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After Uday Shankar, Punit Goenka is new IBF president
MUMBAI: The 17th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of The Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF) was held in New Delhi today. In the IBF Board of Directors meeting thereafter, Punit Goenka (Managing Director & CEO, Zee Entertainment Enterprises) was elected as the Foundation’s President.
The IBF Board also elected Rajat Sharma (Chairman, India TV), N.P. Singh (CEO, Sony Pictures Network), Sudhanshu Vats (Group CEO, Viacom 18), K. Madhavan (Managing Director, Asianet Communications) as Vice-Presidents; and K.V.L. Narayan Rao (Executive Vice-Chairperson, NDTV) as the Treasurer of the Foundation for a period of one year.
After being appointed, Goenka said, “I am delighted to lead the Indian broadcasting sector at a time when there is a lot of churning and India is being looked upon as global destination for investments. In the ensuing and continuing efforts of making India as a broadcasting superpower, I wish to work in a most collaborative manner with the Government, Industry and other stakeholders for realization of the sector’s value chain to the optimum.”
Outgoing IBF President Uday Shankar said, “I cannot think of a more suitable person than my dear friend, Punit Goenka to handover the leadership of IBF. Over the years, Punit has eminently helped me in navigating IBF through these volatile times. He is also the primary architect of Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC). His intelligence, dynamism and maturity will be great assets for IBF and the Indian media.”
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
