Singer Sonu Nigam awarded Honorary Fellowship in UK

Singer Sonu Nigam awarded Honorary Fellowship in the United Kingdom.

London, Sonu Nigam, a Bollywood singer who was in the UK for a concert series, has been awarded an Honorary Fellowship by a leading Indian diaspora students’ organisation for his global impact in the field of music.

During Nigam’s sold-out performance at Wembley Arena in London last weekend, the National Indian Students and Alumni Union UK awarded him the Fellowship. It was delivered on stage by Virendra Sharma, a veteran British Indian Labour MP, and Professor Rachel Dwyer, Emeritus Professor of Indian Culture at the School of Oriental and African Studies.

“You once said that music isn’t just your job, but your reason for being. “This passion, combined with your commitment to giving back to the community, resonates deeply with what we stand for at NISAU,” said NISAU UK Chair Sanam Arora during her speech at the ceremony.

“We strive to empower, lead, and inspire, which are the principles you embody in your daily actions. You are more than just a musical icon; you are a bridge that connects hearts, minds, and nations through music, and you foster community through your philanthropic efforts, such as your fight for performers’ rights or your championing of gender equality by launching the world’s first transgender band,” she said.

The Honorary Fellowship, which has previously been awarded to actors Shabana Azmi, Javed Akhtar, and spiritualist Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, among others, recognizes individuals who have made a significant contribution to Indian cultural exchange, education, and social development on a global scale.

“I am deeply moved to hear and read such kind words for me. Thank you, NISAU, for your love and the honor. “I consider this to be another precious gift from my Almighty,” Nigam said upon receiving the honour.

The 50-year-old multi-platinum selling Bollywood playback singer and Padma Shri has completed a UK-wide tour, performing in London, Leeds, Glasgow, and Birmingham as part of a concert series celebrating 30 years of his chart-topping cinematic hits, including ‘Kal Ho Naa Ho’, ‘Shukran Allah’, and ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’.