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Essel chairman pays tribute to India’s official language on ‘Hindi Diwas’
NEW DELHI: On the occasion of Hindi Diwas on Wednesday, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha and Chairman, Essel Group, Subhash Chandra engaged in a thought-provoking discussion with eminent Hindi Poet and renowned scholar, Ashok Chakradhar on the ‘Present Status of Hindi: Challenges and Solutions’ at the Sahitya Akademi in New Delhi.
The Hindi edition of Chandra’s autobiography ‘The Z Factor – My Journey as the Wrong Man at the Right Time’ was launched by the Nobel Peace Prize recipient and Chief Guest, Kailash Satyarthi.
Chandra said, “English cannot replace Hindi as the language of communication in this country. In India, the language of the common man is Hindi and will continue to remain so. Over the years, by adopting words from various languages, the Hindi language has become rich and is growing on its own strength. Today, Hindi is spoken and understood all over the globe.”
“If our higher education system is imparted in Hindi or the mother tongue, we can create more experts in every field. For example, in Ludhiana, there are uneducated but skilled workers, who, if they were given education, would do even better,” Chandra added.
Chakradhar said, “It is not correct to say that we are serving the Hindi language, rather we should be saying that we are working for the Hindi language. Hindi has reached its highest levels and in coming years, it will continue to grow even further. To keep the purity of this beautiful language, scholars from the literature community should be mindful of not misusing Hindi words or using English words deliberately”.
Satyarthi said, “The mother tongue of a person is the most respected and no other language can take it away. Hindi and English are separate languages which are not competing with each other. However, to leave one’s own mother tongue and speak disrespectfully about it, is a shameful act. We should be open to learning all languages but should not criticise our own mother tongue. I remember when I went to receive the Nobel Prize, I purposely spoke in Hindi.”
From the book:
It was 14 December 1991 when Ashok Kurien of Ambience ad agency and I reached Star TV’s office in Hong Kong. There were ten to twelve senior and junior executives in the room. Richard Li, head of Star TV, was not there. So we waited awhile. It was like waiting for the king to come in and give his blessings.
Richard walked in suddenly and sat opposite me. ‘OK, Indian channel…
Hindi channel. Where is the money in India?’ Richard was very dismissive. ‘I am not interested in a joint venture.’
So I addressed him directly. ‘Mr Li, if you are not interested in the joint venture, can you consider leasing the [satellite] transponder to us?’ ‘There is no transponder available for less than $5 million per year,’ Richard said. It was a haughty statement to put me off.
‘That is fine. I will pay $5 million!’ It was a spur-of-the-moment decision. I did not realize the implication of what I had said…
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.
