80-plus south Asians fail their course work at a Leicester university
By BARNIE CHOUDHURY Jul 19, 2023
Eastern Eye can reveal that the Indian High Commission has written to a UK university urging it to investigate claims of racism and discrimination made by students from its country.
It follows complaints from more than 80 learners from India at Leicester’s De Montfort University (DMU).
The High Commission sent the letter headed, “Alleged discrimination against Indian students”, to the vice chancellor, Professor Katie Normington, this week (18).
Its first education secretary, Nidhi Choudhary wrote, “Since the allegation is that students are being deprived of their master’s degree, it is of concern to the high commission.
“It is therefore requested that the university may consider taking appropriate action for the redressal of these students’ grievances.”
The diplomatic language hides the potential damage this could do to UK-India relations.
The students’ complaints comes on the week that India’s commerce and industry minister, Piyush Goyal, met his UK counterpart, Kemi Badenoch.
They discussed the progress of the free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries.
The students want the universities regulator, Office for Students, to investigate their claims of racism.
This week, we have discovered that the former Leicester MP wants an inquiry into whether the university has broken competition and marketing rules – a serious charge.
This newspaper has seen letters and emails sent to senior leaders at the university which make clear the engineering students’ disquiet over how they were taught and questioning why so many learners from India botched one particular module.
“How can so many of us from India fail?” asked one engineering student.
Keith Vaz (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, scared about reprisals from the university, another told the newspaper, “It was in one module which the course pages said was optional, but by the time I arrived in the UK, it was compulsory.
“I was forced to take this module even though it has nothing to do with what I want to do when I graduate.
“Like many of us, my paper was marked by a PhD student who wasn’t an expert in my chosen field.
“Their highest qualification is a MSc [master’s of sciences], so how can they mark my work with any expertise?”
Eastern Eye was told that the module where the learners failed was Engineering Business Environment.
Failed Indians
Sources have said that 128 of the engineering students were Indians, making up 52 per cent of the entire pathway.
Of the 128, 89 or almost 70 per cent failed.
The failure rate varied from 18 and 85 per cent depending on the degree the students were undertaking.
For example, 63 of the 74 students (or 85 per cent) on the engineering management master’s pathway failed in their first attempt.
“When we started to speak to our classmates, we were shocked to learn that so many Indians failed,” said another DMU student.
“We learnt that this is not unusual and that it has been the case in previous years where students fail this module.
“But if so many of us failed, you would expect teachers to ask why so many were failing, and why so many Indians were failing.
“We are in no doubt it’s because we’re Indian, and it’s racism, simple.”
Eastern Eye does not know how many white students failed, but DMU is adamant that the failure is not down to racism.
The former Europe minister and ex-Leicester East MP, Keith Vaz, has taken up the fight for the students.
He is representing them through the Integration Foundation, which he chairs.
UK racism
In a letter earlier this month (1 July), Vaz wrote to Normington, “I am aware that a meeting took place between Professor Shushma Patel (pro vice chancellor) and four students on June 21, 2023.
“However, it has become evident that the university refuses to acknowledge a fundamental aspect concerning the alleged discrimination.
“During the meeting, Professor Patel stated that: ‘Since a majority of the students in the class are of Asian descent and some Indian students have successfully completed this module, there can be no discrimination.’
“It is important to recognise that this interpretation does not align with the legal definition of racism within UK law.”
The Indian students’ complaint hinges not only on the marks scored but in what some have described as “inconsistent feedback”.
“When we failed, we looked at the feedback,” said one, “so, we did everything to make sure we answered the missing points.
“However, when we got our marks for that attempt, some of us got even lower marks than before.
“How can that be right?”
The university told Eastern Eye that it “refuted” the allegations and took them seriously.
A spokeswoman said, “For the module in question – Engineering Business Environment - we have in place robust procedures for grading which include assessments by two internal markers and a subsequent review by an examiner external to the university, followed by a final moderation panel.
“In this instance, the process was no different and a total of 80 Indian students passed the module, while 58 failed.”
Student meeting
Eastern Eye has had an insight into how the university responded to the students’ concerns.
In one email seen by this newspaper, one lecturer wrote, “In general (i.e. not specific to this module) there are three reasons which can lead to a low average.
