News Broadcasting
Meghashrey Foundation honours Navika Kumar with Sarvottam Nagrik Sanman 2025
MUMBAI: Navika Kumar, group editor-in-chief, Times Now & Times Now Navbharat, has been conferred with the Sarvottam Nagrik Sanman 2025, one of India’s most prestigious civilian honors, presented by Meghashrey Foundation. The award recognises her exceptional contribution to Indian journalism and her unwavering commitment to truth, integrity, and nation-building. Her fearless reporting, sharp political analysis, and leadership have helped shape informed public discourse across the nation.
The Sarvottam Nagrik Sanman celebrates individuals who have made outstanding contributions to Indian society in fields such as social work, science, education, medicine, arts, and public life. This year’s ceremony was graced by Hon’ble Union Cabinet Minister for Culture, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, and Hon’ble Cabinet Minister of Maharashtra for Culture, Shri Ashish Shelar, and held at Hotel Sahara Star, Mumbai.
Other awardees included an illustrious list of changemakers and national icons, including, Padma Vibhushan Dr. Anil Kakodkar, Padma Bhushan Vijay Bhatkar, Padma Shri Dr. Shankar Mahadevan, filmmaker Imtiaz Ali, Padma Shri Kumar Sanu, Padma Shri Raveena Tandon, Luke Coutinho amongst others.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 to host Kolkata Town Hall on Hooghly River
‘Bhalobasa Bengal Inspiring Bharat’ event on April 20 brings cultural icons, trailblazing women and leaders aboard a cruise to celebrate Bengal’s enduring influence.
MUMBAI: Bengal is about to make fresh waves on the Hooghly and this time the current is pure conversation. CNN-News18 is taking its iconic Town Hall format to the waters of the iconic Hooghly River on 20 April 2026 with a special edition titled ‘Bhalobasa Bengal – Inspiring Bharat’. The floating event will celebrate the state’s rich cultural legacy and how its ideas, creativity and spirit continue to shape the rest of the country.
The unique riverside setting draws on Bengal’s history as a cradle of reform, art and intellectual thought. The speaker line-up mirrors that diversity: cultural heavyweights Mithun Chakraborty and Sreenanda Shankar will share the stage with trailblazing “Devis” such as Tanya Sanyal (India’s first woman firefighter in aviation), Ipsita Chakraborty (Kolkata’s first woman bartender) and Reshma Nilofer Visalakshi (Nari Shakti awardee and marine pilot). Music will flow through the celebrated pianist-vocalist duo Sourendro and Soumyojit, while public life and governance will be represented by Smriti Irani, Leander Paes, Saira Shah Halim, Keya Ghosh, Rekha Patra, Roopa Ganguly and Babul Supriyo.
CNN-News18, editorial affairs director, Rahul Shivshankar, said the event honours voices that carry Bengal’s legacy forward. Smriti Mehra, CEO – English & Business News, Network18, added that Bengal’s stories resonate far beyond its borders, especially as the state heads into polls.
From the first woman to battle flames in the skies to legendary actors who shaped Indian cinema, the gathering promises a rich mix of inspiration, courage and candid dialogue. In a city where culture has always flowed as freely as the river itself, CNN-News18 is turning the Hooghly into a floating forum for ideas that matter.
Tune in on 20 April on CNN-News18, CTV and YouTube to catch Bengal’s heartbeat in full flow.
