List of Non-resident Indians

Non-resident Indians (NRIs) are people who hold an Indian citizenship legally, but do not live in India. Therefore, this list does not include individuals of Indian origin who are legal citizens of a foreign or their current resident country through naturalization.

United Arab Emirates

Business and Industry

• Thumbay Moideen - Founder President, THUMBAY Group & Founder President - Board of Governors, Gulf Medical University
• M A Yousuf Ali – Founder and Managing director of EMKE Group
• Micky Jagtiani – Landmark Group
• Sunny Varkey – GEMS Education
• B. R. Shetty - Chairman & M.D. of UAE Exchange & New Medical Centre
• PNC Menon - Founder and Chairman of Sobha Developers
• Joy Alukkas - Founder and Chairman of Joyalukkas Group.

Sports

• Vikrant Shetty - cricketer
• Swapnil Patil - cricketer

Canada

Art – Architecture – Design – Engineering

• Anish Kapoor – Artist
• Satyendra Pakhale – Industrial designer - Architect
• Amar Bose – Sound engineer

Literature and media

• Anita Rau Badami – novelist
• Shauna Singh Baldwin – novelist
• Monika Deol – former MuchMusic host and CIVT news anchor
• Tara Singh Hayer – newspaper publisher
• Rohinton Mistry – novelist
• Ajmer Rode – poet and playwright
• Haroon Siddiqui – reporter, editor and columnist
• Priscilla Uppal – novelist and poet
• Sarika Sehgal- CBC Canadian broadcast journalist

Politics

• Bharat Agnihotri – Alberta Liberal MLA
• Bidhu Jha – Manitoba NDP MLA
• Deepak Obhrai – Alberta Conservative MP
• Gulzar Singh Cheema – Manitoba and British Columbia MLA
• Gurbax Singh Malhi – Liberal MP
• Gurmant Grewal – former Conservative MP, half (with Nina, listed below) of the first married couple to serve as MPs in the same session of Parliament
• Hardial Bains – founder and leader of the Marxist–Leninist Party of Canada from 1970–1997
• Harinder Takhar – Ontario Liberal MPP and Minister of Transportation
• Harry Bains – British Columbia New Democratic MLA
• Harry Lali – BC NDP MLA
• Herb Dhaliwal – Liberal MP and the first Indo-Canadian cabinet minister
• Jaggi Singh – anti-globalization activist
• Kuldip Singh Kular – Ontario Liberal MPP
• Moe Sihota – former British Columbia NDP MLA and television host
• Murad Velshi – former Ontario Liberal MPP
• Navdeep Bains – Liberal Member of Parliament
• Nina Grewal – Conservative MP, half (with Gurmant) of the first married couple to serve as MPs in the same session of Parliament
• Raj Chouhan – British Columbia NDP MLA
• Raj Pannu – former leader of the Alberta New Democrats, the first Indo-Canadian leader of a political party
• Raminder Gill – former Ontario Progressive Conservative MPP and federal Conservative candidate
• Rob Nijjar – former BC Liberal MLA
• Ruby Dhalla – Liberal MP
• Shiraz Shariff – Alberta Progressive Conservative MLA
• Ujjal Dosanjh – former Premier of British Columbia, the first Indo-Canadian premier, former federal Minister of Health, and current National Defence Critic
• Vic Dhillon – Ontario Liberal MPP
• Prasad Panda - Alberta Wildrose MLA

Sports

• Ashish Patel cricketer
• Brandon Chillar
• Emanuel Sandhu – figure skater
• Jitendra Patel cricketer
• Joseph Harris cricketer
• Manny Malhotra – Plays for the Vancouver Canucks in the NHL

Academics & Researchers

• Ram Murty, Professor and Head of Department, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Queen's University
• C. R. Rao, Eberly Professor Emeritus, Penn State University, winner of National medal of science, USA, FRS (UK).
• Ravindra Khattree, Professor, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Oakland University.

