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Discovery’s ‘Super Surgery’ show to target niche audience
MUMBAI: Discovery channel is is attempting to add depth to its programming with shows targeted at niche audiences.
The first such, Super Surgery: Restoring Eyesight, is a one hour show that will air on the channel on 24 August at 10 pm.
According to Discovery corporate communications head Sanjay Raina, “Screenings like this are one of the best ways in which we can portray the programming depth of the channel. We want to put forth the message that there is much more to Discovery than the sight of lions, whales and other animals. If one merely sticks to that level then the programming becomes very shallow in nature. Our aim is to show the manner in which we are aiming at educating the viewer.”
In Super Surgery: Restoring Eyesight viewers observe medical breakthroughs as surgeons repair one of the most complex organs in the human body by restoring it with plastic parts and silicon chips designed to mimic the most intricate workings of the eye. The show deals with the development of an artificial cornea in Perth Australia as well as a silicon chip in Chicago, which can help people with a damaged retina.
The show outlines how the artificial cornea was developed at the Lions Eye Institute in Perth. For 10 years the institute spent time developing an artificial cornea made from unique material, that isn’t rejected. The show takes viewers through the process of inserting the artificial cornea. Meanwhile, two Asian American brothers in a Chicago lab developed the silicon chip. The chip can be implanted beneath the retina. It then mimics the act of the retina’s photoreceptor cells by converting images into electric signals, which are then sent to the brain. However due to FDA stipulations the duo have not been allowed to make public the extent of the success of their work.
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.
