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Sahara Samay Mumbai awaits go ahead from top brass
MUMBAI: Sahara Samay Mumbai, one of the Sahara news channels, claims that it is ready and raring to go.
Sahara Samay Mumbai head Rajiv Bajaj says the countdown for the launch of the Mumbai specific news channel has begun…
Sahara Samay Mumbai chief Rajiv K Bajaj says the Mumbai specific channel is slated for a launch next month, shortly after the launch of the national news channel and Sahara Samay Uttar (meant for the state of Uttar Pradesh).
According to Bajaj , state- of- the- art technology and infrastructure ‘that’s geared to beat any news channel in the country hands down’, has been put in place. “We have five V SAT links , Digital Satellite News Vehicle (DSNG)and Outside Broadcast ( OB) Vans for our Mumbai bureau. The studios also will be ready in another five days,” he confirmed on Thursday.
80 reporters have already been recruited for the Mumbai channel, according to sources, although Bajaj refused to be drawn into divulging the exact number recruited.
Instructors from all parts of the world have been brought in to acquaint reporters (who have been undergoing intensive training for the past two months )with the latest software technology, said Bajaj.
“Our exhaustive coverage will provide discerning viewers with an entire gamut of news, right from neighbourhood news, business, current affairs, entertainment, politics, share markets, retail markets to traffic updates. Our primary aim is to be a peoples’ channel , represent the cause of the people and give them a voice. We intend to not only project problems but also provide a solution to them ” said Bajaj when asked what would give Sahara Samay Mumbai the cutting edge over rival channels.
The Mumbai Samay bureau will primarily cater to the entire western region which includes Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa and provide news in Hindi, Marathi and Gujarati.
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.
