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Indian football stars to protest against Doordarshan
KOLKATA: The Indian football fraternity is planning to protest against the state-owned Doordarshan television channel’s alleged apathy towards the game and want live coverage of India’s upcoming pre-World Cup matches.
Dozens of footballers, coaches, sports journalists and soccer lovers are expected to stage a protest outside the Doordarshan office, on Monday 23 February 2004, in support of their demand.
India’s public broadcaster failed to telecast the Asian zone qualifying round for the 2006 World Cup in Germany Wednesday when India beat Singapore by a solitary goal in Goa.
East Bengal football club’s coach Subash Bhowmick and former footballer Surajit Sengupta are the prime movers of the planned demonstration.
“Whether this was due to administrative failure or disinterest in football, neither is desirable in the interest of the game,” said Sengupta.
“So it becomes important that football lovers voice the concern against this attitude,” added Bhowmick.
“We hope all lovers of football will turn up in front of the Doordarshan office to take part in the demonstration,” Sengupta said.
Protestors will sit silently in front of Doordarshan office holding placards that will carry messages urging the electronic media to provide better coverage of football.
“Doordarshan has a dedicated sports channel. So, what’s the problem in telecasting such important matches as India’s pre-World Cup games?” asked Mohun Bagan coach Aloke Mukherjee.
The football fraternity is angry that television channels were eager to telecast live even the under-19 years’ cricket matches but not India’s soccer World Cup campaign.
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.
