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After Swabhumi relaunch, Arjun Infotech plans for Bengali news channel
KOLKATA: It was only last month that Arjun Infotech entered the world of media with the re-launch of Bengali daily, Swabhumi, which was closed down in January by the old management.
The Gujarat-headquartered company now plans to start a Bengali news channel, and has put up 200 hoardings which read, ‘Aasche Swabhumi Channel’. Another 100 hoardings will be put up in towns and districts of the state before the launch.
Earlier, the channel was slated for launch on the eve of Nabobarsha (Bengali New Year) on 14 April but the elections caused delay. “The channel launch date has not been finalised. We will put up another 100 hoardings. Once the channel takes off, there will be a common editorial team,” said Swabhumi deputy chief reporter Ishan Chatterjee.
While it isn’t immediately known whether Arjun Infotech has acquired the license for its Bengali channel, according to insiders, the company plans to run it from a huge studio in Salt Lake Sector V.
When contacted, a city-based media expert said, “The market is too small for a Bengali channel and too many players cannot survive. For outsiders it may be more difficult to stay long. Locals may still struggle it out. People from other markets get attracted to starting a Bengali channel for the wrong reasons. They realise the heat later.”
For the recently acquired Swabhumi, Arjun Infotech already has a team of around 100 employees in place, which includes journalists, cameramen and technical staff.
Launched in mid-February 2011 by Kolkata-based RICE Group, Swabhumi, was originally helmed by Samit Roy till Ankit Jaiswal from Arjun Infotech appeared on the scene.
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.
