News Headline
National Literacy Mission sponsors ‘Bhaginee’ on DD Metro
MUMBAI: While all mainstream channels are sprucing their programme content with new saas-bahu sagas and talent shows, DD Metro has opted for Bhaginee, a new series sponsored by the National Literacy Mission.
The series,based on true life stories, will bring to light the pioneering efforts and milestones achieved by women who are neo-literates from rural India.
Bhaginee, which means tigress in Bengali, will showcase the life of these women, some of whom are members and some even presidents of gram panchayats. “Apart from highlighting the essence of being literate, Bhaginee aims at empowering women . It urges them to take heed of the fact that authority can come from women too,” says writer and director of the series, Anushree Dutt.
“A lot of research has gone into making the series. The series will inform the people about the kind of progress and thinking that has begun in rural areas. The intellectual thinking that prevails in these villages is comparable to that which exists in the city. People have become practical after becoming literate,” Dutt adds.
Citing an example to prove her point, Dutt narrates the story of one of the episodes featuring a lady who is the president of a gram panchayat (village municipality). This lady was given a bill to sign and told that 30 wells had been dug in the area under her jurisdiction. She, however, insisted on seeing the wells before signing the bill. The contractor tried in vain to dissuade her from visiting the site.
When the lady in the story went to the site she found that pits were dug without walls around them. She told the contractor that the contract was to dig well and not pits and he had to do so in whatever amount had already been sanctioned. He had no choice but to relent. “That’s the power of becoming a literate. It is because she was able to read and write that she refused to sign the bill without proof,” says Dutt.
The entire series has been shot in the villages of Maharashtra and Gujarat. ” The star cast primarily comprises theater artistes as I wanted actors who could play the characters in the most realistic manner” asserts Dutt.” So far nine episodes have been shot , she adds.
The series will air on DD Metro on Thursdays and Fridays.
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.
