04-21-2007, 10:49 AM
We wish Dr. Raghav Dhital our congratulations for receiving an OBE from the British Government. It makes us feel proud when a Nepali is recognized for his hard work in foreign countries by their government.
Dr Raghav Prasad Dhital was awestricken the morning of April 18 when he opened an envelope from the UK Ministry of Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs at his cozy home in North East London. As he unfolded the enclosed letter, he simply could not believe what he was reading: "On the advice of the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Her Majesty the Queen has been pleased to appoint you to be honorary officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE)."
The letter further read, "This honor is conferred to you by Her Majesty in recognition of your services to UK-Nepal relations."
"I had a little hint about it", Dr Dhital said in a telephonic conversation with The Kathmandu Post on Friday afternoon, "someone once told me that the letter had been forwarded to the cabinet [in Nepal] for its approval, myself being a Nepali."
"I would like to share this happiness with all those who have been working tirelessly to cement the relations between the two countries," the modest doctor said further, "I'm obliged to them for their herculean task where I happened to play a role as a leader."
Dr Dhital, who left for London in 1979 after a decade as a medical practitioner in Nepal, is more like a leader in various capacities than a physician. He has been involved with many social and charitable organizations for almost three decades now. He has seven times assumed the chairmanship of the Yeti Nepalese Association of UK, the oldest UK Nepali organization which was established in 1960. He was also a founder member of the Nepalese Doctors Association. Dr Dhital also represented the Nepali diaspora in the UK when the Non-Resident Nepali (NRN) Association was set up, and has been working as an advisor to its UK Chapter.
With his considerable accomplishments in the direction of the wellbeing and recognition of Nepalis living in the UK, his name is indispensable whenever one talks of fostering Nepal-Britain relations. Dr Dhital has now taken another stride toward achieving the long cherished dream of Nepalis living there. Yeti London Welfare Foundation, where Dr Dhital is the Chairman of Trustees, has to date collected over 80,000 pounds for a community center in London which will house the shrines of Pashupatinath and Swoyambhu. The money was collected by organizing various charity events.
"The Nepali society here has grown so big and it is high time we promoted and kept our Nepali culture flourishing," he said adding, "everyone is equally responsible for the welfare of our community and I too am working for it, besides my regular job as a general practitioner in the National Health Service (NHS). The OBE has naturally motivated me in my pursuit."
On being asked about his choice of country for retirement he told The Kathmandu Post, "I'll divide myself between both countries. This country [UK] has given me a lot and the kids are also growing up here. So, I'll work for both countries."
Dr Dhital is the second Nepali to obtain the OBE after Prof Dr Surya Prasad Subedi. The OBE, which is a British order of chivalry, was established in 1917 during World War I by King George V. The OBE recognizes distinguished service (outside the Civil Service) and work with charitable and welfare organizations.
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Dr Raghav Prasad Dhital was awestricken the morning of April 18 when he opened an envelope from the UK Ministry of Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs at his cozy home in North East London. As he unfolded the enclosed letter, he simply could not believe what he was reading: "On the advice of the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Her Majesty the Queen has been pleased to appoint you to be honorary officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE)."
The letter further read, "This honor is conferred to you by Her Majesty in recognition of your services to UK-Nepal relations."
"I had a little hint about it", Dr Dhital said in a telephonic conversation with The Kathmandu Post on Friday afternoon, "someone once told me that the letter had been forwarded to the cabinet [in Nepal] for its approval, myself being a Nepali."
"I would like to share this happiness with all those who have been working tirelessly to cement the relations between the two countries," the modest doctor said further, "I'm obliged to them for their herculean task where I happened to play a role as a leader."
Dr Dhital, who left for London in 1979 after a decade as a medical practitioner in Nepal, is more like a leader in various capacities than a physician. He has been involved with many social and charitable organizations for almost three decades now. He has seven times assumed the chairmanship of the Yeti Nepalese Association of UK, the oldest UK Nepali organization which was established in 1960. He was also a founder member of the Nepalese Doctors Association. Dr Dhital also represented the Nepali diaspora in the UK when the Non-Resident Nepali (NRN) Association was set up, and has been working as an advisor to its UK Chapter.
With his considerable accomplishments in the direction of the wellbeing and recognition of Nepalis living in the UK, his name is indispensable whenever one talks of fostering Nepal-Britain relations. Dr Dhital has now taken another stride toward achieving the long cherished dream of Nepalis living there. Yeti London Welfare Foundation, where Dr Dhital is the Chairman of Trustees, has to date collected over 80,000 pounds for a community center in London which will house the shrines of Pashupatinath and Swoyambhu. The money was collected by organizing various charity events.
"The Nepali society here has grown so big and it is high time we promoted and kept our Nepali culture flourishing," he said adding, "everyone is equally responsible for the welfare of our community and I too am working for it, besides my regular job as a general practitioner in the National Health Service (NHS). The OBE has naturally motivated me in my pursuit."
On being asked about his choice of country for retirement he told The Kathmandu Post, "I'll divide myself between both countries. This country [UK] has given me a lot and the kids are also growing up here. So, I'll work for both countries."
Dr Dhital is the second Nepali to obtain the OBE after Prof Dr Surya Prasad Subedi. The OBE, which is a British order of chivalry, was established in 1917 during World War I by King George V. The OBE recognizes distinguished service (outside the Civil Service) and work with charitable and welfare organizations.
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