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Sardar Patel, Indira Gandhi to be remembered by AIR, DD on their anniversaries
NEW DELHI: Both All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan are celebrating India’s Iron Man Sardar Vallabhai Patel’s birthday this week with different programmes.
AIR has organised a discussion today, which will be broadcast on 31 October. This year’s topic is Marxism, Socialism and Integral Humanism. The speaker is veteran mediaperson and member of Parliament Chandan Mitra.
Meanwhile, AIR Delhi will also broadcast live the function relating to the 30th Death Anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi from 1 Akbar Road, New Delhi on 31 October from 8.15 am onwards on Indraprastha Channel MW 366.3 mtr and a Radio Report on the various functions held in the capital to commemorate the anniversary and will be broadcast on 31 October 2014 at. 8.30 pm. This report will be broadcast from Indraprastha Channel 366.3 mtr and National Network.
DD Bharati is telecasting “Sardar Patel”: Vallabh Bhai Patel Birthday Celebration on 31 October at 06:00 pm, with repeat telecast at 02:00 am and 10:30 am.
DD National is going to remember him through the Hindi Feature Film ‘Sardar’ directed and produced by Ketan Mehta scheduled for telecast at 09.30 p.m. on DD-National.
DD National will also telecast at 08:00 am the events of the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas with the paying of floral tributes at Patel Chowk, New Delhi. This will be followed by the Unity Pledge and Run for Unity from Vijay Chowk to India Gate, New Delhi.
There will be a documentary on the Sardar after the morning function, and the film YUGPURUSH: A film on Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at 10.00 am.
The feature “SARDAR” by Ketan Mehta will be telecast on DD National in the Friday Houseful slot at 9.30 pm.
DD News has also slated programmes to pay their tributes to the Sardar and the former Prime Minister. A half-hour discussion will be telecast at 7.30 pm on the Sardar, and the social media; Tweets and YouTube alerts will be given for the function. The Sardar Patel lecture will be telecast in news bulletins. The live programme will start at 7:30 am and go live till 10 am with two anchors and two guests with inputs from Police Parade, Hyderabad. This will be followed by a half-hour programme, named Lauh Purush which will be repeated at 7:30 pm. There will be a discussion in the late night news bulletin on DD News at 8.10 pm.
During the day, all the events in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes part will be streamed live on YouTube. There will be tweets on PM’s function and speech, apart from posts on Facebook.
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.
