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PM Modi’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’ to address farmers’ issue in March
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be talking to farmers and their families in his next Mann Ki Baat on 22 March.
Modi conveyed this through a tweet saying he would be talking to his farmer brothers and sisters through the programme on All India Radio (AIR).
In a subsequent tweet, Modi asked farmers and others to send in their views and questions and wanted them to write letters C/O All India Radio’s Delhi office.
Last month, he had addressed students in schools, colleges and service exams in Mann Ki Baat.
Although the broadcast is on radio as Modi feels it reaches more people than television, Doordarshan and other TV channels are expected to simulcast the audio with suitable videos or stills.
Interestingly, the broadcast comes a day before the soft launch of Kisan TV, which is expected on 23 March. The channel will be formally launched on Baisakhi day (14 April) as it marks the start of the sowing season.
Kisan TV, to be managed by Doordarshan, will be a 24-hour channel devoted to farmers and rural India. The channel was earlier supposed to launch on Makar Sankranti (14 January) but I&B Minister Arun Jaitley has been assured that all arrangements would be completed by mid-April.
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.
