London, Jan 1 (PTI) Ajay Kumar Kakkar, a British educationist of Indian origin and a member of the House of Lords, has been awarded the ‘Knight Commander of the Order of the British Umpire’ (KBE). The KBE is the second highest honor in Britain’s annual New Year’s Honors list, released on Friday.
Kakkar, a professor of surgery at University College London, has been included in a list honoring nearly 50 Indian-origin professionals, entrepreneurs and philanthropists serving in various fields for healthcare and public service.
The services rendered during the COVID-19 pandemic were given the highest priority in the list. Several Olympians also managed to make it to the list, reflecting the influence of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on the main honors committee for these awards named after Queen Elizabeth II.
Johnson said, “These award recipients have inspired and entertained us and given so much to their communities in the UK and around the world. This honor for us, as a country, is a way of thanking him for his dedication and outstanding contribution.”
Kakkar’s KBE citation stated that Kakkar, an advocate of public health and clinical research, served on the Science and Technology Selection Committee and the NHS [राष्ट्रीय स्वास्थ्य सेवा] Served on a special committee on the future of
In the list of 1,278 individuals, 78 Olympic and Paralympic players are included, of whom swimming medalists Adam Peaty and Tom Daley were awarded the OBE.
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