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DD to air Australian pre-school kids series ‘Bananas in Pyjamas’
NEW DELHI: Doordarshan is all set to commence telecast of a children’s series later this month in collaboration with Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
The series, Bananas in Pyjamas will be telecast on DD National every Sunday at 10.30 am from 26 April.
To promote the programme, the two loveable children’s characters from the series are presenting their first Banana in Pyjamas live shows in Delhi this week. While the first was held on 16 April, the second will take place on 18 April. The live shows have already been presented in Mumbai.
B1 and B2 as they are known have been among the most successful child characters on television to have come out of Australia. Sold to more than 80 countries around the world, the two Bananas have been invited to the White House, helped open the Sydney Olympic Games and are loved by missions of pre-schoolers the world over.
The series feature stories and music that are fun and playful and is set in Cuddlestown where the Bananas live with their friends the teddies, Lulu, Morgan and Amy and the mischievous Rat in the Hat.
From 26 April, they will be joined on DD National by another set of Australian child characters – Giggle and Hoot. Jimmy Giggle and his own pal Hoot live in a world where curiosity and imagination rule and where the ordinary is extraordinary.
The Bananas in Pyjamas and Giggle and Hoot are produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and has been brought to DD National by ABC’s International Broadcasting Service Australia Plus.
Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar said, “The launch of Australia Plus Kids’ programming on DD National is a joyous occasion for it would help Indians better appreciate Australia and its culture. I also look forward to ABC helping us in getting across to Australian audience to let them closely know and understand India, its heritage and its culture.”
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.