“First, a weak cohort.
“Secondly, issues to do with the teaching and thirdly, issues regarding the assessment.
“The latter two are our responsibility.
“The first, whilst possible, should not lea[d] to a statistically significant low average.
“As such we will be looking at the profile of marks and applying a significance test on the results both against expected and against the rmodules [sic].
“The issues described below would imply that we are likely to see a statistically significant difference, but this will provide the evidence.”
In at least one case, Eastern Eye has seen email evidence where a lecturer made an error in their marking, and the students ended up passing the assessment.
Speaking to this newspaper, Vaz said, “I want the vice chancellor to meet with the 75 students because if she sits in a room like I did with them, their presentation is something you could never dream of.
“So, Professor Normington needs to sit down with all of them, not a representative sample and listen to their concerns about the modules.
“The second thing is, she needs to have a proper independent investigation that needs to be conducted by someone outside, not necessarily another academic, it could be anybody, The Runnymede Trust or Operation Black Vote, a quick short look at the facts.
“Let's hear views, and let's see what happens, because they've failed these people.
“They’ve taken £1.2 million from the students, they've got to leave the country, they’ve got to go back to India, and that can't be right.
“They cannot do post study work, that's it for them.”
He wrote to DMU’s VC this week (17) reinforcing that call.
Options
Eastern Eye understands from some students that they were not offered optional subjects even though the recruitment website promised these to them.
Some of the students affected have told Eastern Eye this was a breach of their contract with DMU.
Vaz has written to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA, the body which has ‘cautioned’ UK universities in the past for breaching its rules on what they advertise to recruit students and what they actually deliver.
On July 1, in his second letter to the VC, Vaz wrote, “I would like to inform you that, at the request of the students, I have written to the chairman of the Competition and Markets Authority about this matter.”
“My understanding is that in the event the failure of the university properly to investigate, the students wish to make a collective complaint to the CMA.”
The students also complained that they did not get sufficient support from DMU, and that their mental health suffered.
“Even if we could re-sit, how can we put our mind to it?” asked one affected student. “We’re now in the middle of our dissertation and we don’t have the time to re-sit.
“We feel the university let us down.”
“Inclusion and fairness are core to our values as an institution”, a spokeswoman said, “and we are confident we have treated students fairly and supported them to achieve their potential, while ensuring that we adhere to the very highest academic standards.”
The former Leicester MP, Keith Vaz does not agree.
“Some of these people, their parents have scrimped and saved to get them the 15 grand, and then they have to pay for accommodation.
“They're not rich kids, they are people where families proudly say my child has gone to a university in England.
“This is what they all dream of and look what's happened.
“They just take their money and run, and I think that's a mistake.”
COMMENT
Proving racism is the reason why students have failed their module will be difficult, writes Barnie Choudhury.
I must declare an interest for the sake of openness and transparency.
I am a lecturer at the University of East Anglia, a fantastic place where I teach journalism to both UK and international students.
I hope I treat them fairly and show no biases – it would crush me if my students thought otherwise.
My colleagues are the same – we don’t stint in our efforts to support them.
Indeed, we put on extra classes, go through past papers, give feedback on draft submissions, hold tutorials so we can give both our international and UK students the chance pass.
We help them with their job applications and subsequent interviews.
I’ve been doing this since 1999, and I know I have written countless references, and I know I have picked up the phone, had coffee with someone in the industry, or sent an email, in the hope I can get a student into an interview room.
I’m pretty sure that’s the case at De Montfort, with lecturers going above and beyond what they’re paid to do.
Students will complain about their marks, and it is only right that we have procedures in place which ratify their scores.
In our case, we can ‘blind mark’, so we don’t know the student.
In broadcast journalism, that can be difficult because we know our students’ voices and their faces when they appear on radio or television.
But in a media law exam, for example, I don’t need to know someone’s identity.
To ensure we don’t have biases, we will ask a colleague to ‘second mark’ a sample.
Then we will discuss them and ‘moderate’ – giving students every chance to pass.
Finally, we will send a sample to an external examiner, someone from a different university whose role it is to make sure we’re getting our teaching right.
I’ve been an ‘external’ at several universities, and I see my role as a critical friend offering suggestions and best practice.
I make sure the marks are fair and consistent.
