The Sikh 100 (2012)

India
1. Dr Manmohan Singh
Prime Minister of India

Dr Manmohan Singh, India’s fourteenth Prime Minister, is highly acclaimed as a thinker and a scholar.

India
2. Mr Montek Singh Ahluwalia
Planning Commission India

Montek Singh Ahluwalia, is a prominent Indian economist who has served the country in various Government departments.

India
3. Giani Gurbachan Singh Ji
Jathedar,
Akaal Takht Sahib

Jathedar Singh Sahib Giani Gurbachan Singh is the current religious Head of Sri Akaal Takht Sahib, the supreme religious authority of the Sikhs, based in Amritsar, Punjab, India.

India
4. Mr Parkash Singh Badal
Former Chief Minister,
Punjab

Parkash Singh Badal is an Indian politician who has been Chief Minister of the state of Punjab since 2007 and is one of the top 10 richest politicians in India.

India
5. Sant Baba Iqbal Singh Ji
President,
The Kalgidhar Trust

Baba Ji, born in 1929, grew up with a resolve to dedicate his life to spreading the Divine Message of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

UK
6. Bhai Sahib Mohinder Singh Ji
Spiritual Leader, GNNSJ

Bhai Sahib (Dr) Mohinder Singh Ji, Chairman of the Nishkam Group of Charitable Organisations since 1995, is the third inline of the Spiritual Leaders of Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha (GNNSJ).

India
7. Dr Inderjit Kaur
President,
Pingalwala Society

Dr Inderjit Kaur was born on 25th January 1942, she studied medicine and acquired an M.B.B.S. degree from Govt. Medical College, Patiala in 1967.

USA
8. Mr Ajaypal Singh Banga
President,
World Bank Group

Ajaypal Singh Banga is the current president of the World Bank Group. He was the executive chairman of Mastercard, after having previously been president and CEO.

UK
9. Mr Rabinder Singh QC
Chief Justice & President,
IPT

Rabinder Singh is a High Court Judge who grew up in a working-class part of Bristol and attended Bristol Grammar School.

USA
10. Mr Preetinder Singh Bharara
U.S. Attorney,
New York

Preetinder Singh was born in 1968 in Firozpur, Punjab, India. He grew up in New Jersey and attended Ranney School, where he graduated as valedictorian in 1986.

India
11. Mr Surinder Singh Kohli
Ex Chairman,
IFFC

Surinder Singh is a Nominee of the Indian Government on the IDFC Board and the Chairman & Managing Director of India Infrastructure Finance Co Ltd (IIFCL).

India
12. Dr Isher Judge Ahluwalia
Chairperson,
ICRIER

Isher Judge Ahluwalia is Chairperson, Board of Governors, and the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER).

India
13. Mrs Gursharan Kaur
PM Manmohan Singh’s Wife

Gurusharan Kaur was born in 1937 in the village Dhakkam, Pakistan and has four sisters and a brother.

Hong Kong
14. Mr Jaspal Singh Bindra
Director,
Standard Chartered Bank

Jaspal Singh Bindra is a qualified Chartered Accountant and has an MBA from Xavier Labor Relations Institute, Jamshedpur.

USA
15. Dr Inderjit Kaur Khalsa
CEO,
Sikh Dharma

Dr Bibi Ji Inderjit Kaur Khalsa (Bhai Sahiba) was born on January 22, 1935 in Wazirabad. Bibi ji’s mother traces her lineage directly to Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

India
16. Mr Kushwant Singh
Indian Journalist & Novelist

Kushwant Singh was born in 1915, he is a Indian novelist, journalist and post-colonial English writer known for his clear-cut secularism, wit and a deep passion for poetry.

UK
17. Sir Mota Singh
Judge

Sir Mota Singh was raised in Nairobi, Kenya before coming to England in 1954 to complete his studies in Law.

India
18. General Joginder Jaswant Singh
Governor,
Arunachal Pradesh

Joginder Singh is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and commissioned into the 9 Maratha Light Infantry in 1964.

USA
19. Mr Sant Singh Chatwal
CEO,
Hampshire, Hotels & Resorts

Sant Singh is the president and CEO of Hampshire Hotels & Resorts and has hotels in the USA, UK and Thailand with over 2,500 rooms in Manhattan.

Canada
20. Mr Bob Singh Dhillon
CEO,
Mainstreet Equity Corp

Bob Singh, born 1965, is President and Chief Executive of Mainstreet Equity Corp. After graduating, he completed his MBA at Richard Ivey School of Business in London, Ontario.

