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India scoops lion’s share of C’wealth Broadcasting awards
NEW DELHI: India has carried off the lion’s share of prizes awarded by the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association (CBA) this year. Infact, the country dominated all other Commonwealth countries to such an extent that the British Council in Delhi hosted a significant prize-giving event today.
The CBA Award for Exceptional News Feature went to NDTV’s senior editor Barkha Dutt and Ajmal Jami (camera) for their vivid and daring report on the communal riots in Gujarat.
The CBA Unicef Award for Outstanding Local Children’s Broadcasting has been awarded to BBC World Service Trust/Doordarshan and Naco, the Indian AIDS organisation, for a vigorous and pioneering TV campaign on AIDS aimed at young people, which challenged minds and changed behaviour. The eight-member team led by series producer Sonia Chowdhry was honoured.
The Commonwealth Short Story Competition 2003 has been won by Madhulika Liddle of Delhi, whose story A Morning Swim triumphed over 3,741 entries from around the Commonwealth. She won ?2,000. Her story was inspired by an obscure newspaper report about a small boy who makes a living by diving for coins in the Yamuna River.
India has four other successful short story winners, Usha Rajagopalan from Manipal, Amara Bhavani Dev from Bangalore, Sriparna Saha from Kolkota, and Suchitra Ramadurai from Chennai, all of whom received Highly Commended Prizes of ?100, and all of whom travelled to Delhi for the prize-giving.
The Commonwealth Photographic Awards received more entries from India than any other nation. Although the top prize went to a Canadian, John Lehmann, who won ?2,000 for his photograph of a newly born baby in the arms of its ecstatic parents – interpreting the competition’s theme of ‘Celebration’ – there were eight Highly Commended Winners from India.
M L Barai, Binode Kumar Das, Rajib De, Ashok Nath De, Swapan Mahapatra, Dines Mukherjee, Indranil Sarkar and Debashis Sawoo are mostly from Kolkota, and several of them travelled to Delhi to receive their ?100 prizes.
The Commonwealth Short Story Competition began in 1996 and is funded by the Commonwealth Foundation and administered by CBA.
The Commonwealth Photographic Awards is an open competition for all Commonwealth residents and included both colour and black and white photographs. They are organised by the CBA and the Commonwealth Press Union, supported by the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation and sponsored by The Commonwealth Foundation.
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.
