News Headline
Chandra plans to revive satellite project
MUMBAI: Subhash Chandra is planning to revive his satellite project. Essel Group owned Agrani Satellite Services Ltd (ASSL) is in negotiations with three companies including Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) for a Ku-band satellite.
“We will be finalising in three months whether we want to acquire or build a satellite. We expect to have the satellite by the third quarter of 2007,” said Zee Telefilms Ltd director Punit Goenka.
Isro has sent a proposal to make a satellite for ASC Enterprises with 12 Ku-band transponders. “We are examining their proposal. We are also in talks with two other global satellite providers,” said Goenka who is the chief of ASC Enterprises Ltd, the company which holds ASSL, and also the business head of Zee TV.
ASSL plans to invest $40-80 million, depending on the capacity of the satellite it wants to purchase. “The cost of a satellite would be around $4 million per transponder. When we had earlier planned the Agrani satellite, the cost was working out to $7.5 million per transponder,” Goenka said.
Agrani Satellite Services Ltd (ASSL) had planned to acquire a geo-stationary satellite from French major Alcatel Space Industries (ASI) for Rs 950 crore. The C and Ku-band satellite was to begin commercial operations by Arianespace. The company, with small stake from Alcatel and Arianespace, would have C and Ku-band transponders to support a broad range of applications ranging from TV broadcasting and DTH to rural and VSAT networks, domestic and international Internet backbone bandwidth as well as direct access and international connectivity.
“We are now looking at only Ku-band transponders. The demand for C-band is slowing down,” said Goenka.
The company already has a license for operating Indian satellite systems. Dish TV, the direct-to-home service, will move its channels to the new satellite if Chandra decides to go ahead with the project. Currently, it uses eight Ku-band transponders on the NSS satellite.
ASC Enterprises has, however, shelved its retail convergent products and services. “We had plans of establishing a nationwide chain of stores for retailing these products. But we are not going ahead with this project,” Goenka said.
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.
