News Headline
Sahara set to soft launch two more region-specific news channels 1 September
MUMBAI: More competition is coming everybody’s way on the news channel front.
With Sushanto Roy, heir to the Sahara empire, having just taken over as the chief whip of the group’s media business, among the first decisions he took was to okay and bring forward the launch date of the Sahara Samay news channel for Madhya Pradesh (MP). Set for a soft launch alongside Sahara Samay MP is Sahara Samay Mumbai as well.
Sahara Samay Mumbai’s launch had been delayed partly because of a massive fire that gutted the company’s office complex in the western suburb of Goregaon in January. The complex also houses the Sahara Samay Mumbai news centre and imported equipment was destroyed in the blaze.
Speaking to indiantelevision.com last night on the sidelines of a media briefing to announce the relaunch of Sahara’s Rs 600-million magum opus Karishma The Miracles Of Destiny, Roy confirmed that Sahara Samay Mumbai and Sahara Samay MP would be soft-launched on 1 September. The official launch is scheduled for 15 September with the interrim two-week period being utilised to fine-tune proceedings.
Queried as to how he hoped to perk up the group’s main news channel Sahara Samay Rashtriya, which had failed to keep the momentum going after an impressive start, Roy said an aggressive marketing push was in the pipeline to increase awareness levels. All the various media platforms available to the group, including the entertainment channel Sahara TV, would be roped in as part of this effort, Roy said. It would be a virtual relaunch of the channel and would coincide with the launch of the Mumbai and MP channels, he added.
Sahara Samay Mumbai, meanwhile, will cover news from three states – Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa – while Sahara Samay MP, as the name suggests, will cover the state of Madhya Pradesh.
With the launch of the two channels, the number of region specific channels in the Sahara Samay family will go up to three (Sahara Samay UP has already launched) in addition to the main Sahara Samay Rashtriya channel.
There are three more region-specific channels that are slated to launch in a phased manner over the coming months – Rajasthan, Bihar and National Capital Region (NCR).
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.