Investigations?
From what I’ve seen and the emails I’ve read, in DMU’s case, a pro vice chancellor, a senior leader, looked into the complaint.
She wrote to a student in June (12), “The faculty has received and investigated a number of items in relation to this module, thanks to students making contact via a range of methods.
“Our investigations to date demonstrate that the faculty continues to act in accordance with expected academic processes, ensuring that student submissions are marked by an appropriate academic or team of academics, and an appropriate sample (a proportion) of the assessments are reviewed by an internal moderator before provisional results are released to the students.”
Barnie Choudhury
Yet the Indian students I spoke to were adamant that the figures spoke for themselves.
Four-score Indian learners failed their first attempt, and when their papers were remarked, some scored lower marks.
There could be a reason which shows a flawed system.
As one lecturer put it in an email, “That the mark received depended upon the marker.
“In particular students followed the feedback, only to fail again due to a different marker.”
A different marker.
We’re humans and we think differently.
Keith Vaz and 83 students believe learners were discriminated against because of their race.
That is why they want someone independent, someone who is not linked to the university, to investigate their concerns.
DMU has ‘refuted’ these allegations.
But I take the meaning of ‘refute’ from the BBC style guide, where I was taught journalism and how to write.
“Use only to mean ‘disprove’. Do not say "Mr Harris refuted the allegation" unless you know unassailable proof was produced. Use deny, dismiss, reject etc.”
Unanswered questions
In my honestly held opinion, we have not reached “unassailable proof” threshold.
Why?
I have repeatedly emailed and spoken to DMU, but despite assurances, it didn’t answer the questions I put to it.
How did so many students from one country fail? Did DMU consider the question of teaching standards? What investigation did DMU undertake to question why so many students from one country failed and why so many failed per se?
The students said that feedback and marking were inconsistent. After they got feedback, some were marked down further. This raises the question - how is that possible? Well, the email I saw may have answered that – different markers. No one likes to be wrong, never mind admit it – that’s human nature.
Is it true that the PhD student marked work for which they weren’t an expert, and if so, why was someone who didn't have the expertise allowed to mark?
I have seen an email where a lecturer makes clear that they won't give feedback on work which hasn't been submitted. It raises the question of the job of a lecturer. Isn't it their job to advise and guide a student, especially one paying £16k for the privilege of learning from the best? While I was surprised by the lack of help given to this failed student, we must remember that this is a big cohort. Even so, why not share the workload?
The students said they felt unsupported by the university. An email from a PVC said she was looking into the claims. It raises the question, to what extent did DMU investigate? Please provide proof. I didn’t get any proof from the university.
In the 16 June letter from Keith Vaz, he asked DMU to investigate claims of racism and discrimination. What steps did you take to investigate these serious allegations? Do you think lessons need to be learnt? In this case, the steps don’t seem to be enough to warrant calling it an investigation.
Please would you confirm that the module under question was optional at the time of marketing but was made compulsory and without warning? What optional modules could the students take in semester 1? If there were none, did you notify the CMA?
I also contacted the Office for Students and the CMA, and it is now for them to decide whether to investigate.
It is easy to be critical without knowing all the facts, but our role as journalists is to ask uncomfortable questions to arrive at answers, however unpalatable.
We have seen institutions, such as the police, such as cricket, such as the NHS, fail to acknowledge never mind investigate, gaslighting and blaming the whistle blower, complaints about racism.
Later, an independent, sometimes judge-led, inquiry often finds “processes, attitudes and behaviour which amount to discrimination through unwitting prejudice, ignorance, thoughtlessness and racial stereotyping”.
This mustn’t be another moment like that; DMU, and all universities, must investigate.
A satellite image shows Nur Khan air base in Islamabad, Pakistan, May 11, 2025, after Pakistani military said it was targeted by an Indian missile attack. (Photo: 2025 Planet Labs PBC/Handout via Reuters)
A CEASEFIRE between India and Pakistan has eased tensions after four days of intense fighting, but analysts say no clear winner has emerged from the conflict.
Both countries claim to have achieved their objectives in what was their worst confrontation since 1999, without acknowledging significant losses.
