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Indian journalist Rama Pandey presented lifetime achievement award in London
NEW DELHI: Former BBC Hindi radio journalist and Doordarshan newsreader Rama Pandey was honoured with the ‘Bharat Gaurav Award’ for her contribution towards Journalism and Activism with a Lifetime Achievement Award in London recently.
The award was given by NRI Organisation Sanskriti Yuva Sangstha at the House of Commons in the British Parliament.
The other notable awardees included PepsiCo chaiman & CEO Indra K Nooyi, Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi, former hockey captain Major Dhayan Chand, and ‘Google Boy’ Kautilya.
Pandey had gained fame with her series Jaane Apna Desh. With over 250 episodes, the series has preserved India’s forgotten heritage and culture. The writer, poet, journalist, and artist has brought on television some interesting and unknown facts about India.
Receiving the award, Pandey said, “The kind of stories, histories and the mystery revolving around India are worth exploring and talking about. I have just fed my curiosity and with every curious question. I am glad I could contribute to my country.”
Over the years, personalities like actor Manoj Kumar, singer Jagjit Singh, creative ad filmmaker Piyush Pandey, and many others have been honoured with this prestigious award. The Sanskriti Yuva Sanstha has been working for the past 17 years with a vision to enhance and help Indian culture and civilization to prosper, grow and mark its presence in not only in India but all around world through series of innovative social programmes.
Pandey has had an extensive career of 40 years in diverse fields like broadcasting, acting/theatre, teaching, writing, programme presentation, event management and film production / direction at national and international levels.
She began her career as a child artist. Her professional experience includes working with DD India and BBC Hindi and her film industry experience includes acting in eight art films, directing 300 TV films, including four 35mm full length feature films.
She worked with Doordarshan as a producer at a time when DD was the only source of household entertainment and did some pioneering projects for rural audiences. At BBC Hindi Service at London, she simultaneously contributed regularly to BBC Asian Television and significantly towards some major field projects of the BBC in Asia.
She has an illustrious writing career with several serials, stories, programmes, films, documentaries to her credit. She has written, produced and directed several multi-episode serials (including Shabash Begum, Suno Kahani, Jaane Apna Desh), and several hundred tele-films, news capsules & documentaries.
She was the first woman producer – director from India at BBC Radio, London (1981), was the first producer – director – presenter of Indian Satellite Programmes SITE in 1972-73 and was the first presenter of Yuv Vani.
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.
