News Headline
On DD’s b’day, Naidu lauds it for information empowerment
NEW DELHI: Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venakaiah Naidu said on Thursday that Doordarshan had truly lived up to its credo of being a public service broadcaster — not caring for competition and sticking to its mandate.
He also said the DD News remains the most credible news TV channel in the country giving news that were in-depth and complete in every way and that the organisation had resulted in creating information empowerment by spreading information of government programmes.
Speaking at a cultural programme held in the Doordarshan premises to mark the birthday or foundation day of DD, he said it had a national reach and also a reputation that was far above the private channels’.
The Minister said the programmes telecast by Doordarshan had kept alive the arts and culture of the country through its vast archives and encouragement to classical artistes.
In recorded messages, both Minister of State for I and B Rajyavardhan Rathore and Prasar Bharati board chairman Surya Prakash conveyed their gratitude to the millions of people who had always given encouragement to the presenters. Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar said DD ran 16 regional stations, had seven national level channels, and several other channels apart from beaming for overseas Indians.
MIB Minister exhorts journalism students to stay true to profession
Meanwhile, on a busy day at another event, Naidu said communicators should stay away from sensationalism and present facts as they existed without any biases.
Addressing students of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) during the 49th convocation, he urged them to preserve age-old values and culture while reporting and use information to fight social evils such as corruption, poverty and illiteracy.
While referring to the corrupt practice of paid news, the Minister urged them to not succumb to such unethical pressures and that they should maintain high standards of journalism as true soldiers of fourth estate.
He said the process of converting IIMC into a university was under way and it would have a platform to start many innovative programmes that would aim at providing wider perspective and inter-disciplinary approach to media education. It would also provide the institute with requisite resources to meet the growing demand of manpower in the industry and academia.
Emphasizing on the increasing role of social and digital media in communications domain, Naidu said social media had changed the way the communication flows. Millions of people across cultures and geographies are interacting in real time turning the world virtually into a ‘global village’.
He further added that digital media had brought in immense opportunities and challenges because information was shared in real time which generated instant feedback and response.
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.