The hostilities began last Wednesday when India launched strikes on what it called “terrorist infrastructure” inside Pakistan. India accuses Pakistan of backing the terrorists it says were behind an April attack that killed 26 people in Indian-administered Kashmir. Pakistan denies the allegation.
“If victory is defined by who lost the most manned aircraft, then India certainly lost this one,” said Ashley Tellis of the Carnegie think tank.
“But India also succeeded in effectively interdicting a range of Pakistani surface targets and imposing significant costs on Pakistan,” Tellis told AFP.
“Both sides continue to claim air-to-air kills, but clear evidence remains unavailable at the time of writing,” said Fabian Hoffmann from the University of Oslo.
“What stands out is the extensive use of conventional long-range strike systems by both sides to target military infrastructure deep within enemy territory, including sites near their capitals,” he added.
The international community, including the United States, eventually stepped in, concerned about the potential for further escalation.
Hoffmann said the two countries showed little restraint despite avoiding “deliberate strikes on critical civilian infrastructure.”
“Any shift in that direction would... potentially bring the conflict closer to the threshold of nuclear use,” said Hoffmann.
Tellis said the global trend towards violence by states facing internal unrest requires greater international attention.
The fact that both countries are nuclear powers “makes the conventional balances all the more important. But the fact remains that neither side has a decisive conventional edge in a short war,” said Tellis.
Like other modern conflicts, the fighting saw extensive use of drones, said Oishee Majumdar from British intelligence firm Janes.
India used Israel Aerospace Industries’ exploding drones Harop and Harpy, along with reconnaissance drone Heron, Majumdar told AFP.
According to Military Balance, India also deployed the Indian-made Nishant and Drishti drones.
Indian media reported that New Delhi used French SCALP and Indian BrahMos cruise missiles, as well as AASM Hammer bombs developed by France’s Safran.
The Pakistani army deployed Songar drones from Turkey’s Asisguard, according to Janes.
Military Balance said Pakistan was also armed with Chinese CH-3 and CH-4 combat and reconnaissance drones, Wing Loong, and Turkey’s Akinci and TB2 drones.
At the start of the conflict, China called for restraint from both sides and offered to play a “constructive role”.
However, experts say Beijing’s position has been clear. China said it considers Pakistan an “ironclad friend” and “understands Pakistan’s legitimate security concerns”, said Chietigj Bajpaee from Chatham House.
Bajpaee said that “over 80 per cent of Pakistan’s arms imports over the last five years have come from China.”
“Beijing supplies Islamabad with key systems” including the HQ-9/P surface-to-air missile system, the LY-80 medium-range air defence and FM-90 defence systems, said John Spencer, a former US army officer and researcher at the Modern War Institute.
Spencer added that Pakistan’s “reliance on Chinese exports has created a brittle illusion of strength,” and while the systems are “designed to provide layered protection,” they “failed” against India’s strikes.
Pakistan claims it shot down five Indian fighter jets, including three Rafale aircraft, all while they were inside Indian airspace. India has not confirmed any losses.
Dassault, the French manufacturer of the Rafale, declined to comment.
A European military source said it was “very unlikely” that three Rafales were destroyed but added it was “credible” that at least one was.
Analysts say Indian aircraft were likely brought down by a Chinese PL-15E air-to-air missile, which has a range of 145 kilometres and whose debris was found in Indian territory.
“India lost at least one Rafale to a Pakistani J-10C firing a PL-15 air-to-air missile in an ultra-long-range air engagement,” said Carnegie’s Tellis.
This type of missile can remain undetected until its radar is activated “a few dozen kilometres away, or a few seconds” from its target, according to a French fighter pilot interviewed by AFP.
Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries, is expected to meet US President Donald Trump and the Emir of Qatar in Doha on Wednesday, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The meeting is seen as part of Reliance’s continued efforts to engage with influential global leaders. Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund, the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), has previously invested in multiple Reliance ventures, while Ambani also maintains key partnerships with major US tech companies such as Google and Meta.
Ambani is likely to attend a formal state dinner hosted at Lusail Palace in Trump’s honour, sources said. However, no official business or investment discussions are expected to take place during the dinner.
A second source confirmed that a London-based, Indian-origin business figure with strong ties to both the Trump and Qatari leaderships will also attend the event. The individual has not been publicly identified.
Ambani’s detailed itinerary in Doha remains undisclosed, and Reliance Industries has not commented on the reports.
