Tarlochan Singh conferred with Sikh Lifetime Achievement Award

LONDON: Sardar Tarlochan Singh, the former Chairman of India's National Minorities Commission, has been conferred with Sikh Lifetime Achievement Award 2014 for his outstanding contribution to Sikhism and other walks of life.

Describing 81-year-old Singh as a "walking encyclopedia on Sikhim, sports, Indian politics and Punjab", the citation read out at the Sikh Awards 2014 at Westminster Park Plaza in here last night said: "He is an able Parliamentarian, a sports administrator par excellence, a well read columnist, a successful communicator and a proven administrator."

It said that Singh is the only Sikh to hold the post of the Chairman of National Minorities Commission.

Besides this he was also a member of the National Human Rights Commission, Population Commission and the Rajya Sabha.

In his acceptance speech, Tarlochan Singh said, "I feel honoured to receive the award as it is a positive step to promote Sikhism internationally. I cherish it all the more because the honour has come from my own community."

He wanted Navdeep Singh, founder of the Sikh Directory Ltd who instituted the Sikh Awards, to consider setting up a Sikh Research Centre or Sikh Information Centre in London.

Bhai Baldeep Singh, well known as the "Renaissance Man" of Punjab for rendering the vintage etiquettes of Gurbani Kirtan, won the Sikhs in Entertainment award while Malvinder Mohan Singh, Executive Chairman of Fortis Healthcare, was declared as the Sikhs in Business - Business Man.

Navtej Singh of India, one of the world's first Sikh Bodybuilders, won the Sikhs in Sports award.

Other award recipients were Sikh Helpline, UK, founded by Giani Sukha Singh (Sikhs in Charity), Gursharan Kaur Kandra (Canada), founder of the Canadian Intercultural Association of Students (Sikhs in Education), Sangat Television, UK (Sikhs in Media), Swaran Singh Gharial, Kenya (Sikhs in Seva), Pardeep Singh Bahra, UK (Sikh People's Choice), Amrit Singh, Global Head of South Asian Clients with EFG Bank AG, Singapore (Sikhs in Profession), Parminder Kaur, Netherlands (Sikhs in Business - Business Woman) and Sukhi Singh Ghuman, UK (Sikhs in Business - Entrepreneur).