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Can’t gag media to fight pandemic: Editors Guild of India
MUMBAI: The Editors Guild of India in a letter has expressed its reservations against the government for holding the media responsible in the supreme court for creating panic in the country amid coronavirus pandemic.
“No democracy anywhere in the world is fighting the pandemic by gagging its media,” says an official statement of The Editors Guild of India (EGI). “Blaming the media at this point can only undermine the current work being done by it under trying circumstances.”
The print media association has also said that such charges against media will obstruct the process of dissemination of news during an unprecedented crisis in the country.
The apex court on Tuesday asked all media houses to refer and publish the official version of coronavirus developments rather than creating a panic-like situation in the country. The government also came up with an official portal within 24 hours to disseminate corona-related news and developments.
While dictating an order to the media, a bench led by chief justice of India SA Bobde had said: “We do not intend to interfere with the free discussion about the pandemic, but direct the media refer to and publish the official version about the developments.”
According to the EGI, the government’s statement in the supreme court that media causing panic among migrant workers leading to their mass movement is ‘gratuitous and unnecessary’. It says, “Blaming the media for mass migration of workers will be counterproductive. And, such actions would be tantamount to disabling the messenger.”
The statement signed by general secretary AK Bhattacharya said, “The guild’s attention has also been drawn to the lodging of a first information report against the editor-in-chief of the website The Wire. Police action in the form of an FIR is an overreaction and act of intimidation.”
The order came on a submission by the government blaming fake news for the migrant exodus and seeking a court direction to deal with the menace.
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.
