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Rathi Vinay Jha is Fashion Design Council Of India DG
MUMBAI: The Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), the apex industry body for the fashion design industry in India has appointed Rathi Vinay Jha as the Director General of the Council.
Every year the FDCI organises the Fashion Week.
Jha has spent nearly four decades working for the Indian government. She is the first lady to head the FDCI council since its formation in 1998.
Her experience spans several sectors, particularly fashion, textiles and handicrafts. Jha played a key role in the setting up of National Institute of Fashion Technology (Nift), New Delhi, along with Pupul Jayakar in 1987. She served as Nift executive director from 1987-93 contributing to its position as India’s premier institute of fashion design.
The institute has, over the years, exposed the Indian fashion industry to the world’s finest design expertise, management practices and manufacturing technologies leading to the Indian fashion boom over the last few years.
Talking about her new role Jha said, “India has a centuries old history and heritage of designed products. Our ability in the sphere of design in the modern context is well recognised. The FDCI aims at the market promotion and capacity building for the fashion design fraternity & aims at overall development of the sector. We intend pursuing these aims with number of programmes and events to benefit the industry.”
FDCI has also announced that Ritu Kumar has been elected as its board president. Lakme India Fashion Week 2005 will be held in New Delhi from 20-26 April 2005.
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.
