News Headline
NBA creates History: celebrates league’s past
MUMBAI: The History Channel has signed a partnership with the National Basketball Association (NBA) that the network will air two documentaries and get significant on-air exposure on NBA TV.
With this tie-up, NBA becomes the first professional sports league to team-up with The History Channel to celebrate the league’s past.
The channel today said it has signed a multiyear deal to sponsor an NBA Hardwood Classics programme that will include two NBA-produced, one-hour documentaries to air on The History Channel.
The channel will also get a prominent presence in NBA’s TV programming, NBA Hardwood Classics merchandise, NBA.com’s history section and select Hardwood Classics Nights games – a series of retro games that celebrate their past players, teams and prominent anniversaries.
This was announced at the NBA Store in New York City by NBA commissioner David Stern and The History Channel executive vice president and general manager Dan Davids, and was also confirmed in the association’s website today. NBA legends Bill Walton and George Gervin were also on hand for the announcement.
The association’s website, NBA.com quotes its commissioner Stern as saying, “As the premier distributor of insightful historical programming, The History Channel will have the opportunity to draw on the NBA’s role in societal issues as racial integration, AIDS and HIV education, as well as the chronicling of the rich history of our sport.”
The deal includes a prominent presence on NBA.com with preview pages of Hardwood Classics Nights games and a new ‘Historic Event’ feature page which will appear following record-breaking performances this season, media reports said. History Channel will also have branding on hangtags of Hardwood Classics Nights jerseys sold at retail.
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.
