Dame Asha Khemka's journey from Bihar to Britain
London: An Indian-origin eminent educationist has been awarded one of Britain's highest civilian award, making her the first from the community to earn the honour in 83 years.Bihar-born Asha Khemka has been awarded a Dame
London: An Indian-origin eminent educationist has been awarded one of Britain's highest civilian award, making her the first from the community to earn the honour in 83 years.
Bihar-born Asha Khemka has been awarded a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the Queen's annual New Year's honours list released here today.
The mother-of-three becomes the first Indian-origin Dame since Maharani Lakshmi Devi Bai Sahiba of Dhar State in 1931.
The Damehood is in recognition of her services to the deprived areas of the West Midlands as principal of West Nottinghamshire College for the last eight years.
“I believe passionately in the power of further education to transform lives,” said Dame Asha, who has been equally active in skills development work in her country of origin.
She is the founding chair of the Association of Colleges in India - a group 33 UK colleges that have joined forces to work with Indian partners.
A total of 1,195 candidates have been selected for honours this year, with 610 successful women candidates representing 51 per cent of the total—overtaking men for the first time since the system was instituted in 1917.
The Damehood follows her being awarded in 2009 an Order of the British Empire (OBE) by the Queen in recognition of her services to further education. Same year in October, she was crowned the Midlands Businesswoman of the year.
Born in the eastern state's Sitamarhi district Asha was married at the age of 15.
Bihar-born Asha Khemka has been awarded a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the Queen's annual New Year's honours list released here today.
The mother-of-three becomes the first Indian-origin Dame since Maharani Lakshmi Devi Bai Sahiba of Dhar State in 1931.
The Damehood is in recognition of her services to the deprived areas of the West Midlands as principal of West Nottinghamshire College for the last eight years.
“I believe passionately in the power of further education to transform lives,” said Dame Asha, who has been equally active in skills development work in her country of origin.
She is the founding chair of the Association of Colleges in India - a group 33 UK colleges that have joined forces to work with Indian partners.
A total of 1,195 candidates have been selected for honours this year, with 610 successful women candidates representing 51 per cent of the total—overtaking men for the first time since the system was instituted in 1917.
The Damehood follows her being awarded in 2009 an Order of the British Empire (OBE) by the Queen in recognition of her services to further education. Same year in October, she was crowned the Midlands Businesswoman of the year.
Born in the eastern state's Sitamarhi district Asha was married at the age of 15.