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Bukhatir’s India passage facilitated by govt
NEW DELHI: It can be called a classic case of on-field aggression and off-field diplomacy. By the Indian government, that is.
The eyeball-to-eyeball face-off between Dubai -based Taj TV Ltd and Indian authorities, particularly pubcaster Doordarshan, notwithstanding, an element of courtesy facilitated Taj Sports promoter’s Delhi visit.
At a time when Taj Sports owner-cum-promoter A R Bukhatir wanted to come to India —rightly so as the action was taking place here and not in Pakistan for his company — he met up against one of the unlikeliest of the speed-breakers: lack of visa permission.
According to information available with indiantelevision.com, Bukhatir wanted to be in India on Monday when the Supreme Court heard a Special leave Petition (SLP) filed by Taj TV’s Indian agents, Taj Sports India Pvt Ltd, relating to the cricket telecast controversy.
Having decided to that, he was not getting the visa on time. So, a request was made to the Indian government that a visa may be arranged on arrival at the Delhi airport. It was also conveyed that he would be interested in meeting up with people in the Indian government as well.
Bukhatir’s request was acceded to, though India, unlike some other countries like Dubai, does not generally have a system where visa-on-arrival model is followed.
Though Bukhatir could not meet up with information and broadcasting minister Ravi Shankar Prasad or law minister Arun Jaitley, he did manage to interact with latter over phone.
But, surprisingly, Bukhatir, through his Indian associates, did not try to have a meeting with Prasar Bharati CEO KS Sarma. Prasar Bharati manages Doordarshan with whom Taj TV Ltd is having problems of having to share feeds till today’s match. A move, which has been described by Ten as, an activity leading to long-term loss of revenue.
Bukhatir is described as the architect of Sharjah emerging as a cricketing destination and the petro-dollars pumped into cricket by this Dubai-based man has also made the birth of Ten Sports possible.
Just for the records, Taj Television Ltd. was established in January 2001, and is owned by Bukhatir Investments Limited, one of the most successful conglomerates in the UAE.
The interest of the company group ranges from banking, construction, real estate, trading, information technology, cricket and television. Broadcast out of Dubai Media City with five offices across the Indian sub-continent, Taj Television Limited employs over 100 highly skilled and experienced professionals from India and all over the
world.
Its portfolio consists of Ten Sports, television production, broadcasting solutions, remote television production and event management with the last activity not very apparent in India.
When Bukhatir was asked today by newspersons whether he would term gambling the bidding for Pakisatn cricket and stumbling across a prize-winning lottery called Indo-Pak series, the soft-spoken sheikh from Dubai replied, “I love the game of cricket and had foreseen that such a series would happen sometime.”
Call that foresight or a remark made on hindsight, Ten Sports’ bottomlines, despite assertions made to the contrary, would turn out to be very healthy after the conclusion of the ongoing Indo-Pak cricket series.
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.
