News Broadcasting
Indians to strike a chord at BBC anniversary celebrations
LONDON: Internationally renowned musicians, artists and journalists will help celebrate the 70th anniversary of BBC World Service next month.
The major special broadcasts in the week of the anniversary include:The World Service Global Party, on 15 December. This brings three hours of live entertainment and performances from musicians in India, Senegal, Great Britain, Afghanistan and Mexico. Trilok Gurtu and Ranjit Barot will play live in Mumbai.
There will also be a World Service 70th Birthday Lecture delivered by UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan who answers questions from listeners around the world on 11 December to begin the fortnight of special programmes.
On 19 December, the actual birthday, BBC World Service will present the day’s programmes live from Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa.
Presenters Heather Payton Outlook and Ben Malor Africa Live will introduce 14 hours of programmes and read listeners’ e-mails.
Once an hour A Day in the Life of the World will highlight people connected to the BBC worldwide, including an engineer who services a transmitter in the mid-Atlantic.
BBC World Service claims to now have a global audience of 150 million and an internet presence in 43 languages.
Other highlights in the fortnight of celebration include a special edition of Pick of the World; an extended Newshour with a daily in-depth interview with a key international figure; and new analysis of significant world events in From Our Own Correspondent by BBC correspondents who covered the stories at the time including Kate Adie, Mark Tully, Brian Barron and Mike Wooldridge.
This is London which airs throughout the week of Monday 16 December, examines key moments in the life of the World Service over the last 70 years.
Other programmes will explore the birth of the Empire Service (as the World Service then was); the story of the Arabic Service; the Cold War days; and the World Service since 9/11..
News Broadcasting
Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
