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Pradeep Guha – An evangelist, a maverick or a media moghul
Mumbai: I had heard a lot about PG but never had the opportunity to work with him, but when I joined ZEE met many who couldn’t stop talking about him and their experiences of working with him. I met him many years later at an Ad Club event and was struck by his enthusiasm and it rubs off on everybody. Many years later I met him again at the IAA Global Convention in Kochi, and he greeted me as if he had known me for years. That was the magic of the man. Pradeep Guha – The Legend I Know, the Coffee Table book is a collection of heartfelt tributes to the man who was a friend, mentor to people in the Media & Entertainment business.
A man who in his college days was a leftist college student activist who organised strikes against his alma mater, he along with a team set up the left-oriented Centre for Education and Documentation in Bombay, a valuable research resource for journalists. Guha then became the CEO of TOI and the Media & Entertainment Czar.
He revamped the Times of India, with innovations such as ‘Page 3’ and Medianet. He renamed the existing advertising department to Response and hired young smart professionals who were trained to go out to get new advertisers. The other innovations were the many awards, which included Miss India, Miss India World, and Filmfare. Notable names like Aishwarya Rai and Priyanka Chopra were groomed to participate in the Miss World contest abroad.
The foreword by John D’Souza talks about PG’s early days in college and their social service tasks. D’Souza puts it eloquently when he says, “For me, his free spirit was fully epitomised in his dance as if his spirit moved the music and his hips and every bone in his body. Every picture of him on the Facebook page, his visits to various places, reflects his free, curious and open spirit. Every story we heard, whether it was the Filmfare Awards or Miss Universe or the Cannes, reminded me of the dancing chalk on the blackboard – that lateral and lively approach – the boyish glee which ignited the most staid event”.
PG’s biggest contribution was his mentorship. There are dozens of beauty queens, many film stars and media professionals whom Guha moulded. From celebrating the sesquicentennial celebrations of ‘Times of India’ or the countless Filmfare Awards, Femina contests and other conferences and summits which he pioneered.
The book is a collection of eulogies from top Politicians to named personalities who worked with him on Miss India & Miss Universe, actors, actresses, the people who worked closely with him in various organisations and the doyens of the Advertising world.
Guha joined Bennett, Coleman and Company (BCCL), the publisher of The Times of India, in 1976 and was there for nearly three decades. He changed the face of ‘The Old Lady of Bori Bunder’ with his bold moves and innovations. He was the man who took India to the Cannes Lions and brought Ad Asia to India.
Aarti Surendranath fondly remembers the man, and says, “This was the man who transformed, rather elevated, every project he took on”.
PG visited Cannes Ad Film Festival in 1994, the year it was launched and was keen for the Indian ad industry to participate at the world level. Aarti goes on to say, “Pradeep turned the Cannes festival into a brand to be reckoned with; he moved Indian advertising to the international arena”. Today thanks to his efforts Indian advertising is a force to reckon with at the Cannes.
Ashish Bhasin has fond memories of meeting PG then when Bhasin was heading Lintas’ Initiative Media, and took permission to print the TOI front page at the back. He goes on to add, “Pradeep was a warm host, a visionary, tremendously connected and confident enough to reach anyone however senior. He could dream big, with feet firmly planted on the ground. Perhaps Shakespeare had Pradeep in mind when he wrote, “his life was gentle, and the elements so mixed in him that nature might stand up and sat to all the world. This was a man.” You will miss my friend till we meet again.”
Daksha Sheth, the renowned danseuse, has this to say about Guha, she says,” Pradeep Guha – A thorough gentleman. One of the very few people I know who did what he said. A lot of integrity. I was lucky to know him.”
Malayala Manorama editor & publisher Jacob Mathew, says, “He was versatile and daring in his thoughts and actions. His vision of brand building wrapped in creativity is something difficult to emulate. Effective communication by a unique route was his forte. He had a major role in presenting India to the global advertising fraternity.”
Mukesh Ambani in his eulogy says, “For me, The Bombay Times were a lot more than the glitz and glamour. While injecting the spirit of entertainment. Pradeep used his commercial acumen to create a 360–degree brand experience. He did the same by revamping the Filmfare Awards and Femina Miss India. He pioneered the art of monetising these experiences by reaching millions of homes through TV.”
After a 30-year-long stint in BCCL, he quit when he was still the President of the Times of India Group and a member of the Board of Directors. He joined as CEO of Zee Entertainment and launched the English Daily DNA in 2005. Punit Goenka has had a close working relationship with Guha. He goes on to say, “His calm demeanor, quick-witted replies and an extraordinary mind that had a solution to every problem, was greatly admired by all of us. I am proud to say that he played a key role in shaping me as a business leader, and it was his acumen to take companies to newer heights that inspired me to build a leading media and entertainment company.”
Eric D’Souza sums it up beautifully by saying, “Pradeep was fun–loving and adventurous, but there was a very serious side to him.”
The industry has lost a friend and mentor. It will be a long time before someone will be able to take over the legacy of a man called Pradeep Guha.
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.
