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DD launches rare series to mark music centenary
DELHI: The first ever `native’ recording in India, done professionally by the engineers of the Gramophone Company, England – one of the two major companies in this field during the acoustic era – was in 1902. Pubcaster Doordarshan plans to celebrate the centenary year of the historical event by launching a series of DVDs/VCDs and ACDs of their best programmes preserved in their archives.
The first set of VCDs and ACDs will be released in the second week of January. The VCDs feature some of the rare pieces, perhaps the only ones of their kind that exist anywhere in the country and perhaps the world.
The digitally mastered VCDs, to be released by DD, feature the only visual record available of Begum Akhtar singing in a mehfil;sufiana qawwalis by Habib Painter; Shankar Shambhu and Sabri Brothers giving their characteristic healing touch to the confused psyche of the common Indian; and a compilation of some of the great performers of Bharatnatyam and Kathak.
The VCDs have been introduced by Pt. Jasraj, Naushad, Shobhana and Pt. Birju Maharaj. The music VCDs will also come out in the format of audio CDs and audio cassettes.
The ubiquitous gramophone was first introduced in India in the early 1900s but the gramophone record seems to have lost its battle against time and innovations like the audiocassette and compact discs. But the romance of the gramophone and its music still lingers, something a purist cannot associate with the new gadgets.
The later half of the 20th century and the 21st century brought a bouquet of technical fetes/miracles to India, which changed the world. The technology of recording voices has had a everlasting impact on the way one hears voices and sees moving pictures.
DD seems to be paying a timely tribute to the journey from 1902 to 2002 that has witnessed tremendous improvements in deploying the technology to celebrate the spirit of this great singing and dancing nation.
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.