Others

• Sudi Devanesen – physician and member of the Order of Canada
• John Dossetor – physician and bioethicist, member of the Order of Canada
• Shuman Ghosemajumder – businessman and computer scientist
• Suryanarayanan Arun – Reality TV Star(Canada's Worst Driver Season 5)

United Kingdom

Arts & Entertainment

• Biddu, music producer, composer, songwriter and singer
• Om Puri, actor.
• Tjinder Singh, lead singer of Cornershop.
• Veronica Mehta, singer

Business and Industry

• Lakshmi Mittal, steel magnate.
• Anurag Dikshit, co-founder PartyGaming
• Vikrant Bhargava, co-founder PartyGaming
• Hinduja brothers
• Anshu Jain, Head of Global Markets, Deutsche Bank AG

Singapore

Politics

• The late CV Devan Nair, Singapore's third President (1981–1985), father of the modern trades union movement in Singapore.
• Sellapan Ramanathan, President of Singapore since 1999, former head of Singapore's intelligence unit and Ambassador to the United States, amongst other senior positions in the civil service.
• S Rajaratnam, former Senior Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Labour and Culture. Co-founder of the Peoples Action Party and Association of South East Asian Nations. Author of the Singapore Pledge. Seen as a founding father of modern Singapore.
• S Jayakumar, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Law and co-ordinating Minister for Security. Former Foreign Minister and ambassador to the United Nations, and Dean of the Law School in Singapore.
• S Dhanabalan, Chairman of Temasek Holdings and DBS Bank, former Minister of National Development, Trade and Industry and Foreign Affairs. Tipped by Singapore's first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew as one of the four men he considered as a possible successor.
• Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Minister of Education and former head of Singapore's de facto central bank.
• Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister of Community Development, Youth and Sports. Former CEO of Singapore General Hospital.
• Dr.Balaji Sadasivan, Junior Minister.
• J. B. Jeyaretnam, former opposition leader, and the first person to break the PAP monopoly in parliament in 1984. A former magistrate.
• James Gomez, senior leader in the main opposition party (the Workers Party) and founder of 'Think Centre', a political NGO.

Entertainment

• Gurmit Singh, leading actor and media personality
• Kumar, leading drag superstar

Sports

• V. Sundramoorthy, National footballer, team manager
• Terry Pathmanathan, National footballer

Arts and Literature

• Villayil Raman Gopala Pillai, Singaporean Malayalam novelist
• Edwin Thumboo, award winning poet
• Chandran Nair, Singaporean poet writing in English

Academics and Research

• Philip Jeyaretnam

Business and Industry

• Dileep Nair, Former managing director of DBS Bank, Singapore, and Under-Secretary General for the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services

Malaysia

Politics

Government

• Mahathir Mohamad, fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia
• V. T. Sambanthan, one of the founding fathers of independent Malaya
• Samy Vellu, president of the Malaysian Indian Congress and former Works Minister
• V. Manickavasagam, sixth president of the Malaysian Indian Congress and former Minister of Communication in the Malaysian cabinet
• K. Pathmanaban, former deputy minister and founder of Melaka Manipal Medical College
• D.R. Seenivasagam, founder of PPP and politician
• M. Kayveas, president of PPP and former deputy minister
• G. Vadiveloo, former Speaker of the Senate
• K.S. Nijhar, former Member of Parliament
• K. Sivalingam, former member of the state executive council of Selangor
• K. Parthiban, former state assemblyman for Ijok
• S. Sothinathan, former deputy minister
• Devaki Krishnan, the first Malaysian Indian woman to become a municipal councillor.

