British Indian high achievers recognised in King’s New Year Honours

Dozens of PIOs have been recognised in the King’s New Year Honours List 2026 for outstanding contributions to their communities including damehoods for Punjabi actress and writer Meera Syal and India-born professor Meena Upadhyaya.

Of the 1,157 recipients, 14% of those represented at higher awards are from ethnic minorities.

Syal (64), whose parents migrated to the UK from Delhi, is renowned for starring in and writing the British Asian TV comedy “Goodness Gracious Me”.

Upadhyaya, who moved to the UK aged 19 from Modinagar, UP, was made a dame for services to community cohesion in Wales and to medical genetics.

Dhruv Patel, founder of City Hindus Network, has been made a CBE in recognition of his services to charity, and Neeta Atkar, senior independent director to the board of the British Business Bank, was appointed CBE for services to small business finance.

British Gujarati Paavan Popat, CEO of TLC Group, son of Conservative life peer Lord Dolar Popat, has been awarded an OBE for his contribution to adult social care, while Dr Harjinder Singh Lallie, founder and co-director at Gurmat Sangeet Academy, a not-for-profit Sikh music school, received an OBE.

Prof Gurpreet Singh Jagpal, chief commercial officer at Aston University, who also received an OBE, said: “As a British Sikh, I hope this honour encourages others from every background and community to pursue their aspirations with confidence.”

Balbir Singh, trained in Kathak and contemporary dance, who founded the Balbir Singh Dance Company in Leeds, received an MBE. “The importance of culture, heritage and a Sikh upbringing have had a profound effect on the artiste I am. I hope this inspires younger generations of Sikhs to believe in themselves,” he said.

Mani Kohli, fashion entrepreneur and founder of the Khubsoorat Collection, who moved to London from Delhi aged 19, received an MBE. Kohli has dressed royals, Bollywood stars and made costumes for the movie “Bend it like Beckham”. “The teachings of our Gurus, of being disciplined and grounded, laid the foundations for me to pursue this career with determination,” she said.

Former England cricketer Isa Tara Guha, who hails from Kolkata, and long-serving England women’s football team doctor Dr Ritan Mehta, were also made MBEs.