Queen’s New Year Honour List Has 15 Indo-Brits

LONDON – Fifteen Indianoriginmen and women, includingprominent educationist AshaKhemka, have been named inQueen Elizabeth’s New Year’sHonours List for 2014.Khemka has been named aDame Commander of the Orderof the British Empire (DBE) forher service to the deprived areasof the West Midlands as principalof West NottinghamshireCollege for the last eight years.“Under her leadership, it hasbecome one of the most eminentfurther education colleges in theUK. She has embraced the apprenticeshipagenda, leading thecollege to become the largest 16-18 provider in the UK and findingjobs for 700 young people inthe first year,” read a special citationaccompanying the higherawards in this year’s list. A totalof 1,195 candidates have beenselected for honours this year,with 610 successful women candidatesrepresenting 51% of thetotal. Actresses Angela Lansburyand Penelope Keith becomedames in a list which featuresmore women than men for thefirst time in history.However, Wimbledon championAndy Murray and formerEngland soccer captain DavidBeckham were two surprisingomissions from the list. Theduo, who both have Order ofthe British Empire (OBE), weretipped to be knighted.Murray, 26, became the firstBriton in 77 years to win theWimbledon men’s singles title inthe summer, while Beckham, 38,retired from football in May aftera 20-year career.In line with the overall themethis year, women are well representedamong the Asian set toowith OBE for Gill Harjagbir Bal,headteacher of Wembley HighTechnology College in London,for services to education, andentrepreneur Priya Lakhani forservices to business, communityand voluntary initiatives.Others on the OBE list includepharmacist Ashok Sonifor services to community pharmacyand the NHS, and ShahedAhmed Battiwala, head teacherat Elmhurst Primary School inNewham, London, for servicesto education.