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Discovery Travel and Living journeys through China this month
MUMBAI: Discovery Travel and Living (DTL) heads past the Great Wall of China this month. It will give viewers a glimpse into one of the most exotic and oldest civilisations in the world.
From the bustling city of Shanghai to the scenic countryside, from the succulent spiced pork to the fresh fried rice noodles, DTL will showcase the country in its five-day long special programme – China Week.
China Week will air from 19-23 February 2007 at 9 pm. China Week will coincide with the Chinese New Year celebrations.
Discovery India VP – Lifestyle Aditya Tripathi said, “China Week will explore the country’s unique sights, cultures, cuisine and landscapes and give viewers an exclusive insight into the country’s diverse and delectable attractions.”
The girst episode is caled Don’t Forget Your Passport. Viewers will join host Ellis Emmett as he treks China and then departs from Chongqing for a week-long trip down the Yangtze river. At the port city of Yichang, Ellis visits the Three Gorges Dam project and explores an ancient Taoist monastery in the 3,000-year-old City of Ghosts. Ellis wraps up his Chinese adventure with a boat trip up the Shenlong crook tributary at the gateway to a reclusive National Park, full of dramatic rocky outcroppings and mountain fed waterfalls.
The second episode is called Planet Food. During this one-hour voyage New Zealand chef Peter Gordon discovers the roots of one of the world’s great cuisines – Cantonese. In the northern mountains, he cooks succulent spiced pork over an open fire in a Yao tribal house and in the ancient former capital of Foshan, Peter explores the health benefits with one of the country’s leading traditional Chinese medical doctors and samples some healthy dishes.
A lesson in making delicate dimsum dumplings with one of the world’s leading experts is followed by sampling fried cobra. The next stop is Chaozhou, for some of the most varied and unusual street food, including fresh fried rice noodles and eel. Across the border in Fujian, Peter visits the tea mountains and experiences the organised chaos of the tea capital market where a kilo of the best tea can cost thousands of dollars. Finally, he visits the glittering city of Xiamen, home of experiments in Cantonese fusion cooking.
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.
