London, Sep 19 (IANS/RAY) Persons of Pakistani-origin emerged as prominent winners at the 2014 Asian Achievers Awards in Britain Friday while Sir Tejinder Singh Virjee, a professor of physics at Imperial College, London, headed the list of Indian-origin recipients.
London-based ABPL Group, which publishes weeklies such as Gujarat Samachar in Gujarati and Asian Voice in English, presents the awards every year.
The lifetime achievement award went to Sir Anwar Pervez, founder of the successful cash and carry chain, Bestway Group. Pervez moved to Britain from Pakistan in 1956.
The recognition for media, arts & culture was accorded to the writer and filmmaker Hanif Kureishi. In 2008, the UK's Times daily had included him among "the 50 greatest British writers since 1945".
Kureishi's father is of Pakistani-origin and his mother is English. He was born in south London. His successful novels include My Beautiful Laundrette and Sammy and Rosie Get Laid. Both were made into films.
British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond was the chief guest at the dinner which presented the awards. The Indian High Commissioner Ranjan Mathai was also present on this occasion.
--IANS/RAY
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