Sunday ET: Overseas Indians who are set to shine even more in 2013

From international space stations to hotels in Alaska, people of Indian origin have made an impact in the unlikeliest of places. We tracked down those you are likely to hear more about in 2013:



1) Shalini Vadhera Celebrity make-up artist and cosmetics entrepreneur

Vadhera started as a make-up artist for famous Hollywood stars such as Brooke Burke, Cybill Shepherd etc. She later founded the $21-million cosmetics firm Global Goddess Beauty. Author of the bestseller, Passport to Beauty, she has also served as a consultant to Fortune 500 brands such as Olay and Revlon.

2) Harjit Singh Sajjan The first Sikh to command a regiment in Canada

He joined the British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught’s Own) as a trooper in 1989 and took command in September 2011. Born in Punjab, he moved to Canada when he was five. Before joining the army, Sajjan was an officer with the Vancouver police department.

3) David Batra Popular Swedish stand-up comedian and TV actor

Batra was born in Sweden to an Indian father and Swedish mother. He began dabbling in stand-up comedy in 1994 and has played a leading role in a series on national TV. He has done numerous shows in in countries such as Denmark, Finland, Norway, Russia, Spain and the US. Has a masters in marketing.

4) Pratima Dharm US Army captain and first Hindu chaplain

Delhi-born Dharm immigrated to the US just months before the 9/11 terrorist attack. Last year, she was named a chaplain by Pentagon and serves on the medical staff at the Walter Reed Medical Centre in Washington DC. Dharm spends a lot of time reaching out across faiths. She started active duty in 2006.

5) Nat Puri Hotshot entrepreneur in the UK

With a net worth of £130 million, Puri is Nottingham’s richest man. He arrived in the UK in 1966 with nothing but a degree in maths. Today his company Purico Group is one of the most diverse and successful private enterprises in Britain with interests in sectors as diverse as polymers and hospitality. Purico employs 3,000 people globally.

6) Akshay Venkatesh Ace mathematician

The Indian Australian is credited with cutting-edge research in number theory. He is the only Australian to have won medals at both the International Physics Olympiad and International Mathematics Olympiad when he was all of 12. The MIT alumnus is a professor at Stanford University, US.

7) Tejpal Jheeta Master bespoke tailor at Savile Row

Jheeta is master bespoke tailor at Savile Row, the world famous street in central London, and boasts his own label. He trained as a pilot in India and immigrated to London in 1996. He is the first Sikh designer at Savile Row and has a very impressive client list, including Sachin Tendulkar & LN Mittal.

8) Jasbir Singh Dutch politician & lawyer

He is the first person of Indian origin to be elected to a local government body in the Netherlands. A lawyer by profession, Singh is the director of the law firm Roest Singh Advocates. He is also president of the think tank Foundation for Critical Choices for India and founder-president of the Foundation for Indian Diaspora in Europe.