The Sanjha Pariwar Sat Sri Akal Charitable Trust honored global Sikh achievers at the Sikh Achievers Awards in Mumbai

MUMBAI: The Sanjha Pariwar Sat Sri Akal Charitable Trust presented the Sikh Achievers Awards at Shanmukhananda Hall in Sion on May 4. The awards honour global success stories of Sikh professionals, scientists, athletes and social workers who continue to uphold the spirit of `Sarbat da Bhala’.

“We are not just celebrating individuals, we are rewarding courage, character and compassion,” said Sardar Puran Singh Banga, trustee and chairperson. “Each award winner is a torchbearer of Sikh ideals and we hope their stories inspire generations to pursue success with humility and service.”

The 2025 edition honoured the following individuals. Tejdeep Kaur Menon retired as Director General of Police of the Telangana special protection force, and is the first woman from South India to attain this post. After retirement, she became the first president of the Telangana Sikh Society, working for marginalised communities, especially the forgotten Sikhligar Sikhs. Menon organised health camps, revived schools, distributed meals during the pandemic and empowered women through vocational hubs.A young six-year-old award winner, Ranvir Singh Sachdeva has already delivered a TEDx talk on Artificial Intelligence, been invited by Apple CEO Tim Cook, and addressed the United Nations on responsible AI. He has authored a book featured by NASA, and been named the youngest Green Yodha by Schneider Electric.Mahenderpal Singh has worked for over 30 years at ISRO, contributing to historic space missions like Chandrayaan and Mangalyaan. As a community leader in Bengaluru, he has empowered Sikh youth through institutions like Sri Dashmesh Jyot School. Another winner Naurang Singh Mangat is an academic who established the Guru Amar Das Apahaj Ashram in Ludhiana. What began as a one-room shelter is now a sanctuary for 215 destitute, sick and mentally ill people.Para badminton star Mandeep Kaur rose to become World No 1 in multiple categories. She won 34 international medals, won fifth place at the Paris 2024 Paralympics and scored victories across continents. Dr Harpreet Kaur was the first woman pilot of Air India and is the first woman to head an airline in the country, namely Alliance Air. From leading an all-women global flight to overseeing a Boeing engine replacement by an all-women team, she turned aviation into a canvas of empowerment.She was recently presented the Bharat Ratna JRD Tata Award.In a remote village of Punjab, a school is proving that it is never too late to learn. Bebe Bapu Da School is a grassroots initiative teaching elderly villagers to read, write and sign their names. Led by volunteers Rajwinder Kaur and Bhupinder Singh, the project uplifts dignity through Gurmukhi literacy.