Australia’s Prof. Ajay Rane and Fiji’s Swami Sanyuktanand have been announced as recipients of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA), highest honour for overseas Indians.
Prof. Ajay Rane is recognised for his outstanding contributions to community service. A professor and staunch advocate for women’s health, Prof. Rane’s work in Australia has led to transformative changes in maternal healthcare and social equity.
Prof. Rane’ dedication to grassroots impact has earned him accolades both within and beyond academic circles, highlighting the importance of advocacy and compassion in fostering societal well-being.
As the founding Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at James Cook University and the creator of Queensland’s first non-metropolitan urogynaecology service, Prof. Rane has significantly improved local and global care. Over two decades, he has led efforts to treat fistula in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, framing it as a human rights issue. In 2020, he became the only Australian to receive an honorary fellowship from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists for this work.
Equally notable is the recognition of Swami Sanyuktanand from Fiji, whose humanitarian and spiritual leadership has been pivotal for over two decades.
As the founder of the Fiji Sevashram Sangha, established in April 2000, he has been the driving force behind its growth into one of Fiji’s largest and most effective humanitarian and spiritual organisations. Initially based at Suva’s Lakshmi Narayan Temple, Swami Sanyuktanand collaborated with community leaders to lay the foundation for the Sangha, initiating activities like student camps, Purnima pooja, and disaster relief efforts.
Under his leadership, the organisation has promoted unity through festivals such as Ganesh Utsav and contributed to building temples and offering spiritual guidance. Inspired by the vision of Bharat Sevashram Sangha’s founder, Srimat Swami Pranavananda Ji Maharaj, Swami Sanyuktanand has dedicated 22 years to serving Fijians across all levels, embodying selfless service and compassion.
The PBSA selection process, overseen by a Jury-cum-Awards Committee chaired by India’s Vice-President and comprising the External Affairs Minister and other distinguished members, ensures that honourees represent the finest achievements across a wide array of fields. This year’s recipients span sectors such as education, medical science, business, and public affairs, underscoring the breadth of excellence within the Indian diaspora.
In addition to Prof. Rane and Swami Sanyuktanand, this year’s awardees include achievers from countries as diverse as Austria, Japan, the United States, and Guyana. Their accomplishments showcase the global influence of the Indian community in shaping innovation, culture, and humanitarian efforts.
The PBD Convention itself serves as a platform to strengthen the bond between India and its diaspora. Featuring panel discussions, cultural programmes, and networking opportunities, the event highlights shared heritage and fosters collaboration on global challenges.
The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards will honour the Indian diaspora’s achievements at the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention in Bhubaneswar, from 8–10 January 2025, with President Droupadi Murmu presenting them during the valedictory session on 10 January.
The following are the recipients of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards 2025:
- Prof. Ajay Rane, Australia – Community Service
- Dr. Marialena Joan Fernandes, Austria – Education
- Dr. Philomena Ann Mohini Harris, Barbados – Medical Science
- Swami Sanyuktanand, Fiji – Community Service
- Saraswati Vidya Niketan, Guyana – Community Service
- Dr. Lekh Raj Juneja, Japan – Science & Technology
- Dr. Prem Kumar, Kyrgyz Republic – Medical Science
- Soukthavy Chowdhury, Laos – Business
- Krishna Savjani, Malawi – Business
- ‘Tan Sri’ Dr. Subramaniam K.V. Sathasivam, Malaysia – Politics
- Dr. Sarita Boodhoo, Mauritius – Community Service
- Mr. Abhaya Kumar, Moldova – Business
- Dr. Ram Niwas @ Hla Tun, Myanmar – Education
- Jaggannath Shekhar Asthana, Romania – Business
- Hindustani Samaj, Russia – Community Service
- Sudha Rani Gupta, Russia – Education
- Dr. Syed Anwar Khursheed, Saudi Arabia – Medical Science
- Atul Arvind Temurnikar, Singapore – Education
- Robert Masih Nahar, Spain – Community Service
- Dr. Kaushik Laxmidas Ramaiya, Tanzania – Medicine
- H.E. Christine Carla Kangaloo ORTT, Trinidad & Tobago – Public Affairs
- Ramakrishnan Sivaswamy Iyer, UAE – Business
- Bonthala Subbaiah Setty Ramesh Babu, Uganda – Community Service
- Baroness Usha Kumari Prashar, UK – Politics
- Dr. Sharad Lakhanpal, USA – Medicine
- Dr. Sharmila Ford, USA – Community Service
- Ravi Kumar S., USA – Business (IT & Consulting)
Support Our Journalism
The global Indian Diaspora and Australia’s multicultural communities need fair, non-hyphenated, and questioning journalism, packed with on-ground reporting. The Australia Today—with exceptional reporters, columnists, and editors—is doing just that. Sustaining this requires support from wonderful readers like you.
Whether you live in Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States of America, or India you can take a paid subscription by clicking Patreon
