Atlantan Jaya Kamlani received the Bharat Samman (Pride of India) Award on January 12, 2016, at Leela Palace in Delhi from former Army Chief, General V. K. Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs and Manu Jagmohan Singh, Secretary General of the NRI (nonresident Indians) Institute, whose father had established the institute and the annual Bharat Samman awards tradition 28 years ago to recognize exemplary Indians living overseas.
The large gold-plated award honors her for her contributions as an author and social advocate.
Jaya Kamlani is a former Silicon Valley tech consultant, and graduate of St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai. She has been living in the USA since 1969. She has written a memoir, a book of poetry, and a book on social issues, To India with Tough Love. She writes about topics such as corruption and peace, and has spoken about
writing and human rights issues at the Indo-American Arts Council (IAAC) First Annual Literary Festival
at Columbia University.