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Barkha Dutt to step down as NDTV group editor
MUMBAI: After a stint spanning two decades, Barkha Dutt is now stepping down from her post as NDTV group editor to set up her own multimedia content company and policy group.
Dutt will continue as consulting editor for the news network and will continue as host of her two on-going shows namely The Buck Stops Here (daily) and We The People (weekly).
In an email to its employees, a copy of which is with Indiantelevision.com, New Delhi Television founders Prannoy and Radhika Roy wrote, “She (Barkha) will also be available as always for analysis and inputs on big news events and stories. While her TV relationship with NDTV remains unchanged, in her new role she will be setting up her own multimedia content company and policy group. We have literally seen Barkha grow from a child to an adult professional and look forward to our close bonds only strengthening further as she embarks on this new venture.”
Having made her name reporting the war in Kargil, Dutt became one of NDTV’s most prominent faces as it went from a content provider for Doordarshan in its early days to being a media conglomerate that it is today.
Dutt was 23 years old when she joined NDTV as a young reporter cum producer. Having won several awards in her 20 year stint with the channel, Dutt has worn several hats like: journalist, anchor and editor.
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.
