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Aaj Tak achieves its goal with World Cup contest
Two birds with one stone. Hindi news channel Aaj Tak, which ran an interactive contest during the just-ended soccer world cup, has claimed one million plus responses as well tracked viewership patterns for the chnanel.
The World Cup soccer SMS Contest Aaj Tak ran in association with Allwyn represented the first interactive contest on a mass scale with immediate and instant response tracking. On the first day of the contest, the channel claims to have received over 30,000 responses despite the fact that the contest wasn’t advertised. Responses on subsequent days exceeded 100,000. Overall over 1.4 million messages were received for the entire period of the contest, says a company release.
The contest and the analysis of the data pertaining to the contest has thrown up interesting data pertaining to the viewership patterns of the channel. Although the 11 am – 12 pm time band resulted in the maximum responses from the viewers, the afternoon band also emerged as a significant time band, says the release. In the western region, Maharashtra, particularly Mumbai elicited the maximum number of responses, whereas in the north it was Delhi, followed by Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.
Indian viewers had to send the answers via SMS to the number 2424, enabled by ActiveMedia Technology. One contest question flashed on Aaj Tak at various times each day. Five lucky draws were conducted every day with winners being announced on the channel on the following days. Winners till 29 June are slated to get a 175 L Allwyn sensor refrigerator while winners for the question posted on 30 June will get a 250 L refrigerator.
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.
