News Headline
Asianet News Network appoints Sugata Srinivasaraju as editorial director
MUMBAI: Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd (ANNPL) has appointed Sugata Srinivasaraju as editorial director of Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd (ANNPL). He will head editorial functions of the daily Kannada Prabha and its Kannada news channel Suvarna 24X7.
Srinivasaraju will also lead the future news ventures and forays of the group. Prior to joining ANNPL, he was the chief editor at the Times Group’s Vijay Karnataka in Bangalore.
Srinivasaraju has more than 18 years of experience, which includes working as a senior associate editor with Outlook, news editor at the Hindustan Times and Deccan Herald. He has also contributed to the Irish Times.
Srinivasaraju said, “I will harness the opportunity to build one of the finest convergence newsrooms in the country. At a time when the business of news is undergoing a never-seen-before transformation, to ensure that our eyes are not taken off the enshrined values of journalism will be a pristine task for me.”
A writer in English and Kannada, Srinivasaraju has authored books that include Phoenix and Four other Mines, which won the Karnataka academy of letters translation prize, Keeping Faith with the Mother Tongue – The Anxieties of a local culture and Pickles from Home – The Worlds of a Bilingual among others.
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.
