Indian consul general awarded Knight Grand Commander in Liberia

NEW DELHI: Sardar Upjit Singh Sachdeva, the present honorary consul general of India in Liberia, has been conferred with the Knight Grand Commander, Liberia's highest award during the 164th Independence Day celebrations in northern city of Voinjama, Lofa County, around 400 kilometers from Liberia's national capital Monrovia.
Sachdeva, who became the first Indian in African history to have been awarded the highest award by a sitting Liberian President since Liberia declared her independence 164 years ago on July 26, 1847, belongs to Punjab's Jalandhar town.
The award was presented to him by Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, president of the Republic of Liberia, for his outstanding contribution to the cause of the socio-economic development , recovery and reconstruction of Liberia after civil war which ravaged the entire nation.
His efforts in forging 'friendship, cordiality, peace and love between Liberia and India and enormous contributions to the growth of Liberia's commercial sector' was specially mentioned by Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf during this occasion.
President Pratibha Devi Singh Patil had earlier honoured him with the Pravasi Bharatiya Award for enhancing India's image globally during three-day-long Pravasi Bharatiya Divas held at the Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi during January 2011.
The Knight Grand Commander of the Liberian Humane Order of African Redemption, which Sachdeva received on Liberia's Independence Day, was established on January 13, 1879, during the Presidency of Anthony W. Gardiner.
It is awarded for humanitarian work in Liberia for acts supporting and assisting the Liberian nation and to individuals, who play a prominent role in the emancipation of African Americans and the pursuit of equal rights.
Upjit Singh Sachdeva stated that he was grateful to President Johnson-Sirleaf for the 'singular honor' bestowed on him by the awarding of the Knight Grand Commander, which is one of Liberia's prestigious Awards.
He said that as honorary Indian consul general, the award has motivated him to further strengthen the cordial bilateral relations between the two nations and he shall forever cherish the award and wear its insignia with great pride and dignity"
Sachdeva further stated that since his migration to 'this Land of Liberty' and the starting of working career in 1987, Liberia has become his second home and means so much to him that "when I leave this sojourn outside of Liberia, it is my wish that my mortal remains be cremated here as a sign of our strong attachment to this land"