News Headline
ETV forays north of the Vindhyas with six channels next month
The Ramoji Rao owned Eenadu Television Network is all set to launch six new regional language channels next month. Interestingly, each of these will speak a different dialect. There are separate channels for Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan, apart from channels in Oriya and Gujarati.
The network already has Telugu, Bangla, Marathi, Kannada and Urdu channels in its kitty. ETV Telugu was launched in 1995, followed by ETV Bangla in May 2000, ETV Marathi in June and ETV Kannada in December. The Urdu channel was launched as a 24-hour free-to-air digital channel on 15 August this year for which programming content had been built up for more than one and a half years.
ETV publicity head A Vishwambar Rao says the same meticulous preparation has gone into the building of programming software for the six channels that are to be launched next month. The new channels will follow a similar programming pattern as the existing ones. This entails a fair mix of entertainment and information with hourly news updates, telefilms, family dramas, daily soaps, devotional and musical programmes.
Most of the network’s programmes are produced in house, at the state of the art Ramoji Rao Studios in Hyderabad. Programming for the four ‘Hindi-belt’ channels – ETV-MP, ETV-UP, ETV-Bihar and ETV-Rajasthan – has been organised in such a way that all four will air the same shows in the prime time band. The channels will have their own programming for the rest of the slots, according to Rao.
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.
