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News will always be our focus, says Aakash Aath’s Eshita Surana
KOLKATA: Aakash Aath, a Bengali general entertainment channel (GEC) has said that though the focus of the channel has shifted, it still intends to keep news as part of its programme offering.
It should be noted that Aakash Aath which was once a 24 hour news channel, has reduced the news slot to one hour at present. It airs news everyday from 4.30pm to 5pm and then again at night from 10.30pm to11pm.
“Aakash Aath has undergone a change of format from news to GEC. We want our viewers to get news from us so that they do not have to shift elsewhere. Our news is positioned at a place where if you see one hour of this news you don’t need to see any other news channel,” said Aakash Aath director Eshita Surana.
The channel will continue to air one hour of news bulletin. “At present we are not sourcing any content from anywhere but creating our own and we intend to continue this. No plans of any change in near future,” she added.
Aakash Aath started off as Akash Bangla, a 24 hour Bengali entertainment channel with soaps like Kurukhetro, Shanai, Prabahini, Dotta, and Choritroheen. The channel later changed its format to become a 24 hour current affair and news channel in early 2012.
But after Channel 8, a Kolkata-headquartered production company bought majority stake in the channel more than a year ago, the format has changed again. “The channel will always have a news bulletin,” concluded Surana.
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.
