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Mann ki Baat gains popularity among NRIs, CMs to emulate idea
NEW DELHI: Even as the 32nd instalment of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated for next Sunday, it is being emulated soon by some Chief Ministers who are commencing similar broadcasts.
The broadcast on 28 May at 11.00 a.m. over the entire network of All India Radio will be carried by all AIR stations, all AIR FM channels (FM Gold and FM Rainbow), local radio stations, Vividh Bharati Stations, five community radio stations and also Doordarshan’s primkary channels – DD National, DD News, DD Kisan, and DD Bharati.
The monthly broadcast has become immensely popular in every nook and corner of the country and is also very popularly among listeners in foreign countries who receive Indian TV channels or get it through the mobile app.
The regional versions of the ‘Mann Ki Baat’ will be originated by the capital AIR stations in non- Hindi speaking zones at 20 hours on the same day. The regional versions shall be relayed by all AIR stations including local radio stations in the respective states.
Gujarat is expected to set up around 48,000 booths to listen to the broadcast this month.
The unique aspect of this important broadcast is that it is visually adapted by Doordarshan and other private TV and news channels in India and broadcast simultaneously. Similarly, radio in private sector patches AIR. All DTH operators also carry it.
It is also live streamed for global audience and is accessible through mobile app, ALL INDIA RADIO LIVE.
‘Mann Ki Baat’ — being aired to about 150 countries — has evoked a “huge response” from people of Indian-origin living abroad.
AIR External Services Division Director Amlanjyoti Mazumdar said the address, telecast live in Hindi, is also broadcast in a translated version in English. Excerpts of the speech are aired in various other languages, including Russian, French, Urdu and Chinese. “We reach out to listeners in 150 countries through our radio broadcast in Hindi and general overseas service (English),” he added.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das has said he is launching a monthly CM Ki Baat, and has already discussed this with Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu.
The state government is expected to enter into a memorandum of understanding with AIR and Doordarshan in this regard.
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.
