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BBC World to showcase special on Great Britons
MUMBAI: Churchill, Shakespeare, Princess Di! Who was the greatest Brit of them all? Well, Indian viewers will get to find out later in the year when BBC World showcases its ten one hour episode show Great Britons.
The charismatic World War II British premier Winston Churchill came out on top. The decision was made last November. The beeb conducted a UK poll which attracted over a million votes. Churchill gained 447,423 votes, beating his nearest rival, engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, by more than 56,000 votes.
The Top 100 names were revealed in August, followed by a vote for the greatest of the Top Ten in October. Besides Churchill on BBC World viewers can expect to see profiles of Diana, Princess of Wales; Charles Darwin; William Shakespeare; John Lennon; Elizabeth I; Sir Isaac Newton; Viscount Horatio Nelson; and Oliver Cromwell. Prior to announcing the top ten the beeb had announced its top 100. Football icon David Beckham came in at number 33.
The BBC’s definition of a Great Briton was “anyone who was born in the British Isles, including Ireland, or who has lived in the British Isles, including Ireland, and has played a significant part in the life of the British Isles”.
Beckham apparently threw his weight behind Churchill saying, “He was a giant of a leader at a time when Britain needed hope and inspiration.” Brits voted through telephone or email. While Diana had a reasonable shot for a while disclosures about her private life after the infamous trial of butler Paul Burrell hurt her chances.
It can’t have helped that the host of game show The Weakest Link Anne Robinson who also hosted a show on BBC 2 which was based on the poll results was extremely vocal about the fact that voting for Diana even in the top ten was absurd. In October Robinson had been quoted in The Telegraph saying, “”To regard her as a great Briton seems to be absurd. It’s interesting how easily she manipulated public opinion.”
As far as the top 100 was concerned it is worth noting that only 22 people are still alive. Film stars are conspicuous by their absence and the only television presenter is David Attenborough. Poetry was also given the short shrift as noted by the absence of Keats, Yeats, Wordsworth and Byron. Other notable absentees from the top 100 included Laurence Olivier, Emily Bronte. Writers represented include JK Rowling and JR Tolkien.
The vote break up was as follows
| Name | Number of votes (per cent) |
| Churchill | 456,498 (28.1) |
| Brunel | 398,526 (24.6) |
| Diana | 225,584 (13.9) |
| Darwin | 112,496 (6.9) |
| Shakespeare | 109,919 (6.8) |
| Newton | 84,628 (5.2) |
| Elizabeth I | 71,928 (4.4) |
| Lennon | 68,445 (4.2) |
| Nelson | 49,171 (3) |
| Cromwell | 45,053 (2.8) |
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.
