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Scotland's first Sikh councillor gets OBE award
Gurudeo Saluja has been conferred one of Britain's highest civilian awards, the Order of the British Empire.
Gurudeo Saluja, who became Scotland's first Sikh councillor in 1999, has been conferred one of Britain's highest civilian awards, the Order of the British Empire (OBE).
Saluja, a resident of Aberdeenshire, has been councillor for the Echt ward since 1999 and is convener of Grampian Joint Police Board.
His proud wife Patricia watched as he was presented with the honour during a ceremony at Buckingham Palace this week.
Saluja was born and brought up in India, graduating in engineering from Benaras Hindu University in 1958.
He later gained masters degrees and a doctorate and had spells in Canada and Liverpool before moving to Scotland in 1976 to take up a teaching post at Robert Gordon University when it was an institute of technology.
Saluja was made an OBE for services to community relations. He performed a number of civic and other roles since arriving in the area.
A former president of Grampian Racial Equality Commission, he was also the founder president of the Asian Social and Cultural Association for Aberdeen and North-East Scotland.
