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DD Urdu launches new talent show on ghazal singing
NEW DELHI: Doordarshan has launched a new talent show on ghazal singing, Jashn-e-Begum Akhtar, to commemorate the centenary year of Padma Bhushan Begum Akhtar, on DD Urdu.
The all India hunt has been conceptualised to look for a talented voice that can carry forward the legacy of ghazal singing. The idea of the show is to encourage the youth to reunite with their roots and values and appreciate the beauty and dignity of Urdu language.
The regional rounds of this competition were held at five regional kendras: Kolkata, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Delhi and Mumbai, to facilitate equal representations from different regions. There were 112 participants from Delhi.
Participants between the age group of 18 to 40 years were invited to take part in the reality show. The selected 15 candidates from each of the regional rounds performed in the mega and pre-final rounds that were held in Delhi from 9 to 14 January.
The singers were judged by an esteemed panel of Padamshri Dhrupad exponent Shanno Khurana, Padamshri Shovana Narain, Dr. Rahat Indori and Prof. Wasim Barelvi. Popular playback singer and performer Peenaz Masani was the anchor for this series. Along present along with the panel were eminent classical vocalist Rita Ganguly, who had conceived the programme in 2012 and Additional Director General Anita Sinha, who got it cleared and executed.
The final round will be held in March 2015, where five finalists will perform in front of personalities like Kavita Krishanmurthi, Hari Haran, Javed Akhtar, Gulzar and Zakir Hussain. The top finalists will be awarded suitably. The finalists are Rageshree Das (Kolkata), Oshin Bhatia (Delhi), Krishna Nand (Lucknow), Santa Kundu (Kolkata) and Sourabh Salunke (Mumbai).
The various selection rounds will be telecast on DD Urdu, DD National and DD Bharati.
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.