Opposition

• Karpal Singh, chairman of opposition Democratic Action Party and member of parliament
• Sivarasa Rasiah, a human rights lawyer and vice-president of the opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat (People's Justice Party)
• David V., politician
• Kula Segaran, MP for Ipoh Barat and DAP National Vice Chairman.
• Gobind Singh Deo, opposition politician
• Kumutha Rahman
• V. Sivakumar, Speaker of the Perak State Assembly

Other

• C.V.Devan Nair,3rd President of Singapore
• E. E. C. Thuraisingham, a politician of pre-Independence Malaya
• John Thivy, freedom fighter and founding president of the Malayan Indian Congress
• K.L. Devaser, fourth president of the Malaysian Indian Congress
• M. G. Pandithan, president of the Indian Progressive Front (IPF)

Arts and Entertainment

• Alleycats, famous 80s band and frontman, Loganathan Arumugam
• Kamahl cabaret/easy listening singer and recording artist, famous for The Elephant Song, currently based in Australia.
• Poetic Ammo, hip hop band
• Jaclyn Victor, winner of the first Malaysian Idol
• Guy Sebastian, winner of Australian Idol 2003
• Ronnie Pereira, lead guitarist and singer of the popular 70s band Revolvers, also known as the Malaysian Carlos Santana
• Asha Gill, TV personality, DJ and women's rights activist
• V. Nagaraj, director
• Ash Nair, singer
• Reshmonu, singer
• Hans Isaac, actor, producer, director and former model.
• Huzir Sulaiman, theatre personality, actor, director and writer.
• Syed Thajudeen, artist
• Indi Nadarajah, stage actor, comedian
• Deborah Priya Henry, Miss Malaysia World 2007
• Rani Moorthy, playwright and actress
• Harikrish Menon, singer and songwriter

Literature and Media

• Munshi Abdullah, early Malayan historian
• Rani Manicka, writer
• K. S. Maniam, novelist and academician
• Rehman Rashid, journalist

Academics and Research

• Jomo Kwame Sundaram, prominent economist, who is currently serving as the United Nations Assistant Secretary General for Economic Development in the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA)
• Prof Sittampalam Shanmugaratnam – Professor and researcher

Government Officers, Army and Judiciary

• Ramon Navaratnam, prominent Malaysian economist
• B.C. Shekhar, Malaysia's Mr Natural Rubber that revolutionised Malaysia's rubber industry
• Datuk Mahadev Shankar, prominent lawyer and former Court of Appeal Judge
• Justice Datuk K.P. Gengadharan Nair, High Court Judge
• G. Rama Iyer, former Secretary-General of the Primary Industries Ministry
• Rear Admiral (rtd) Datuk K. Thanabalasingam, first Malaysian chief of the Royal Malayan Navy

Business and Industry

• Raja Mudaliar, 16th century Malacca trader
• K. Thamboosamy Pillay, pre-independence prominent businessman and community leader
• Ananda Krishnan, one of Malaysia's richest men, runs a media empire that includes Maxis Communications
• Datuk Tony Fernandes, the man who introduced no-frills, low-cost airlines (AirAsia) to Malaysia and Asia
• Shoba Purushothaman, businesswoman
• Bastianpillai Paul Nicholas, Malaysia's first Asian banker
• G. Gnanalingam, executive chairman of Westport
• Vinod Shekar, businessman, President and Group Chief Executive Putra Group.
• Datuk K.L. Palaniappan, architect and businessman, executive director MK Land.
• Doraisingam Pillai, CEO of Lotus chain of restaurants and companies

Activists

• MGG Pillai (1939–2006), Malaysian journalist and political activist
• Rasammah Bhupalan, social activist
• Bishan Singh Ram Singh, social activist and environmentalist
• Irene Xavier, women's rights activist
• Waytha Moorthy Ponnusamy, HINDRAF activist
• P. Uthayakumar, HINDRAF activist
• M. Manoharan, HINDRAF activist

Sports

Football

• R. Arumugam, national football player (goalkeeper)
• Santokh Singh, national footballer
• Thirumurugan s/o Veeran, national footballer
• Shebby Singh,national footballer

