News Broadcasting
Amit Shah launches Doordarshan’s new serial ‘Swaraj- Bharat Ke Swatantrata Sangram ki Samagra Gatha’
New Delhi: The mega historical new Doordarshan’s Hindi serial ‘Swaraj- Bharat Ke Swatantrata Sangram ki Samagra Gatha’ was launched by Union Minister of Home Affairs and Cooperation Amit Shah on Friday.
Launching the serial, he said the objective of “Swaraj” would be achieved in a true sense only if the country’s languages, dharma, culture and arts are preserved and its history passed on to future generations.
Sharing his thoughts on this new show, Shah recalled the time stalwarts like Pandit Jasraj and Ustal Bismillah Khan had said that if it had not been for Akashwani, they would not have existed. “It is not possible to spread the expression of the essence of India without Doordarshan & All India Radio,” he said.
The minister deliberated on the meaning of the celebration of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and said it is not just a celebration of our freedom struggle but also of the achievements of the past 75 years since independence, of the sacrifices of the sung and unsung heroes of our freedom struggle.
“This is also a time when we are visualizing the contours of the future of India and India is only going to attain greater heights of excellence from here,” he added.
Swaraj is a 75 episode serial produced in 4K/HD quality and will air every Sunday from 9-10 pm on Doordarshan National from 14 August.
It is being dubbed in nine regional languages along with English. The serial in regional languages Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Gujarati, Oriya, Bengali and Assamese will be broadcast on Doordarshan’s regional channels from 20 August. Starting from the landing of Vasco-da-gama in 1498 the serial presents a rich saga of the heroes of this land.
Speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Anurag Thakur remarked that Doordarshan and All India Radio had done a commendable job of reviving the valiant stories of over 550 freedom fighters and enabling the acquaintance of the younger generations with these unsung heroes.
Speaking about the serial, the minister said, “It is aimed at reimagining the vision behind the idea of swaraj and tell the stories of the leaders that moulded that idea into a reality. The serial is a manifestation of our pride in these heroes from the past. With satisfaction in his expressions, the minister stated that intense research had gone into making the serial and information and documents have been collected from all the corners of the country to bring to life these stories from our freedom struggle.”
The Union Minister of State for I&B Dr L. Murugan, Secretary of I&B Apurva Chandra and Prasar Bharati CEO Mayank Agarwal were also present during the launch. Various members of parliament, senior officials of the ministry, Doordarshan and All India Radio news were present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Prasar Bharti chief executive officer Mayank Agarwal said, “The serial will be broadcast on Akashwani along with Doordarshan.”
Agarwal expressed his gratitude to the team behind the production of this serial for their extensive research and diligence.
News Broadcasting
Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
