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It’s Network18 ahoy for Palki Sharma as managing editor
Mumbai : She built her name as a savvy on-air anchor on the programme Gravitas and as managing editor of Zee Media’s English news channel Wion. Now Palki Sharma has hopped on to Network18 Media as managing editor. She will be heading a new video project which is slated to be multi-platform. This will be her second stint at Network18, where she has previously worked in various capacities.
“I am excited to join hands with Network18, India’s largest news network, to launch a futuristic project with a global footprint, that will transform the news experience and make India proud,” says Sharma. “It will be a content innovation lab that challenges traditional news formats and experiments with the latest technology and interactive tools to make news stories intelligent, interesting, and accessible for the global audience.”
Sharma will build and direct a video project that will cover all aspects of news reporting and presentation. The news product will aim to attract a new generation of viewers for the company.
Adds Network18 group business news CEO Smriti Mehra: “Palki is a distinctive journalist and editor, thanks to her persona, voice, and audience connect.”
She further adds: “The news product she will lead will cater to audiences across platforms. It will help the network expand its footprint, along with imagining new formats of showcasing news content.”
Sharma has over 21 years of experience in media, having worked for the ITV Network, Network18, Doordarshan News, and The Hindustan Times.
Gravitas, a popular prime-time English news program, as well as the highly regarded digital program Gravitas Plus on Wion, were both hosted by her. She also created and oversaw the Wion Global Summit, an annual channel event held in Dubai.
Palki has interviewed several national and international heads of state during her two-decade career. She has also covered major stories and events on the ground, such as the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the Quad Summits in Tokyo and Washington, DC, and many more.
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.
