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BBC promotes ‘Mastermind India’ through online contest
NEW DELHI: BBC World presents an opportunity for viewers to get a feel of the Mastermind India ‘hot seat’ by simply logging on to www.bbcworld.com/mastermindindia and entering an online contest that also gives participants a chance to win prizes.
For five weeks the online contest will give quizzing enthusiasts a special chance to pit their brains against the Mastermind India contenders. Participants have to answer three questions from the coming week’s episode of Mastermind India to qualify for the prize and simply tune in to the program to know the correct answers. The online competition has a grand travel prize worth Rs 50,000 and some exciting BBC World giveaways. BBC World will also be airing a promo to generate awareness for the online contest.
A corresponding on-ground promotion kicked off on 26 October with a special BBC World Mastermind India booth at some of the premium bookstores across the country offering people a trump card with a question; a correct trump card entry will automatically enter him into a lucky draw for a big prize. The bookstores include Crossword in Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Delhi and Chennai, and Landmark in Kolkata and Gangaram in Bangalore.
The Mastermind India quiz column is being featured in The Hindustan Times and will soon be seen on FE Newsline, The Financial Express, Chandigarh and Deccan Herald, Bangalore.
Mastermind India is a quiz show in India. Presented by Siddhartha Basu it is telecast on BBC World on Thursdays at 10 pm with repeats on Sunday at 10 am and 10 pm.
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.