India
21. Malvinder & Shivinder Singh
Fortis Healthcare

Malvinder is Chairman and Shivinder is the Director of Fortis Healthcare. They inherited the family’s 35.5% stake in India’s leading pharmaceutical company Ranbaxy Laboratories.

India
22. Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal
President of Shiromani Akali Dal
Sukhbir Singh is currently the youngest President of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) political party and serves as Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab.
India
23. Mr Harbhajan Singh Plaha
Professional Crickter

Harbhajan Singh, born in 1980 in Jalandhar is a professional cricketer. A specialist bowler, he has the second-highest number of Test wickets by an ‘off spinner’.

USA
24. Mr Gurutej Singh Khalsa
Senior Vice President,
Akal Security

Gurutej Singh, Founder and Senior Vice President of Akal Security, set up the largest security company in the USA in 1980.

Singapore
25. Mr Kartar Singh Thakral
Chairman,
The Thakral Group

The Thakral Group was founded in 1905 by Kartar Singhs father, Mr Sohan Singh. The Groups beginnings were in Bangkoks textile trade, operating as Punjab Store.

India
26. Mr Bhupinder Singh
MD,
Punjab National Bank

Mr Bhupinder Singh is Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at Punjab National Bank (International) Limited UK, operating out of London.

Hong Kong
27. Mr Harindarpal Singh Banga
Vice Chairman,
Noble Group

Harindarpal Singh Banga has been Vice Chairman emeritus of Noble Group Limited since Sept 2010.

Canada
28. Mr Gurmant Singh Grewal
Member of Parliament

Gurmant Grewal is a Science and Administration graduate from the University of California.

India
29. Captain Amarinder Singh
Chairman, Punjab Urdu Academy

Arminder Singh, born March 1942, is the President of Punjab PCC and served as the Chief Minister of Punjab from 2002 to 2007.

India
30. Mr Analjit Singh
Founder & Chairman,
Max India

Analjit Singh is the Founder & Chairman of Max India Limited, Chairman of Max New York Life Insurance Company Limited, Max Healthcare Institute Limited and Max BUPA Health Insurance.

India
31. Mr Kuldip Singh Dhingra
MD,
Beger Paints Group

Mr Kuldip Singh Dhingra is an industrialist. He is Managing Director at Spectro Analytical Labs Pvt. Ltd and the Chairman of Berger Paints Group.

USA
32. Mrs Sukhinder Singh
Founder & Chairman,
Joyus.com

Sukhinder began her career in investment banking, media and online services while working at Merrill Lynch, British Sky Broadcasting and Amazon.

India
33. Mr Manvinder Singh Banga
Partner,
Clayton Dubilier Rice

Manvinder Singh is a Senior Partner of the private equity fund Clayton Dubilier & Rice since 2010, after a 33 year career at Unilever.

India
34. Col Arjan Singh
Marshal,
Indian Air Force

Arjan Singh was born on 15 April 1919 in Lyallpur in Punjab. He was educated at Montgomery, India and entered the RAF College Cranwell in 1938.

UK
35. Mr Jasminder Singh OBE
CEO,
The Edwardian Group
Jasminder Singh is Chairman and CEO of The Edwardian Group Limited (the parent company of Radisson Edwardian Hotels).
UAE
36. Mr Surender Singh Kandhari
Chairman,
A1 Dobowi Group
Surender Singh is youngest President of the Automobile Association of Andhra Pradesh and youngest Captain of the Emirates Golf Club in Dubai.
India
37. Mr Balwinder Singh
Special Director,
CBI

Balwinder Singh, a Senior IPS officer of Andhra Pradesh, was appointed as Special Director in the Central Bureau of Investigation headquarters in New Delhi, 2010

USA
38. Mr Ravi Singh
CEO,
ElectionMall

Ravi Singh is the CEO and founder of ElectionMall Technologies, a pioneer company in the field of online politics.

USA
39. Mr Gurbaksh Singh Chahal
CEO,
RadiumOne

Gurbaksh Singh, born in Tarn Taran Sahib 1982, came to America aged 4. At 16, he dropped out of high school and started ‘ClickAgents’ which sold for $40 million 18 months later.

Singapore
40. Mr Gurbachan Singh
Partner,
KhattarWong LLP

Gurbachan Singh is Managing Partner of KhattarWong LLP and has worked with Tax Law for 35 years.