Cricket

• Mahadevan Sathasivam, former captain of the Malaysian cricket team
• Lall Singh, Former Indian Test cricketer
• Suresh Navaratnam, captain of the Malaysian cricket team
• Jeevandran Nair, cricketer
• Marimuthu Muniandy, cricketer
• Rakesh Madhavan, cricketer
• Ramesh Menon, cricketer
• Arul Suppiah, cricketer
• Rohan Suppiah, cricketer
• David Thalalla, cricketer
• Santhara Vello, cricketer
• Kunjiraman Ramadas, cricketer
• Rohan Selvaratnam, cricketer

Other Sports Personalities

• Datuk Dr Mani Jegathesan, 1960s athletics champion and known as the Flying Doctor
• Nicol David, World Number 1 in women's squash
• Murugayan Kumaresan, former national cyclist
• Govindasamy Saravanan, national walker (athlete)
• Karamjit Singh, professional rally driver
• Nandakumar Puspanathan, rally driver

Others

• Toh Puan Uma Sambanthan
• R. Thampipillay, educationist
• Datuk Bernard Chandran, fashion designer
• Janaky Athi Nahappan, freedom fighter
• Maniam Moorthy, army personnel who was part of the Malaysian team to scale Mount Everest
• Murphy Pakiam, Roman Catholic archbishop of the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur

Indonesia

• Raam Punjabi, leading TV producer, media tycoon.
• Gurnam Singh, Athlete, 3 Gold medal winner at 1962 Asian Games
• H. S. Dillon, politician, various portfolios.

Australia

• Kamahl, cabaret/easy listening singer and recording artist, famous for The Elephant Song
• Indira Naidoo,television presenter and celebrity speaker
• Aishveryaa Nidhi, actress and theatre personality
• Ramana Panda Entrepreneur and CEO Telehealthnetworks

New Zealand

• Anand Satyanand, First Governor General of Asian descent
• Dipak Patel, cricketer New Zealand Cricket Team
• Jeetan Patel, cricketer New Zealand Cricket Team

Fiji

Academic

• Rajesh Chandra, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Fiji.
• Brij Lal, historian.
• Sarojini Pillay, Registrar of the University of Fiji.

Business & Industry

• Niranjan, Sangeeta – Businesswoman.
• Hari Punja- Business tycoon.
• Anare Jale, Chief Executive Officer of the Fiji Public Services Commission.

Politics

• Mahendra Chaudhry, first Indo-Fijian Prime Minister (1999–2000)
• Ahmed Ali (1938–2005), several times a cabinet minister.
• George Shiu Raj, Cabinet Minister.
• Anand Singh, Fiji Labour Party Senator and former Attorney-General.
• K. S. Reddy, Member of Legislative Council of Fiji(1953–1956).
• Vijay R. Singh, former Cabinet Minister.
• Sidiq Koya, Leader of the Opposition National Federation Party
• A. D. Patel (1905–1969), founder of the National Federation Party
• Pramod Rae, General Secretary of the National Federation Party.
• Jai Ram Reddy, Leader of the National Federation Party (1977–1987; 1992–1999); Judge.
• Prem Singh, former NFP leader.
• Raman Pratap Singh, National Federation Party leader.
• Amjad Ali, FLP politician.
• Narendra Arjun, former NFP parliamentarian
• Kamlesh Reddy, FLP politician.
• Kamlesh Kumar Arya, FLP politician.
• Anand Babla, FLP politician.
• Pratap Chand, FLP politician.
• Ahmed Gaffar, FLP politician.
• Gunasagaran Gounder, FLP politician.
• Hafiz Khan, businessman and Senator.
• James Shri Krishna, FLP politician.
• Prince Gopal Lakshman, FLP politician.
• Surendra Lal, FLP politician.
• Sanjeet Chand Maharaj, FLP politician
• Perumal Mupnar, FLP Member of Parliament.
• Damodran Nair, FLP Member of Parliament.
• Gyani Nand, FLP politician.
• Ragho Nand, FLP politician.
• Udit Narayan, FLP politician.
• Krishna Prasad], FLP Member of Parliament.
• Ram Sharan], FLP politician.
• Gyan Singh], FLP Member of Parliament.
• Pravin Singh, FLP Member of Parliament
• Satendra Singh, FLP politician.
• Lekh Ram Vayeshnoi, Fiji Labour Party parliamentarian.
• Shivlal Nagindas, Labasa businessman and former Senator.

