I’ve been fortunate in my writing and science careers to have been recognized for my work.  Below is a list of some of the accolades that my peers have been kind enough to award me. (Yes, I’m including the “honourable mentions” and some of the nominations, as well, because I’m proud of those, too.)

  • 2024 – My textbook, International Health: An Interdisciplinary Perspective, 3rd Edition became an Amazon.ca #1 bestseller in the “Adult Continuing Education” and “School Curricula” categories
  • 2024 – My collection, Folktales of Ancient India became an Amazon.ca #1 bestseller in the “Indian Mythology” category.
  • 2022 – The University of Western Ontario (from where I received my doctorate) honoured me with the Western Alumni Award of Merit for Professional Achievement
  • 2021 – So proud to be appointed a Senior Fellow of Massey College at the University of Toronto
  • 2021 – The Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Ottawa was too kind in granting me the Dean’s Award of Excellence
  • 2017 – The University of Ottawa Library was gracious enough to grant me the 2nd ever Open Scholarship Award.
  • 2016 – I was one of a handful of professors given the OCUFA (Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations) Teaching Award
  • 2015 – The wonderful students of the Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences at the University of Ottawa were kind of enough to give me their inaugural “Professor of Distinction” award.
  • 2015 – My textbook,  Using Population Health Indicators became an Amazon.ca #1 bestseller in the “Public Health” and “Medical Administration & Economics” categories
  • 2014 – I’m very proud to be the co-author of my student Loae Khir’s paper, “Shifting the birth weight paradigm“, which won top prize in the “Knowledge Transfer: Informing and Engaging the Public in Primary Health Care” category for the 2014 issue of Health Science Enquiry.
  • 2014 – Upon its launch, my textbook, Nothing To Do With Skin became an Amazon.ca #1 bestseller among books about Epidemiology, and a #2 Best Seller among books about Research
  • 2012 – 2nd place, Outstanding International Reporting award, given by New America Media (North American news syndication organization) for my article, “The Ethics of Surrogacy”
  • 2003 – nominated for the Journey Prize for my short story, “A Memory of Flowers and Coconut”
  • 2000 – Guyana Prize (national book award of Guyana) for Best First Work, for my book, Sweet Like Saltwater
  • 2000 – Honourable mention in Katha Indian-American International Fiction Contest for my short story, “Motherland”
  • 1995 – 1st place, Canadian Authors’ Association National Literary Competition for my short story, “In Flight”
  • 1995 – Hart House (University of Toronto) Literary Prize for my short story, “In Flight”
  • 1993 – Hart House (University of Toronto) Literary Prize for my short story, “Far From Family”
  • 1985 – Honourable mention in Permanent Trust National Literary Contest for my short story, “Seasonal Youth”

 

In 1996, much to my surprise, my short story, “Motherland”, was used by the Mississauga Board of Education as an anti-racism education tool. I’ve since learned that my books and stories are being taught in a variety if University classes. The following is a list of the ones of which I’m aware. If you know of other Universities using my books or stories in their curricula, please let me know.

  • Cornell University
  • Ryerson University
  • University of New Brunswick
  • York University

 

Arts funding is never great at the best of times. I’ve been lucky to have received the following literary grants:

  • 2002 – Ontario Arts Council Writers’ Reserve Grant
  • 2001 – Canada Council for the Arts Professional Creative Writers’ Grant
  • 2000 – Toronto Arts Council Level-2 Grant
  • 1998 – Ontario Arts Council Writers’ Reserve Grant

 

I’ve been proud to give back to the community where I can, most visibly by judging Arts and Writing competitions, such as:

  • Hart House (University of Toronto) literary contest (2010)
  • Speak-Out Slam Poetry contest (July/2009, Nov/2009)
  • The Katha Indian-American Fiction contest (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010)
  • The Derek Walcott writing contest in Trinidad (2005)
  • Awards jury of the Ontario Arts Council (2000)

 

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