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Mr. Sachdeva and President Ellen
Johnson Sirleaf share laughters after arriving back to
Monrovia when he got the Pravasi Bharatiya Samma Award in
January 2011.
(Photo: IANS) |
Monrovia: India's
Honorary Consul General to Liberia Upjit Singh Sachdeva will
receive the West African nation's highest award, the Knight Grand
Commander, from President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf during its 164th
independence day celebrations Tuesday.
Sachdeva, a prominent businessman and humanitarian, was selected
for the honour by the president.
He will become the first Indian to receive the award from a
Liberian president in recognition of his contributions towards the
country's reconstruction programmes. He is also being honoured for
his commitment to philanthropic causes as well as contributions to
the betterment of India-Liberia relations.
He was appointed honorary consul general by the Indian president
in 1998.
Liberia declared independence July 26, 1847. This year's
celebration will be held in the northern city of Voinjama in Lofa
County, 400 km from Monrovia, the Liberian capital.
"This investiture is therefore a matter of extreme pride and
delight for all Indians, both within and outside Liberia,"
Sachdeva, who is also popularly called Jeety, told the Daily
Observer, the country's oldest independent daily.
On Jan 9 this year, Sachdeva was honoured with the Pravasi
Bharatiya Samman Award by Indian President Pratibha Patil.
Along with Sachdeva, Liberian Vice President Joseph N. Boakai and
Legislature Speaker Alex Tyler, among others, will be honoured at
the special event.
The presidents of Nigeria and Sierra Leone are among the foreign
guests expected to attend the celebrations.
The Knight Grand Commander of the Liberian Humane Order of African
Redemption was set up on Jan 13, 1879, during the presidency of
Anthony W. Gardiner. It is awarded to individuals for their
meritorious humanitarian work.
(Alaskai Moore Johnson can be contacted at alasjmore@gmail.com)
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