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ESS to air ‘Harsha Ki Khoj’ from Thursday
MUMBAI: ESPN Star Sports’ (ESS) latest marketing initiative Closeup Dream Job – Harsha Ki Khoj goes on air from 25 November 2004.
15 episodes of the talent hunt will be telecast every Thursday at 8:30 pm on ESPN. As reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com ESS’ talent hunt is searching for a presenter for the channel in India. The contest is basically targetted at sports fanatics who have grit enough to become a commentator – just like Harsha Bhogle. The winner gets a one year contract.
In addition to the 15 televised episodes, the final and the on-air commentary rounds will also be telecast. In a first of its kind experiment, the final 32 aspirants will compete in an on-air commentary round during the telecast of India-Bangladesh Test series.
The entire show will be in English and Hindi in keeping with ESPN’s initiatives in Hindi to reach out to a larger audience. In the initial screening round, over 45,000 callers submitted their recording via the mobile phone yielding over 100,000 minutes of commentary. This one-minute voice commentary was judged by ESS and selected >participants were auditioned at six cities across the country between 24 October and 21 November 2004. Judges including Wasim Akram and Ravi Shastri adjudicated the contestants at various auditions.
Contestants were evaluated on certain parameters like knowledge of sports, camera presence, style, and writing skills for television, voice modulation,
presence of mind, sense of humour and the ability to carry oneself in front of the camera.
Speaking on the initiative, ESS cricket and Indian production director Ray Hume said, “One of the key differentiators of our ‘Hunt’ has been the variety of professionals we have received entries from. I guess, the fact that Harsha being an MBA that too from a premier institute like IIM Ahmedabad, has triggered people’s passions and imaginations to question if Harsha can why can’t we?
“That is why we have doctors, MBAs, lawyers, architects, software engineers applying for Harsha Ki Khoj.. All of them are ready to leave their practicing profession for there association with sports.”
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.
