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CNN International announces Nikhil Kumar as New Delhi bureau chief
MUMBAI: CNN International has announced Nikhil Kumar as the New Delhi bureau chief. Based in the country’s capital, Kumar will be responsible for the strategic planning of the network’s multi-platform news coverage from India and the region.
“I am delighted to announce the appointment of Nikhil Kumar as we reaffirm our deep commitment to India,” said CNN International SVP and managing editor Ellana Lee. “Nikhil brings with him a deep understanding of this dynamic and diverse region and his expertise will be invaluable in this critical leadership role as we continue to strengthen our editorial operations in the country,” Lee said.
Kumar was most recently the South Asia bureau chief for Time magazine based in New Delhi. Before moving to India in early 2015 he was a senior editor based in New York, editing and managing Time’s international editions, as well as foreign coverage in Time’s U.S. edition. Before joining Time, Kumar was New York correspondent for both The Independent newspaper and the London Evening Standard.
Kumar has reported on several key regional and global political, economic and social stories including the devastating Nepal earthquake in 2015, the global financial crisis, the Eurozone sovereign debt crisis and the Boston marathon bombings. He has also interviewed leaders from the region including the Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, Afghanistan’s president Ashraf Ghani, Sri Lanka’s president Maithripala Sirisena and Bangladesh’s prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
Kumar graduated with honors in philosophy from University College London. He starts his new position with CNN International in September.
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.
