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Discovery India hires Geetanjali Bhattacharji
MUMBAI: Discovery Communications India has appointed Geetanjali Bhattacharji, the erstwhile CEO of Spatial Access, as the head of brand partnerships and content integration, based out of Mumbai.
In her new role, Bhattacharji, working in close association with advertising sales and business head of regional clusters Vikram Tanna, will focus on creating engaging content partnerships with brands by drawing synergies between brand purpose and Discovery’s exciting content line-up across its portfolio of channels, including the upcoming Discovery Jeet.
Discovery Communications India South Asia senior VP and general manager Karan Bajaj said, “It is an opportune time to have a content and media optimiser like Geetanjali on board. Discovery Jeet’s content is under development, besides we have been working to make the brand proposition of each of our marquee channels more focussed towards specific target audiences. Geetanjali’s skills and understanding of this space will help deliver impactful, purpose-driven partnerships to Discovery’s valued brand partners in their quest to reach diverse and evolving audience communities.”
A marketing veteran with more than 20 years of work experience, she has advised brands on unbundling creativity, optimising content production, partnerships, media-investments and all marketing spend.
Speaking, Bhattacharji said, “Given the fragmentation of consumers, Jeet fills a clear gap in the Hindi GEC space: providing relevant content choices to male millennials and Tier II and III families who aspire to be a part of the change around them but are missing out on the action. It’s time for brands to align to the purpose of the content they support and I am looking forward to establishing Jeet as the channel that delivers an elevated purpose for mass storytelling on television.”
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.
