Congratulations to our President, Shri Hitendra Joshi on being conferred the Darjah Johan Negeri on the occasion of the 73th birhtday of Tuan Yang Terutama Yang Di-Pertua Negeri Pulan Pinang on 9 July 2011.

The appointment of Brigadier-General Ravinder Singh, a Sikh, as the next chief of the Singapore Army is the
culmination of a long tradition of the community serving in uniform, both as policemen and in the armed forces,
in the city-state.

Their role in Singapore belies their small number: There are only an estimated 12,000 to 15,000 Sikhs in Singapore, a nation of five million people.

Their number is small even when compared to 100,000 Sikhs living in Malaysia. Sikhs came to this part of Southeast Asia as soldiers and policemen during the British era.

Brig. Gen. Singh will replace Major-General Chan Chun Sing as army chief March 25.

Singh, 46, currently deputy secretary (technology) in the defence ministry, was previously commanding officer, 3rd Signal Battalion; commander, 2nd Singapore Infantry Brigade and   assistant chief of general staff (plans); head joint communications and information systems department.                                                                                    

He has also held the posts of head joint plans and transformation department; commander 6th Division and chief of staff - joint staff.

Singh holds a Master of Arts (Engineering Science) from the University of Oxford, Britain. He also holds a Master of Science (Management of Technology) from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology,US.

He joined the Singapore Armed Forces in December 1982. Brig Gen Singh is also the first non-Chinese Chief of Army in nearly 30 years.                                                                                                  

Colonel Mancharan Singh Gill was the first ever when he took up the post in 1982, the report  said.

He was born and raised in Auckland, attending Richmond Road School in Ponsonby, and Sacred Heart College in Glen Innes. His parents were born in Fiji and migrated to New Zealand whilst his grandparents were born in India and had migrated to Fiji.

His career began when he graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Auckland in 1970. Following admission to the Bar later that year, he worked at the Crown Solicitor's Office in Auckland (Meredith Connell).

In 1982, he was appointed a Judge in the District Court with a warrant for civil and criminal cases, specialising in criminal jury trials. Between 1982 and 1994 he worked firstly in Palmerston North and then in a number of courts in the Auckland area. In 1995 he was appointed a Parliamentary Ombudsman, serving two five-year terms.

Another area of interest has been in international affairs. On the governance boards of the Asia New Zealand Foundation and the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs and Transparency International, he has been able to reflect both his interests and family backgrounds with the Pacific and with India.  

He and wife Susan were married in 1970 and they have three adult children. They have pursued a number of interests together both in New Zealand and in travelling overseas.

He was awarded a the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal and made a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for public services in 2005. On being appointed as Governor-General he was made a Principal Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2006 and a Companion of the Queen's Service Order in 2007. With the changes to the New Zealand Royal Honours system in 2009, he was redesignated as a Knight Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. In 2006,

His alma mater, the University of Auckland, awarded him an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.

• Darjah Yang Mulia Pangkuan Negeri (D.M.P.N) 

which is the upper class of Datos in the State of Penang. 

Dato Markend Dalpatram Joshi is actively involved in business as well as in social and welfare organizations.  He is concurrently the President of the Council of Dato’ Dato’ Penang as well as the President of the Council of Justices of the Peace (JP), Penang. 

 He has held positions in various bodies, namely:- 

Dato’ Markend Joshi has been appointed to the Board of Visiting Justices to the Penang Prisons since 1989 and as a Commissioner of the Hindu Endowments Board, Penang since 2009. 

He is also a Life Member of the Ramakrishna Ashram, Penang, Brahmin Association of Malaysia, Wadda Sikh Gurdwara, Penang and the Sanathan Dharam Sabha (Shiv Temple), Taiping. 

For his various contributions and excellent services the Penang State Government appointed him  a Justice of the Peace (JP) for the State of Penang in 1989, awarded the Pingkat Kelakuan Terpuji (PKT) in 1995 and the “Darjah Setia Pangkuan Negeri” (DSPN) which carries the title of Dato’ in 1998.  

In July this year (2010) he was conferred the Upper Class award of “Darjah Yang Mulia Pangkuan Negeri” (DMPN) which also carries the title of Dato’. 

Dato’ Markend  Joshi born in Georgetown, Penang is the Chairman & Managing Director of Diamex Holdings Sdn Bhd, Diamex Sdn Bhd, and Parekh & Co.