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Zee offices ransacked, staffers hurt
MUMBAI: At least 15 persons, claiming allegiance to the Nationalist Congress Party allegedly broke into the Zee Telefilms offices at Chintamani Plaza at Andheri in suburban Mumbai this afternoon and went on a rampage, injuring a few Zee staffers, according to the broadcaster.
Their ire was directed at the content of last night’s episode of a satirical show Ghadalay Bighadlay which was telecast on Zee’s Marathi channel Alpha Marathi at 10.30 pm. According to Zee officials, the NCP workers first went to the Zee offices in Worli where Alpha Marathi business head Nitin Vaidya tried to pacify them, saying an apology, if required, would be telecast on this afternoon’s news bulletin on the channel.
However, the party workers then reached the third floor office of Zee in Andheri, Mumbai at 1.30 pm and ransacked the place, breaking furniture, and in the process, hurting staffers. One woman had to be hospitalised.
Ghadlay Bighadlay, a half hour daily show, was launched on 1 December this year and portrays regular upheavals in the political and social scenario in a satirical fashion. Vaidya had earlier told indiantelevision.com that the content is regularly vetted internally in the organisation before the episodes are telecast. Earlier episodes include spoofs on America’s capture of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussain as well as takes on Maharashtra deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal.
The show had also within the first week, garnered good ratings in major metros in the state as well as elsewhere, averaging a TVR of 1.0.
Zee Telefilms chairman Subhash Chandra is scheduled to address a media conference on the incident at 2.30 pm today at the Chintamani Plaza offices of Zee.
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.
