MAM
The Hindu launches 1950 Republic Day collector’s edition on Blinkit
CHENNAI: The Hindu has rolled out a specially curated collector’s edition of its iconic 26 January 1950 Republic Day newspaper, now available for purchase on quick-commerce platform Blinkit, as India celebrates its 77th Republic Day.
The original eight-anna issue, which ran to 126 pages, has been streamlined into a 62-page collectible split into two easy-to-read sections and priced at Rs 300 per copy. The edition chronicles the formal birth of the Indian Republic, including the swearing-in of Rajendra Prasad as the nation’s first president and Jawaharlal Nehru’s address heralding constitutional governance.
Packed with nearly 90 photographs, the archive features a full-page visual spread capturing key moments of the era. Highlights include Indonesian president Sukarno’s Republic Day visit, Mahatma Gandhi at Wardha, Nehru signing the Constitution, and candid moments involving Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and C Rajagopalachari.
The issue also carries political cartoons, including one by British cartoonist Sir David Low, alongside congratulatory messages from global leaders such as US president Harry Truman and Lord Mountbatten.
Editorial gems range from constitutional commentary and Gandhian reflections to early insights into Indian cinema, infrastructure projects and cricketing legends. Period advertisements and cultural listings add a nostalgic layer, offering a snapshot of India’s social and economic life at the dawn of the Republic.
Click here to order: https://blinkit.onelink.me/z75u/jf4n4lul
Brands
Hemlata Sharma joins ONEOTT Broadband as chief business officer
Former Zee Media distribution head to steer growth, partnerships and strategy
MUMBAI: Hemlata Sharma has joined ONEOTT Broadband as chief business officer, bringing with her more than three decades of experience across television, telecom and media distribution.
Sharma most recently served as head distribution, research & CRM at Zee Media Corporation Limited, where she worked closely with editorial and senior management while overseeing distribution, consumer research and customer relationships for 14 news channels including Zee News, WION, Zee Hindustan and Zee Business, along with ten regional state channels.
In that role, she led nationwide distribution across platforms such as DTH, Hits, IPTV, cable networks and DD Free Dish. She also drove consumer research and strategic insights on a pan India scale, analysing content performance, anchor impact, programme slots and audience behaviour to guide editorial decisions and programming strategy.
Her portfolio also included managing one of the largest alliances with Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited and overseeing the global distribution monitoring of Wion across North America, Mena, Europe, Africa, APAC and Australia.
Earlier, Sharma briefly served as head sales and distribution at Triplecom Media Pvt Ltd, an engagement driven OTT platform bringing together content, gaming, music and advertising for the entertainment distribution ecosystem.
Her earlier career includes a senior vice president stint at Ten Sports Network, where she played a key role in relaunching the sports broadcaster as an independent bouquet comprising Ten Sports, Ten Cricket, Ten Action and Ten Golf following the Zee takeover. During this period, she moved from vp west to head strategy for cable and dth and later national head retail distribution, helping build the network’s retail distribution vertical across India and launching dedicated golf and football channels.
Before that, Sharma spent over six years at Bharti Airtel as general manager operations for Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. She initially led marketing and corporate communications before moving into sales leadership, where voice sales grew by 86 per cent and revenues by 96 per cent. She later headed business operations, expanding annual business volumes to Rs 100 crore while significantly reducing operational costs.
Sharma began her long association with the media distribution ecosystem at Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited as regional head sales and distribution for central India. During that period, she played a role in the early rollout of pay television channels including Zee Cinema, HBO, Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network, while also contributing to the launch of Siti Cable in key central Indian cities.
With her new role at ONEOTT Broadband, Sharma is expected to focus on strengthening business strategy, expanding partnerships and driving growth across the company’s broadband and digital distribution ecosystem.