India
41. Mr Hardeep Singh Bedi VSM
CEO,
Tulip Telecom

Hardeep Singh, served in the Indian army for over 22 years, he took voluntary retirement to start his own company at 42.

UK
42. Mrs Kamel Kaur Hothi
Community Director,
Lloyds Bank

Kamel Kaur was Lloyds TSB Bank’s first Female Asian bank manager at a time when gender and race was an issue.

USA
43. Dr Narinder Singh Kapany
Inventor,
Fibre Optics

Narinder Singh is an Indian born American physicist known for his work in fibre optics. The man who ‘bent light’ has been at the centre of hi-tech for over 50 years and is still going strong at 70.

USA
44. Dr Jas Singh Sandhu
President,
Santec Systems, Inc.

Jas Sandhu is President and Founder of Santec Systems, Inc. and is best known for his pioneering work in developing ‘Acoustography’, a novel exploring ultrasound imaging methods.

USA
45. Steven Singh & Rajeev Singh
Concur Technologies

Concur Technologies Inc., founded by the Singh brothers in 1933, is a leading provider of integrated travel and expense management solutions based in USA.

UK
46. Mr Jindy Singh Khera
MD,
KTC Edibles

Jindy Singh is co-founder and Managing Director of KTC Edibles Ltd. Set up in 1973 KTC is now Britain’s largest manufacturers and distributor of oils and fats with a turnover in excess of £220m.

Kenya
47. Mr Rajinder Singh Baryan
M.D,
Multiple Hauliers (EA)

Rajinder Singh is a respected businessman and philanthropist. He is the co-founder and Managing Director of Multiple Hauliers (East Africa) Ltd, the flagship of Multiple Group of Companies.

UK
48. Dr Raminder Singh Ranger MBE
Chairman,
Sun Mark Ltd
Raminder Singh Ranger MBE, FRSA is a successful businessman, honoured five times by Her Majesty the Queen, four times for Business and once for services to the British Asian Community.
UK
49. Sir Harpal Singh Kumar
Head,
Johnson & Johnson

Harpal Singh studied chemical engineering at Cambridge and attained an MBA at Harvard. He worked in scientific research and management consultancy.

USA
50. Mr Satyendra Singh Huja
Mayor,
Charlottesville

Satyendra Singh, known as the Sikh Architect of Charlottesville and previously Professor at University of Virginia school of Architecture, spent 25 Years as Director of Strategic Planning.

USA
51. Mr Tarninder Singh
CEO,
Manohar Singh & Company

Tarninder singh started work at the age of 18 with his father as a property dealer in Chandigarh under the name of Manohar Singh and company.

UK
52. Dr Kartar Singh Lalvani OBE
Director,
Vitabiotics
Dr Kartar Singh Lalvani founded Britains fastest growing nutraceutical company Vitabiotics in 1971. It’s a family business and has twice won the Queen’s Award for Enterprise.
India
53. Mr Mohanjit Singh Jolly
Managing Director,
DFJ
Mohanjit Singh joined global venture capital firm Draper Fisher Jurvetsons (DFJs) in 2007.
USA
54. Mr Guruka Singh Khalsa
Founder,
SikhNet.com
Guruka Singh is the Founder of SikhNet and Co-Founder of Sun & Son, a computer consulting firm. He initially served as Senior Producer at a major entertainment software company.
UK
55. Mrs Gurinder Kaur Chadha
Film Director/ Producer

Gurinder Chadha is a Sikh film director, born in Nairobi Kenya in 1960 and moved to West London at the age of 2.

Canada
56. Mr Tim Singh Uppal
MP,
Edmonton-Sherwood Park

Tim Singh is a Canadian Politician, MP for Edmonton-Sherwood Park, first elected to House of Commons in 2008.

UK
57. Mr Sukhpal Singh Ahluwalia
Managing Director
Sukhpal Singh left Uganda and moved to England at 13. He worked on market stalls in Liverpool Street and Petticoat Lane and at 18 had an opportunity to buy a car parts shop for £5,000 in Willesden.
UK
58. Baroness Sandip Kaur Verma
Houses of Parliament

Sandip Kaur was born in 1959 Amritsar India and moved with her parents to England in 1960. She was made a Conservative life peer as ‘Baroness Verma’ of Leicester in 2006.

