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IPL 2014 gets a special advisor in Deepak Parekh
MUMBAI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), at the instance of BCCI-IPL interim president Sunil Gavaskar has appointed Deepak Parekh as his special advisor, for the 2014 season of the Pepsi Indian Premier League (IPL). Parekh will be a special invitee to the governing council meetings of the IPL.
Parekh is the chairman of Housing Development Finance Corporation, one of India’s leading housing finance company, and is also on the boards of many Indian and international corporates. He also happens to be an avid cricket follower, and his management skills are well documented.
“I am delighted that Deepak has accepted my invitation to come on board as a special advisor and special invitee to the Indian Premier League governing council. It is apt that an individual of the calibre of Parekh will be joining the BCCI-IPL’s leadership group. With a diverse combination of skills and experience, this appointment will result in a well-rounded senior management team at the IPL – one that will set the direction for a better and bigger league,” Gavaskar said in a statement.
Parekh has been dubbed as the unofficial crisis consultant of the government. His role as special director on the Satyam Board in 2009, to revive the company and restore the confidence in the Indian IT industry, was greatly acknowledged. He has always been willing to share his ideas and experience to formulate reform policies across sectors. This, at times, has also meant advising the government to take hard decisions. It is this quality of being a trouble-shooter that has made him a guiding force and an active member of various high-powered economic groups, government-appointed advisory committees and task forces.
“We are pleased to have Deepak Parekh in our team. His expertise will enable us to deliver a memorable IPL,” said IPL governing council chairman Ranjib Biswal.
Accepting his appointment, Parekh added: “I am excited to be invited to be a part of the IPL. I look forward to fulfilling this challenging new role on the IPL’s senior leadership team as an advisor to Gavaskar, as we look to strengthen the Indian Premier League.”
The government and industry, impressed by Parekh’s performance and sobriety, have honoured him with several awards. Some of the most important ones are; the Padma Bhushan in 2006, and the “Knight in the Order of the Legion of Honour,” one of the highest distinctions conferred by the French Republic, in 2010. He was the first international recipient of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales’ Outstanding Achievement Award, in 2010.
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.
