News Headline
Insat 3A, GSLV II mission launches in 2003
MUMBAI: Two crucial space missions have been slated for 2003.
First will be the placing of Insat 3A, the indigenous communication satellite in orbit by hi-tech Ariane-5 rocket from the European spaceport of Kourou in French Guyana towards the end of February or the first week of March.
Then there is the launch of the second geo-synchronous satellite launch vehicle (GSLV) from Sriharikota near Chennai in the last week of March or the beginning of April.
The Insat programme is a joint venture of the department of space, department of telecommunications, the India Meteorological Department, All India Radio and Doordarshan. The Insat 3A project, which also has a meteorological role, will cost Rs 352 billion, The Times of India has reported. The satellite, weighing 2,700 kilograms at lift off will be flown from Bangalore to Kourou to be joined with the rocket, the report adds.
The GSLV is a three -stage rocket which is designed to place satellites weighing 1500 kg into orbit. Also, a solar experiment developed jointly by the scientists of Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) and the Ahmedabad based Physical Research Laboratory, will be part of the payload of the satellite designated as GSAT-2.
Once operational the Insat satellites that are now flown by an Ariane rocket will be released into orbit by the indigenous GSLV. While the initial flights of the the GSLV will be powered by a Russian cyrogenic engine , the later ones will will have an Indian engine, states the report .
Isro is also developing an advanced version of the GSLV designated as “Mark-3” which will put into orbit a satellite weighing four tones. It is tentatively slated for launch in 2008.
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.
