News Headline
Uday Shankar takes charge as senior vice-president of FICCI
MUMBAI: Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) has elevated Uday Shankar as senior vice president of the apex industry body in the country.
Shankar had been holding vice-president role at FICCI since 2018 and this is for the first time that Indian media executive would assume the second in command leadership charge of the chamber.
Shankar is currently chairman and chief executive officer of Star India and president of 21st Century Fox (Asia); he has been given additional charge as chairman of Star and Disney India and president of Walt Disney (Asia), which he will assume charge of new role post takeover of 21st CF by Disney.
Shankar began his career as a political journalist with The Times of India, and eventually rose to Editor and CEO position at Star News, the first 24-hour news channel in India. He played a prominent role in making Star India one of the largest media & entertainment companies in India.
He spearheaded the launch of Aaj Tak (2000) and Headlines Today (2003) as Hindi and English news channel respectively while being at the helm of Editor, News Director’s position at TV Today Group.
Being the chairman of FICCI Media & Entertainment Committee, Shankar has been at the forefront of landmark changes in self-regulation and pushing access for consumers to digitized distribution.
Shankar holds an M Phil in Economic History from the Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi. He is an avid reader and his knowledge domain transcends from literature to politics, economics, and sports.
Along with Shankar’s elevation, the chamber has also appointed Apollo Hospitals Group managing director Sangita Reddy as president, Hindustan Unilever’s chairman and managing director Sanjiv Mehta as vice president.
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.
