News Broadcasting
BBC announces winners of playwriting contest
MUMBAI: BBC Hindi has announced Amar Kumar Singh from Hazaribagh of Jharkhand and Shripal Nehra from Sikar of , Rajasthan, as the winners of its playwriting competition, held at the beginning of this year.
The winners have been awarded a certificate each from BBC Hindi, along with a shortwave radio and Rs.15,000 as prize money.
Amar Kumar Singh and Shripal Nehra’s scripts were chosen from over 1200 entries received for the contest. The winning entries will now be produced as radio plays, inviting local talent to lend their voice to bring alive the scripts. These will be broadcast on the BBC Hindi service in December.
BBC Hindi head Achala Sharma says, “BBC Hindi aims to provide a platform for dialogue for its audiences, and the drama contest brings to the fore issues that are close to our audiences’ hearts. The response to the contest was overwhelming with listeners from all walks of life sending in entries, and it was a tough choice. The winning scripts focus on themes such as corruption and the plight of the elderly in the face of disintegrating traditional family values. I am sure these will strike a chord with all our listeners.”
The winners were facilitated at a presentation ceremony held at the Delhi office of the BBC, where they have attended a four-day workshop on radio playwriting with Achala Sharma.
“I congratulate both the winners and hope that their association with BBC Hindi has been a meaningful one,” Achala added.
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.
