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Discovery channel India celebrates 25 years
MUMBAI: On 15 August 2020, Discovery channel will commemorate its 25th anniversary in India by hosting celebrations on-air, online, and in the heart of communities around the country. To mark the milestone, Discovery has launched a new campaign #KeepExploring with noted actor Rahul Bose doing the voice-over. The network is also unveiling a slew of blue-chip documentaries and specials across genres such as dventure, survival, mystery, and wilddlife to celebrate the 25th anniversary. The breath-taking line-up for the next few months includes titles including ‘Into The Wild with Bear Grylls’, ‘Expedition Unknown’, ‘Savage Builds’, ‘Mysteries at the Museum’,’ Body Hack S3’ and ‘Walking The Elephants’ among many more.
“Discovery is dedicated to satisfying curiosity, engaging and entertaining viewers with high-quality content. In these twenty-five years, Discovery has emerged as the foremost, the most trusted broadcaster in real-life entertainment in the country,” said Discovery MD – south Asia Megha Tata. “We are proud to say that Discovery has ignited the passion inside all of us to be curious, explore and be more engaged with the natural world. We will further accelerate our efforts to showcase never-seen-before Premium Discovery titles, must-watch documentaries, India originals, and exclusive acquisitions.”
“I have been a passionate Discovery watcher and fed hugely on science, travel, and nature shows when the channel was initially launched in India. Being a part of this campaign took me down memory lane – How The Universe Works, Man vs Wild…I can go on,” said Bose. “I love the thought #KeepExploring – because that’s what Discovery leads you to do – explore new places, new concepts, new ideas for the future that you never dreamt existed. It urges people to go beyond the limits of human imagination.”
Over the past 25 years, Discovery has launched iconic, all-time favorite shows, such as ‘Morgan Freeman’s Through The Wormhole’, ‘How The Universe Works’, ‘How It’s Made’, ‘How Do They Do It?’, ‘Storm Chasers’, ‘You Have Been Warned’, ‘Man Vs Wild’, ‘MythBusters’, ‘Expedition Unknown’, ‘Walking The Himalayas’, ‘River Monsters’ and ‘Gold Rush’ et al.
In India, the channel has launched a series of impactful shows on Indian armed forces including ‘India’s Paratroopers – Earning the Badge’, ‘Revealed: LOC’,’ Battle Ops’, ‘Revealed: National Defence Academy’, ‘Revealed Siachen’, and 1965: India’s Battles and Heroes’ and Breaking Point franchise on ‘Air Force Academy’, ‘Indian Submariners’, ‘High Altitude Warfare School’, ‘Women Fighter Pilots’ and ‘Commando School Belgaum’. Discovery’s ‘Man vs Wild with Prime Minister Modi’ is the highest-rated show in the genre to date followed by ‘Into The Wild with Bear Grylls and Superstar Rajinikanth’.
Discovery Channel was launched in India on 15 August 1995. The infotainment channel is available in seven languages including Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and Bengali. Discovery India, today, offers 14 channels and has recently launched India’s first real-life entertainment streaming application Discovery Plus.
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.
