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It’s celebration time for fans as IPL returns!
MUMBAI: The scene: a flat in a middle class society in Mumbai’s Malad suburb. It’s late evening Sunday, 1 August. Varun Gupta, a 23-year-old is working on a presentation, which his boss unsuspectingly thrust on him in the afternoon. His neighborhood has been declared a containment zone as around three individuals have been tested Covid positive.
Suddenly, a notification pops up on his computer informing this die hard IPL fan that the IPL governing council has cleared the staging of the the tournament in the UAE from 19 September to 10 November 2020.
His hitherto frowning face breaks into a smile of joy. He leaps out of his chair, and goes to his mother in the kitchen and dances around her, whooping with delight.
Varun is just one of hundreds of millions of cricket fans who have been celebrating in their own ways since the IPL’s announcement early in August. For long they have been starved of live sports courtesy the rampaging SARS COV2 virus and the lockdowns it imposed on the world.
Ever since the news that the IPL2020 is taking place, albeit in the UAE and possibly with limited or no stadium attendance, has come out, IPL fans are ecstatic. They have gone into overdrive, tweeting, posting on Instagram, Facebook and what have you, expressing their joy.
Excited for this year IPL#IPLinUAE #IPL2020
— Virat Kohli (@viratkohliq) August 11, 2020
More than a month for #IPL2020.
I can’t— Rrachna (@magicaldiarie) August 11, 2020
The IPL not only brings out the passion, it also helps harness creativity in cricket fans as can be seen in the tweets and posts above.
IPL devotees form different cohorts and go to the extent of going on a fast, avoiding meat, making huge sacrifices in order to propitiate the powers that be to aid and guide their teams to victory. They thrive on the emotional rollercoaster that the game provides, the adrenalin rush, when their teams get the better of the competition, and the downer when they are at the receiving end. Donning their favorite team’s colors, player’s T-shirt number, faces painted like warriors, fans watch every run being scored, every six being knocked out of the ground, every wicket falling and also the heart-stopping run chase, whilst sitting on the edge of their seats in their homes before the TV set.
For Indians, IPL cricket, its teams and players are not just a release, they are a religion, their gods, which and whom they will die for. And lovers of the T20 format – running into hundreds of millions – have been deprived of the divinity of the game for longer than they would have liked to be. The pent up demand is sure to explode into a frenzy of binge watching of each and every match when IPL goes live.
The fact that the IPL was called off in March 2020, leading to fans having a break from it and the fact that most of them are at home – and will be homebound for sometime – could mean that IPL 2020 could be the year when it touches new levels in terms of viewership and reach – the highest possible ever.
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.
