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Rupert Murdoch receives Hudson Institute Global Leadership Award
MUMBAI: Hudson Institute has honoured News Corp and 21st Century Fox executive chairman Rupert Murdoch with its annual Global Leadership Award. Dr. Henry Kissinger and Hudson Institute president Kenneth Weinstein presented the award to Murdoch at a dinner held at The Plaza Hotel in Manhattan.
Hudson’s award recognized Murdoch for his strategic leadership and adherence to the principles of democracy, free markets and economic growth, national security and a strong civil society.
Through an extensive career developing media properties, from News Limited in Australia to Fox News and The Wall Street Journal, Murdoch has demonstrated a dedication to Hudson’s guiding principles.
“We honor Rupert not because he is a conservative, but because he is a revolutionary,” said Hudson Institute president Kenneth Weinstein. “He has transformed global media by sensing transformative possibilities that others simply couldn’t, taking gigantic risks along the way, all to inform, entertain, and build new markets.”
In his acceptance speech, Murdoch addressed the need for strong global American leadership. “As we have seen in Syria and in the Ukraine and in the streets of Paris, without this country’s self-confident championing of that human quest for freedom and humane values, global affairs collapse into nightmare—the policy wasteland becomes fertile territory for terror,” Murdoch said.
Murdoch joins a list of past Hudson Institute award honorees that includes Henry Kissinger, Ronald Reagan, Shinzo Abe, George Shultz, Dick Cheney, Joseph Lieberman, Mitch Daniels, and David Petraeus.
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.
