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NP Singh elected new IBF president
MUMBAI: At the 19th annual general meeting(AGM) of Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF), Sony Pictures Networks India CEO and MD NP Singh was elected as the new president of the foundation. Singh will succeed Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd ( ZEEL) MD Punit Goenka who held the position for two years.
Earlier Goenka took over the responsibility from Star India chairman and CEO Uday Shankar in 2016. Prasar Bharati CEO Shashi Shekhar Vempati has been elected as the new director of IBF board.
“I am elated to lead IBF at a crucial juncture and will put my best efforts to make the sector invigorating. A strong media and broadcast sector will not only serve as the conscience-keeper of the nation but will educate, entertain and acclimatise the masses. My key objective would be to ensure the larger good of the sector in keeping with the regulatory practices,” Singh commented on his election.
“Singh has always been a supportive colleague on the Board and his broad insight and acumen will help us deal with the challenges that the sector is facing today,” outgoing president Goenka said.
Along with India TV founder and chairman Rajat Sharma, Star India MD South K Madhavan, and Viacom18 MD Sudhanshu Vats, Singh was holding the office of vice president for last two years. The media veteran has rich experience of more than 30 years. He started his stint in Sony Entertainment back in 1999 as chief financial officer. The Delhi University alumni also studied in Institute of Cost Accountants of India.
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.
