Mr Sewa Singh Mandla (89), a high profile lawyer and a community and inter-faith leader in Birmingham has been appointed Officer of British Empire (OBE) in recognition of his 50 years’ legal, human rights and selfless community voluntary service in West Midlands. As a long serving volunteer at the Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha (GNNSJ) and a trustee at the Nishkam Civic Association Handsworth, Birmingham, Mr Mandla has been recognised for his significant contribution to community and inter-faith development work in the city and the region.
He has been able to successfully fuse his professional work in law with spirituality to make a difference to Sikh and wider communities in the UK. Mr Mandla’s perseverance to take the issue of turbans worn by Sikh pupils in schools is a testament of his dedication to fight for a just cause.
His presence and strong personality enables him to successfully complete challenging social and professional tasks and projects. Mr Mandla has a gift of mobilising volunteers who are prepared to make selfless contribution to many different projects that he has initiated or led on behalf of other organisations.
He has an extraordinary passion and flair for serving the community in the pursuit of making a difference. His perseverance to follow through projects and tasks is one of his outstanding qualities. Mr Mandla is regularly invited to represent the views of the Sikh community in the media. He also volunteers to host television programmes on health and wellbeing and Kirtan on Sikh TV channels.
On being awarded the OBE in the Queen’s 90th birthday Honours list, Mr Mandla said “I am greatly humbled and feel privileged to be receiving this honour from HM the Queen. I thank Almighty God for this blessing and my spiritual master, Bhai Sahib Ji whose guidance has never failed me.
I pray that I live up to the expectations of all those who placed their faith, trust and confidence in me." He added “I have accepted this appointment on behalf of the Sikh and wider communities that I am privileged to serve here in Birmingham and West Midlands. This award is a recognition of the importance that community work and faith is playing in the secular world.”
