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Aaj Tak uses cricket peg for SMS contest
Aaj Tak, the channel that was among the first to take the interactive SMS route to woo viewers, is back with a fresh contest.
The Aaj Tak ICC Champions Trophy Cricket Contest will have questions flashed on the channel at various times during each contest day. Indian viewers are eligible to participate by sending their answers via SMS to the number 2424. Everyone who answers correctly will be eligible for the lucky draw.
Participants stand to win a host of daily prizes comprising Parker pens, gift hampers from Usha Lexus appliances and gold coins from Phoenix weighing machines. In addition to daily prizes, there are three Maruti 800 cars to be given out as jackpot prizes at the end of the contest. Prizes have been sponsored by Parth Masala, Pan Parag and Rupa Thermacot.
Winners of the lucky draw will be declared at 7.30 pm on the following day. Viewers can participate at any time of the day between 7 am to midnight to be eligible for the lucky draw for each days contest. They can also participate multiple times if they want to.
The earlier Aaj Tak World Cup Soccer SMS Contest held between 12 and 30 June was the channel’s first interactive contest on a mass scale with an immediate and instant response tracking mechanism. The first day of the contest resulted in more than 30,000 responses even though the contest wasn’t advertised. The response later grew to more than 1,00,000 per day, claims Aaj Tak. In all, more than 1.4 million messages were received in just 18 days with the average response rate being over 75,000 per day.
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.
