News Headline
Insat 4A to launch on 22 December in French Guyana
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MUMBAI: Final preparations are on for the liftoff of India’s telecommunications satellite Insat-4A and the European meteorological satellite 2 Meteosat (MSG-2) on an Ariane 5 G rocket from the spaceport of Kourou in French Guyana on 21 December (around 2 am on 22 December India time). |
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The heaviest satellite in the series, Insat 4A will be orbited by an Ariane 5 Generic vehicle on a dual-payload mission. Insat-4A is in the Kourou Spaceport’s S5 satellite preparation facility and is ready for launch following its recent fueling. The massive S5 facility allows payloads to undergo their complete checkout cycle in one of its high-bay sections – including hazardous operations such as the spacecraft fueling – while additional satellites can be processed simultaneously in building’s other high-bay zones.  Insat 4 A is being deployed for direct-to-home (DTH) broadcasting. The Tata-Sky Dth service had already booked 12 ku band transponders that would enable entire India coverage. Use of all the 12 transponders would enable the user to provide 150 channels to each DTH subscriber across. It is pertinent to note here that Tata-Sky CEO Vikram Kaushik had earlier told Indiantelevision.com that Isro had intimated that Insat 4A, the first in a satellite series crucial to the future of the Tata Sky DTH venture, would be launched on 16 December. |
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Kalanithi Maran’s Sun Direct has booked four – six transponders in the initial phase on 4B or 4C. Insat 4B is likely to be launched in the second or third quarter of 2006, after the launch of 4C. |
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.