UK
59. Mr Sachdev Singh Musafir
Businessman

Sachdev Singh is the youngest son of Late Giani Gurmukh Singh Musafir, a well-known politician, poet and the ex-chief minister of Punjab.

Switzerland
60. Dr Jogishwar Singh
MD,
Rothschild Group

Dr Jogishwar Singh is the first Sikh selected by the world renowned Rothschild Group in Switzerland as a Managing Director.

Malaysia
61. Mr Karpal Singh
Lawyer

Karpal Singh, a Malaysian lawyer and politician, was MP of Bukit Gelugor (Penang) and National Chairman of the Democratic Action Party (DAP).

Canada
62. Ms Ruby Kaur Dhalla
Member of Parliament

Ruby Dhalla, represented the riding of Brampton-Springdale in the Canadian House of Commons from 2004 to 2011, as member of the Liberal Party.

UK
63. Mr Daljit Singh Jagait
Corporate Sales Manager,
Jaguar

Daljit started his career at Jaguar as a production operative on the Jaguar assembly line at Castle Bromwich in 1998.

UK
62. Mr Kuljinder Singh Bahia
MD,
Southall Travel

Kuljinder Singh is Managing Director of the travel agency South all Travel Group, one of the largest travel agencies in the UK.

UK
65. Mr Pritpal Singh Panesar
President,
Coleman University

Pritpal Singh is President of Coleman University, a non-profit institution recognized as leader in IT education.

UK
66. Mr Raj Singh Kohli
Superintendent,
MET Police

Superintendent Raj Kohli, 45, believes he was destined to join the force from the time as a little boy when his mum gave him a police outfit.

Canada
67. Mr Navdeep Singh Bains
Member of Parliament

Navdeep was born in Toronto, Ontario. He completed his Bachelor of Administrative Studies (BAS) undergraduate degree at York University.

UK
68. The Matharu Family
Hotels & Property

Harpal, Raj and Tony, the founders of Grange Hotels, together own and manage 12 luxury hotels located in the heart of London and a 13th one at Bracknell, Windsor.

India
69. Dr Parvinder Singh Pasricha
Officer,
Indian Police Force
Parvinder Singh, a Police officer, served as 30th Police Commissioner in Mumbai and as Director General of Police and Managing Director of Maharashtra State Welfare and Housing.
USA
70. Mr Harbhajan Singh Samra
Director,
Samra Produce & Farms

Harbhajan Singh came to California with an M.A. in economics in 1985 and he now dominates the okra farming industry.

India
71. Mr Milkha Singh
Sportsman

Milkha Singh is an Indian athlete, nicknamed the Flying Sikh. He won Gold in both 200m and 400m events at 1958 Asian Games, clocking 21.6 seconds and 47 seconds respectively.

Canada
72. Mr Harjit Singh Sajjan
MP,
Minister of Emergency Preparedness

Harjit Singh is the current Minister of Emergency Preparedness and a Member of Parliament representing the riding of Vancouver South.

India
73. Mr Rajpal Singh
Captain,
Indian Hockey Team

Rajpal Singh is the Captain of India’s National Hockey Team and plays the Forward (front line) position.

UK
74. Mr HS Narula
Chairman,
DSC Group Ltd

A visionary leader, H S Narula, 57, is Chairman at DSC Group Ltd. He led DSC Ltd into Asian continents, catering to a diverse mix of climates and languages.

UK
75. Mrs Surina Kaur Narula
Chairperson,
Various Organisations

Surina is Co-Chair and Trustee of ‘Consortium for Street Children’, UK based agencies. She has organised events to raise funds and profile of ‘Street Children’ and their needs at all levels.

UK
76. Mr Paul Singh Uppal
Member of Parliament

Paul Singh Uppal is the only Sikh Member of Parliament and is seen as a future star of the Conservative Party.

Canada
77. Prof Dr Davinder Singh Chahal
Author

Davinder Singh achieved an MSc and PhD (Microbiology) from the Ohio State University and University of Southern Illinois in 1966.

UK
78. Mr Tarsem Dhaliwal
Finance Director,
Iceland

Tarsem is the Finance Director of the Food Group Iceland. His career started as an accountant at Iceland nearly 28 years ago, where he trained and qualified whilst working there.

UK
79. The Wouhra Family
Food & Property

Tony Deep Wouhra and his four brothers have built East End Foods, a UK- based Asian £100 million business empire from practically nothing.

