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KKR and Vikram Solar unite to promote clean energy in cricket
MUMBAI: In a groundbreaking move for sports and sustainability, Vikram Solar has joined forces with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as their official clean energy advocate for the upcoming Indian T20 Premier League season. This partnership underscores a shared commitment to promoting renewable energy and environmental awareness.
As part of the collaboration, Vikram Solar’s logo will feature on KKR’s team jersey, symbolising a push towards clean energy solutions. Cricket, with its vast following, provides a unique platform to drive conversations about sustainability. By engaging KKR’s passionate fan base, Vikram Solar hopes to encourage wider adoption of solar energy across India, bridging the gap between awareness and action.
This initiative aligns with India’s broader sustainability goals and highlights Vikram Solar’s role in accelerating the clean energy transition. Celebrating 20 years of innovation in the solar industry, the company views this partnership as an opportunity to inspire communities and businesses to embrace renewable energy as part of India’s growth story.
Vikram Solar chairman & managing director Gyanesh Chaudhary said, “KKR embodies passion, resilience, and excellence values that resonate deeply with us. As a brand rooted in Kolkata, we see this partnership as a powerful avenue to promote solar energy adoption across India and drive positive environmental change.”
KKR’s CEO Venky Mysore also highlighted, “Cricket has the ability to connect with millions, and this collaboration allows us to use that influence for a meaningful cause.
Together with Vikram Solar, we aim to raise awareness about clean energy and contribute to a greener, more sustainable future.”
Through this alliance, KKR and Vikram Solar are not just championing cricket but also leading a movement towards environmental responsibility, demonstrating how sport can be a powerful driver of change.
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.
