mohini Harris, Saraswati Vidya Niketan, Lekh Raj Juneja, Prem Kumar, Soukthavy Chowdhury, Krishna Savjani, Subramaniam K.V. Sathasivam, Sarita Boodhoo, Abhaya Kumar, Ram Niwas, Jaggannath Shekhar Asthana, Hindustani Samaj, Sudha Rani Gupta, Syed Anwar Khursheed, Atul Arvind Temurnikar, Robert Masih Nahar, Kaushik Laxmidas Ramaiya, Christine Carla Kangaloo ORTT, Ramakrishnan Sivaswamy Iyer, Bonthala Subbaiah Setty Ramesh Babu, and Baroness Usha Kumari Prashar.