The visit comes shortly after Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani’s trip to India in February, during which Qatar announced plans to invest $10 billion in various Indian sectors.
Following his visit to Qatar, Trump is expected to travel to the United Arab Emirates on Thursday. According to reports, his UAE trip will focus primarily on investment discussions, rather than regional security matters.
Ambani, Asia’s richest individual, continues to expand Reliance’s global presence through high-profile engagements and strategic partnerships, reinforcing the company’s global ambitions.
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Lorde announces her highly anticipated Ultrasound World Tour 2025 across the US, UK and Europe
Summer might belong to Lorde, but fall is shaping up to be just as thrilling. Fresh off the release of her new album Virgin in June, the New Zealand singer is taking her show on the road, hitting cities across the US, UK and Europe from September through December. If her surprise performance in Washington Square Park was any indication, fans are in for something special.
In a personal note to her fans, Lorde described her concerts as a shared experience: "Every show is about us—bodies and machines creating something bigger together. Twelve years of making music just for us. This time, I’ve stripped things back to give us more space. I think Ultrasound could be our best work yet."
Lorde promises a unique collaboration between artist and audience on her Ultrasound World TourGetty Images
Fans attending the tour will be treated to performances from some stellar opening acts, including Blood Orange, The Japanese House, Nilüfer Yanya, Chanel Beads, Empress Of, Jim-E Stack, and Oklou, making this tour an even more exciting experience.
Ticket sales for Lorde’s tour will begin soon, with presale starting on May 14 at 10 A.M. local time, followed by general sales on May 16 at 10 A.M. local time. If you want to ensure a spot at her concert, it’s advisable to sign up for the presale now through her official website.
Get ready to hear Lorde's new album Virgin live as she takes her show on the road this fallGetty Images
While ticket prices are yet to be confirmed, estimates suggest that prices will range from $49 to $183 in the US and £47.90 to £126.25 in the UK. Depending on your location and seat choice, the prices may vary.
Lorde's North American leg kicks off in Austin, Texas, on September 17 and continues through major cities such as Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles. The European and UK dates will follow, starting on November 9 in Luxembourg and wrapping up on December 9 in Stockholm, Sweden. Fans can expect a mix of intimate venues and larger arenas, giving everyone a chance to experience Lorde’s magic live.
Presale tickets for Lorde's Ultrasound World Tour are now available for fans eager to secure their spotGetty Images
For those looking to grab tickets, be sure to check her website and venues for presale access and keep an eye on specific sales times in your area.
VIRAT KOHLI, one of the finest cricketers of the modern era, officially drew the curtain on his Test career on Monday (12), leaving behind a legacy that will be hard to match.
The announcement came in an emotional message on Instagram to his 271 million followers.
“It’s been 14 years since I first wore the baggy blue in Test cricket,” Kohli wrote.
“I’ve given it everything I had, and it’s given me so much more than I could’ve hoped for. As I step away from this format, it’s not easy – but it feels right.”
Kohli, 36, had already retired from T20 cricket last year. But he is expected to continue in the one-day format, where his fitness and hunger still remain intact.
His decision did not come as a complete surprise. Over the past two years, his form in Test cricket declined, with an average of just 32.56, far below the standards he had set between 2011 and 2019, when he averaged close to 55.
His last Test match, played in Sydney earlier this year, was a tough one, with India losing the series 3-1 to Australia. Barring a century in Perth, he struggled throughout the series.
Kohli was a complete cricketer and a fierce competitor who wore his emotions on his sleeve. As captain, he led India in 68 Tests, winning 40 of them – a record that makes him the most successful Indian Test skippers of all time.
His leadership redefined India’s overseas attitude, making them more aggressive and confident in foreign conditions.
A man of unmatched intensity, commitment and determination, he became the heartbeat of Indian cricket for more than a decade.
Known as “King Kohli,” he was India’s batting mainstay across formats for much of his career. Whether it was the grinding pressure of Test matches, the fast pace of T20s, or the strategic battleground of ODIs, he always stood tall.
Kohli was also part of the legendary “Fab Four” of modern Test batting, alongside Australian Steve Smith, England’s Joe Root, and Kane Williamson from New Zealand. They dominated world cricket during the same era, pushing each other to higher standards. He, however, stood out with his flair and fitness, playing each game like it was his last.
