London: Two NRIs and a senior Indian diplomat have been presented with 'gold medals' by the Indian Overseas Congress in London for their outstanding contribution to society.

Navdeep Suri, diplomat and writer, Chris Naidu, business development Director of Natwest bank and Atiya Khan, a Urdu short story writer were given the medals.

Pawan K Varma, Minister for Culture in the Indian High Commission and Director of The Nehru Centre gave away the awards as part of India's Independence Day celebrations at the Montague Hall in Hounslow.

Suri, a member of the Indian Foreign Service, who had served in Cairo, Damascus, Washington DC and Dar-e-Salaam before coming to London, has just completed his tenure as spokesperson and head of the Press and Information department at the Indian High Commission.

Author of a study, Development Strategy as a Determinant of Foreign Policy: A case study of India and Pakistan, Suri has also translated Nanak Singh's award winning novel 'Pavitra Paapi' into English.

Chris Naidu, whose parents hailed from Chennai, joined Natwest Bank at the age of 16 and emerged as the youngest Business Development Director of the bank.

Moradabad-born Atiya Khan received her MA degree in Urdu and M Ed degree from Lucknow University and came to London after her marriage in 1969. In the UK she joined the civil service and worked as Executive Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture till 1994.