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Kabaddi Adda unveils new mental health campaign ‘Mann Ki Jeet’
Kolkata: In wake of recent events propelled by the Covid-19 pandemic, Kabaddi Adda has launched its new mental health campaign to build a greater support system for the player community at the grassroots.
The campaign ‘Mann Ki Jeet’, has been supported by the biggest names in kabaddi including, the Indian Kabaddi Team former captain Ajay Thakur, along with the award-winning national players like BC Ramesh, Ashok Shinde, Rishank Devadiga, current Indian captain Deepak Niwas Hooda, veteran Dharmaraj Cheralathan and Dronacharya Awardee coach Rambir Singh Khokhar, alongside the CEOs of the Pro Kabaddi League.
NIMHANS Bangalore, former dean and senior professor of Psychiatry, Dr. Santosh Kumar Chaturvedi, and other prominent doctors will also be on board.
The campaign, which has three closed-door sessions, will be accessible to everyone and primarily be hosted in Hindi and is aimed at the Kabaddi players.
As part of this initiative, special invites have also been extended to players and coaches from 90+ academies (800+ players) who qualified to participate in the upcoming K7 Kabaddi tournament.
Attendees will also get a chance to ask questions while gaining valuable insights and suggestions from the experts and professional Kabaddi players that share their learnings and experiences.
“I too have been suffering from anxiety and depression since the pandemic,” shares the ace kabaddi player and one of the leading voices of the initiative, Ajay Thakur. “I would now like to help young players participating in the K7 tournament realise their mental health issues and work around the same. This has been a hard time for all of us and I’m truly hoping that the upcoming events will rescue us from this dry run.”
He also adds, “I’m so glad to see so many kabaddi community leaders coming together and joining forces to take up the cause to help the Kabaddi players’ ecosystem.”
The sessions will be available on Kabaddi Adda as episodic pieces for subscribers of the platform. Edited excerpts of these conversations will also be available on its official social platforms.
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.
