Microsoft CEO Satyanarayan Nadella and Guyana President Donald Rabindernauth Ramaotar are among 15 prominent NRIs who will receive 'Pravasi Bhartiya Samman' award for their contribution in various fields on the concluding day of Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas convention tomorrow.
The awards will be presented by Vice-President Hamid Ansari at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar.
"The President is pleased to award 'Pravasi Bhartiya Samman' to Mala Mehta, President of Guyana Donald Rabindernauth Ramaotar, Dr Rajaram Sanjaya, Kanwaljit Singh Bakhshi, Rajmal Parakh, Duraikannu Karunakaran, Essop Goolam Pahad, Shah Bharatkumar Jayantilal, Ashraf Palarkunnummal, Mahendra Nanji Mehta, Professor Nathu Ram Puri, Satyanarayn Nadella, Dr Lulla Kamlesh and Dr Nandini Tandon," a release issued by the Ministry of External Affairs said.
Mala Mehta is getting the award for her contribution to Hindi language. She established an 'Indo- Australian Bal Bharatiya Vidyalaya' in Thornleigh suburb in Sydney and since then she has been pursuing the growth of Hindi in Australia.
Donald Rabindernauth Ramaotar has been awarded for his work for the Indian diaspora in Guyana.
Rajaram Sanjaya, an India-born Mexico scientist, is winner of the '2014 World Food Prize' for developing 480 wheat varieties that have been released in 51 countries.
Kanwaljit Singh Bakhshi is an MP from New Zealand and is also known for work he had done for the Indian diaspora.
Essop Goolam Pahad, a South African politician, was Minister in the Presidency from 1999 to September 2008 in South Africa.
Mahendra Nanji Mehta, a Uganda-based businessman of Indian roots, and professor Nathuram Poori of Purico Group are also chosen for their contribution to Indian diaspora.
Lord Raj Lumba, a philanthropist and founder of clothing company, Rinku Group and a Liberal Democrat member of the House of Lords has also been named for the honour.
Kamlesh Lulla, chief scientist for Earth observation in the Human Exploration Science Office at the Johnson Space Centre at NASA, has named for the award for his exceptional service to the space science.
Nandini Tandon has been given awards for her work in life sciences and Healthcare and IT in USA and India along with other emerging markets.