Canada
80. Mr Baltej Singh Dhillon
Canadian Police Force

Baltej Singh is the first Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) allowed to wear a turban. He came to Canada 1982 and studied criminology.

UK
81. Mr Darra Singh OBE
Chair,
Commision For Integration

Darra Singh was, until September 2011, Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus and Department for Work and Pensions.

India
82. Mr Varinder Singh Ghuman
Professional Bodybuilder

Varinder is a professional bodybuilder, Punjabi wrestler and actor well known in India for being world first vegetarian pro bodybuilder.

USA
83. Mr Harpreet Singh
Director,
Department of Justice

Harpreet Singh, Esq., former Legal Director of UNITED SIKHS recently joined the U.S. Department of Justice, Community Relations Service as the Regional Director of Region III.

UK
84. Dr Avtar Lit
Chairman,
Sunrise Group

Sunrise Radio (originally Sina Radio), with broadcaster-entrepreneur Dr Avtar Lit at the helm, was the first 24 hour Asian radio station in the UK.

Argentina
85. Mr Ramesh Singh Khalsa
Country Head, Olam International

Simmarpal Singh is an Agricultural Sciences graduate from Amritsar, India. He joined Olam in 2001 and was able to work in multiple geographies of Africa.

UK
86. Mr Tommy Singh Nagra
Executive Producer,
BBC

Award-winning programme maker Tommy Nagra has been appointed as an Executive Producer in the BBC’s Religion & Ethics Department in Manchester.

Canada
87. Ms Gunveena Kaur Chadha
Director and Head,
CII

Gunveena Kaur is the Director and Head of The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and holds a PhD degree in Economics.

UK
88. Professor Tejinder Singh Virdee
Professor,
Imperial College

Tejinder Singh is a renowned Professor of Physics at Imperial College in London. In April 2012, The Royal Society announced him in this years fellowship.

Malaysia
89. Mr Harvinder Singh
CEO,
PSI in Control

Harvinder Singh was the winner of the Ernst & Young Technology Entrepreneur of The Year in 2008.

UK
90. Mr Channi Singh Rapal OBE
Artist & Music Director

Harcharanjit Singh Rapal (Channi Singh) came from Punjab in 1975 and started the popularity of Punjabi music.

UK
91. Mr Malkit Singh MBE
Artist & Music Director

Malkit Singh has performed live in over forty countries and has fans and audiences of all ages.

UK
92. Mr Kulveer Singh Ranger
Advisor to Global Cities

Kulveer Singh Ranger is an advisor to global cities. He was an advisor for four years to the Mayor of London Boris Johnson on Transport, Environment and Digital Technology.

UK
93. Mr Ravinder Singh
Founder,
Khalsa Aid

Ravinder Singh was born in Singapore and is the founder of Khalsa Aid. Established in 1999, Khalsa Aid is an international non-profit and relief agency founded on Sikh principles.

Singapore
94. Mr Harmander Singh Uppal
Team Leader,
Barclays Asia

Harmander Singh is one of the youngest double masters winners in the UK. Having studied at the University of Birmingham, Loughborough University and London School of Economics.

India
95. Professor Kartar Singh Ji
Head,
Guru Nanak Girls College

Professor Kartar Singh, an octogenarian is a legendary figure and an epitome of dedication to kirtan in its original form. Very down to earth, this man has many accolades to his name.

USA
96. Mrs Gurmeet Kaur Sodhi
Television Host & Producer

Gurmeet Kaur is television host/producer and youngest Sikh female to launch her own talk show. She is an icon in the international entertainment communities.

UK
97. Dr Rabinder Kaur Buttar
CEO,
ClinTec International

Dr Rabinder Kaur Buttar is Founder, President and CEO of ClinTec International and included in ‘Real Business’ list showing Britain’s 100 Most Entrepreneurial Women.

USA
98. Mr Waris Singh Ahluwalia
Actor & Jewellery Designer

Waris Singh was born in Punjab in 1975 and is an Indian actor and jewellery designer. Aged five his family moved to the USA and he grew up in Brooklyn.

UK
99. Ms Sharon Kaur
MD,
Sahara Homes Ltd

Sharon Kaur is managing director of Sahara Homes Limited, a company she founded in 1997. Sharon is as passionate about her company as the community she serves.

Singapore
100. Mr Jagjit Singh Matharu
Wealth Advisor,
Barclays Asia

Jagjit Singh is one of the youngest members on our list and is recognised as one of the rising stars in the global Finance Industry.