He ends his Test career with 9,230 runs in 123 matches at an average of 46.85. With 30 tons and 31 half-centuries, he made his mark as a consistent match-winner and reliable No 4 batter. Kohli’s highest score in Tests, an unbeaten 254, remains a reminder of his ability to dominate any bowling attack.
His journey was never just about cricket. The number 18 jersey he proudly wore is the most popular cricket shirt in India, chosen in memory of his father, Prem, who passed away on December 18.
Kohli has over 26,000 international runs and 80 centuries across formats – achievements that place him in the rarest class of cricketers.
Many cricket stars paid tribute to Kohli after his announcement. India coach Gautam Gambhir called him “a man with lion’s passion.” Sachin Tendulkar, the man he is often compared to, wrote, “You have given Indian cricket so much more than just runs – you have given it a new generation of passionate fans and players.”
Kohli’s South African IPL teammate AB de Villiers called him “a true legend,” while Wasim Akram described him as “a modern-day great”.
Despite comparisons with Tendulkar, Kohli has always sought his own path. His biographer, Vijay Lokapally, remarked, “Virat never played for records. They happened as he progressed.” He also highlighted Kohli’s extraordinary work ethic and drive, drawing inspiration from past legends like Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev.
However, Kohli’s time as captain was not without turbulence. His form dropped, and in 2021, he stepped down as T20 captain before being removed from the ODI captaincy.
In 2022, he gave up the Test captaincy and opened up about the mental stress he was under. He admitted being “snappy” at home, especially around his wife, actress Anushka Sharma.
But, he bounced back, scoring his first century in over 1,000 days during the 2022 T20 World Cup.
There remains one elusive dream – the Indian Premier League (IPL) title. Despite playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru since the league began in 2008, Kohli has not yet lifted the trophy.
His story is one of grit, ambition, and unshakable belief. In a time when Test cricket struggles for relevance, he carried it on his shoulders with pride.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan said, “No individual has done as much for Test cricket as Virat Kohli.
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Guests at the MSMA Ruby Anniversary celebration at the House of Lords
The Madras State Medical Association UK (MSMA) commemorated its Ruby Anniversary with an elegant evening at the House of Lords, celebrating four decades of service, integration, and achievement in British healthcare.
The evening was graciously hosted by Lord Karan Bilimoria CBE DL, who welcomed attendees and reflected on the House of Lords’ unique role in British democracy. “Here, we win arguments not with slogans but with knowledge,” he remarked, praising the expertise of its members, including judges, scientists, military leaders—and medical professionals.
Sharing his personal journey from India to the UK, Lord Bilimoria paid tribute to his father’s advice: “Integrate wherever you live, but never forget your roots.” He acknowledged the contribution of Indian-origin doctors and lauded MSMA’s vital role in supporting the NHS.
Professor Senthil Nathan, President of MSMA, took the audience through the Association’s inspiring journey—from its humble beginnings as a social group of doctors from the Madras Presidency, to becoming a network of over 200 strong, shaping careers, supporting NHS recruitment, and fostering leadership.
Lord Karan Bilimoria speaks at the event
“Our founding members helped bring in some of the most capable clinicians to the UK,” he said. “From clinical practice to research and teaching, our members have thrived. This evening is to honour their legacy.”
He also highlighted the association’s influence in establishing wider medical bodies such as the Overseas Doctors Association and the British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (BAPIO).
Former MSMA President Dr S. N. Jayabalan, who arrived in the UK in 1976, echoed similar sentiments. “This association became like a family,” he said, adding that the support system it built helped many overcome early challenges. He noted with pride the rise of a new generation of doctors and urged them to embrace integration while preserving cultural roots.
The evening featured a formal dinner, spirited conversations, and a moving tribute segment honouring pioneering members for their lifelong contribution to medicine and community service. Honourees included: Dr Mallika Mohanraj, Dr Yamuna Rajagopal, Dr Alagappan Ramaswamy, Dr Muthurangu, Mrs Usha Muthurangu, Mr Krishnamoorthy Sarangapani, Mrs Stella Sarangapani, Dr Parthasarathy, and Dr Mallika Parthasarathy.