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PAC launches multimedia campaign to motivate voters
xMUMBAI: Bangalore based Public Affairs Center (Pac) in association with creative agency Brand-comm has unveiled the National Voter Motivation Campaign 2004. The campaign which will cut across the media urges people to vote in next months Lok Sabha elections.
Pac is a non-government, not-for profit organisation involved in advocating improved quality of public governance and policy matters. The campaign involves cricketer Rahul Dravid among a host of other celebrities across India who urge people to ‘Vote Today, Don’t Curse Tomorrow’. The campaign uses images of common people who curse the system for the problems they face in daily life and tells them that by not voting, they are only perpetrating the problem.
Pac says it feels that the widespread disenchantment and apathy prevalent amongst urban voters is a serious challenge facing our democracy. Therefore it has launched a nationwide voter awareness drive through various media to simply urge people to go out and vote. As a unifying theme, “Vote Today, Don’t Curse Tomorrow” will be integrated across various media and used as the punch line message to drive home the need to vote before complaining about problems or cursing those holding the reigns of power and public governance.
Brand-comm is a communications consulting company headquartered in Bangalore with full-fledged offices in Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai and Pune. Its clients include Philips Innovation Campus, Scullers and Indigo Nation.
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.
