News Broadcasting
CNN examines the legacy of indias brave heart in worlds untold stories: the fearless one
MUMBAI: It was a phone call that no parent wants to receive. But on the fateful night of December 16, 2012, the parents of a 23-year-old Indian medical student had the police on the line saying their child has been taken to the hospital. Little did they know that what lay ahead would not only change their life forever, but shake the conscience of an entire nation and effect a concrete change in its judicial system.
What started as an ordinary evening at the movies for this young girl, turned out to be an unimaginable night of horror as she was raped, brutally beaten and violated by a group of men in a bus and then left to die on the roadside. This month, CNN’s World’s Untold Stories: The Fearless One recounts this young student’s courageous struggle for life before succumbing to injuries that her attendant doctor described as the most “atrocious, unbelievable” he had seen in his career spanning four decades. The documentary examines how her suffering brought together a nation’s public to demand justice for a girl that they had never seen, whose very name was unknown to them*, and how her enduring legacy has left a lasting impact on India’s social fabric.
The depravity and inhumanity of the crime meant that the men gang raped and violated a girl with an iron rod while out for a “joyride” and showed no signs of remorse, being “very casual” and “cracking jokes” throughout their trial. CNN recounts the horrible chain of events of that night through extensive interviews with the girl’s parents, the police investigators and doctors. Viewers hear from the parents about the brave young girl who was the family’s “pillar of strength” and their hope for a better life and also from the investigating police officers about the arrogance of the rapists who “didn’t think they would get caught”. They will hear from the doctors about her incredible fighting spirit which prevailed despite her grievous internal injuries “unparalleled, unheard neither before nor after.”
The documentary also chronicles the nationwide protests which erupted to say that ‘enough was enough’ and that more needed to be done to protect women in India. The protestors braved tear gas and water cannons in Delhi’s bitter winter chill to demand justice. Their support provided the victim’s parents the courage to “put up a tough fight” and made them feel that “humanity still prevails on this earth.”
Finally, The Fearless One highlights the legacy that this brave girl created. This included a change in India’s law against sexual offences, as well as smaller but equally-significant change visible on-ground with the police officers reporting that people “have got emboldened” to report sexual crimes of all hues. It sheds light on the bereaved parents’ hope that their daughter’s fight will lead to more “positive changes in the future” keeping her “alive in one form or the other”.
*Indian law prohibits revealing the identity of a rape victim
News Broadcasting
Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