Others

• Singh, Vijay leading golfer, former World No.1
• Mishra, Ghananand, jurist (1916–2005).
• Chaudhry, Rajendra, lawyer.
• Khan, Iqbal, controversial Fijian lawyer.
• Nand, Nainendra, Solicitor-General of Fiji.
• Sharma, Gabriel, first Indo-Fijian Anglican Bishop.

South Africa

• Sewsunker "Papwa" Sewgolum – Legendary Indian golfer.
• Umar Hajee Ahmed Jhaveri – Lawyer, assisted Gandhi in setting up the Natal Indian Congress.
• Radhakrishna Padayachi, Deputy Minister for Communication.
• Priya Reddy – Spokesperson for the Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Helen Zille (2010). Former Radio Presenter on Good Hope FM (2004–2010)cape town,South Africa.
• Dullah Omar – Politician.
• Yusuf Dadoo – Doctor and politician.
• Ahmed Kathrada – Political activist.
• Karthy Govender
• Ronnie Govender
• Jody Kollapen
• George Naicker
• Monty Naicker
• Amma Naidoo
• Indira Naidoo
• Naransamy Roy Naidoo
• Shanti Naidoo
• Thambi Naidoo
• Xavier Naidoo
• Thillaiaadi Valliammai
• Hashim Amla – Cricketer, South Africa Cricket Team

Mauritius

Politics

• Abdool Razack Mohamed, one of the three founding fathers of independent Mauritius.
• Sookdeo Bissoondoyal, politician and one of the three founding fathers of independent Mauritius.
• Sir Dayendranath Burrenchobay, former Governor-General of Mauritius
• Sir Anerood Jugnauth, president
• Navin Ramgoolam, prime minister
• Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, former prime minister and one of the three founding fathers of independent Mauritius
• Veerasamy Ringadoo, former president
• Cassam Uteem, former president
• Dev Manraj, former Financial Secretary
• Jaya Krishna Cuttaree diplomat
• Madun Dulloo diplomat

Others

• Ariranga Govindasamy Pillay, Chief Justice of Mauritius
• Shirin Ameeruddy-Cziffra, human rights activist
• Nathacha Devi Appanah, author,journalist
• Dev Virahsawmy, writer, linguist
• Vikash Dhorasoo, former French national soccer team player (born to Mauritian parents)

Kenya

Sports

• Hitesh Modi cricketer
• Ravindu Shah cricketer
• Dipak Chudasama cricketer
• Sandeep Gupta cricketer
• Aasif Karim cricketer
• Tanmay Mishra cricketer
• Brijal Patel cricketer
• Malhar Patel cricketer
• Kalpesh Patel cricketer
• Ramesh Sethi cricketer
• Harilal Shah cricketer
• Jawahir Shah cricketer
• Alpesh Vadher cricketer

Others

• Makhan Singh Freedom fighter
• Yash Pal Ghai Chairman of the Constitution of Kenya Review Commission
• M.G. Vassanji Novelist, Commonwealth Writers Prize winner
• Zain Verjee CNN TV Anchor
• Vithalbhai Patel Chairman and Founder of Laboratory and Allied Ltd. (Pharmaceuticals)

Seychelles

• Kantilal Jivan Well-known businessman, naturalist, historian, photographer and vegetarian cook.
• Nirmal Shah Environmental expert, writer, fund raiser and civic leader.

Germany

• Gujjula Ravindra Reddy – Three time Mayor of Altlandsberg, Germany,Member of state Parliament of Brandenburg, Germany.
• Sebastian Edathy – Member of parliament and of Angela Merkel´s grand coalition, social democrat
• Mahirwan Mamtani – Painter, graphic and multimedia artist. Living in Germany since 1966.

Portugal

• Antonio Costa - First Indian-Origin Prime Minister of Portugal, of a European Union Country

References