Dr Mohan Thomas, a prominent Doha-based physician, has been conferred the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award from Qatar for his noble services in medicine.
Indian President Ram Nath Kovind, who delivered the valedictory address on the third and final day of the 16th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas celebrations, presented the awards at a virtual event.
The event was also attended by Dr S Jaishankar, Indian External Affairs Minister.
The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award is the highest honour conferred on a Non-Resident Indian (NRI), Person of Indian Origin (PIO) and organisation or institution established and run by NRIs or PIOs as part of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention.
Including Dr Thomas, 30 people from different countries have been honoured with the award this year. The ceremony was held virtually due to the Covid-19 scenario and the award comprises a gold medal and a citation. “It is indeed a great honour for me to receive the 16th Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award. It is a recognition given by the government of India and and I am thankful to the government for this noble gesture. I pledge to continue working for the welfare of the community as well as to serve the people in all possible ways,” Dr Thomas told Gulf Times.
Dr Thomas, who is also the president-elect of the Indian Sports Centre, is a prominent Indian community leader in Qatar and has been active in community services for about four decades. Besides being a renowned otolaryngologist and head and neck surgeon, and an alumnus of the prestigious All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, he has been at the forefront of philanthropic activities -- serving hundreds of needy and low-income members of the community in Qatar as well as helping a large number of downtrodden people back in India.
An ardent sports lover, he had been a football player in his college days and is presently engaged in promoting sports activities among the community members. He is the founder-president of Birla Public School and a leading entrepreneur in the country.
Congratulating him, Sanjiv Arora, former secretary (Consular, Passport & Visa and Overseas Indian Affairs) at the Ministry of External Affairs, India, and a former Indian ambassador in Qatar, told Gulf Times from Delhi: “Dr Thomas is among the stalwarts of the large, vibrant and highly regarded Indian community in Qatar. The award conferred upon him is a tribute to our wonderful community in Qatar. A multifaceted, versatile and popular personality, he has served our community and the lofty cause of the historic India-Qatar friendship with dedication, aplomb and distinction.
"As a doctor, community leader, entrepreneur, educationist and philanthropist, he has been at the forefront of many notable initiatives and activities in Qatar and India."
