New Delhi: It was a moment filled with emotions, as Jean Pierre Harrison, the husband of late NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) astronaut Kalpana Chawla received the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman 2004 from Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the midst of a standing ovation from hundreds of non-resident Indians (NRIs).

The award was conferred on Chawla posthumously for her contribution to promotion of better understanding of India and advancing the country globally.

The first India-born woman astronaut, Chawla died in the Columbia space shuttle tragedy early in 2003.

Chawla was among 10 NRIs and persons of Indian origin (PIOs) including Lord Meghnad Desai from London, Guyanese President Bharat Jagdeo, who was also the chief guest for the second Pravasi Divas celebrations, Dipak C Jain, Dean of Kellog Business School, US and Fitz Remedios Santana De Souza, freedom fighter from Kenya who received the award.

The PM also awarded Sukhi Turner, Mayor from New Zealand, P Mohammed Ali from Oman, Mariam Chisti from Kuwait, Narinder Singh Kampany from US and Justice Ahmed Moosa Ebrahim from Zimbabwe at the second Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in New Delhi.

The award carries a citation and a 100 gram gold medal, Sharma added.