News Headline
Disney V-P resigns; corporate structure in turmoil
MUMBAI: The ship is shaking in unsteady waters at the moment for media conglomerate Disney.
Its vice chairman Roy Disney who is the nephew of the company’s founder Walt Disney has resigned. This means that there is no family member on the company’s board now.
A report in the New York Times has stated that Roy had serious differences of opinion with the chairman Michael Eisner about the direction in which the company was moving and the way it is currently being managed. He also asked for Eisner’s resignation. The company’s board however did not support him. Prior to the announcement Roy was also the chairman of the feature animation division.
In a letter written to Eisner, Roy said, “For whatever reason, you have driven a wedge between me and those I work with even to the extent of requiring some of my associates to report my conversations and activities to you. I find this intolerable. It is my sincere belief that it is you who should be leaving and not me.”
Another AP report suggested that Roy’s decision could have been in order to avoid the embarrassment of being forced off the board. The board’s governance and nominating committee decided not to recommend him for another term because he is over the retirement age of 72.
While its theme park business was affected by an unfavourable economic environment, the conglomerate’s biggest area of worry is the state of its broadcast station ABC. It has failed to challenge the other networks namely CBS, NBC and Fox in the ratings war.
In addition in the animation department it has depended strongly upon its partnership with Pixar. This has been responsible for films like Finding Nemo. However the two companies part ways in 2005. Disney’s own films like The Emperor’s New Groove have failed at the box office.
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.
