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Singer India ropes in Rakesh Khanna as managing director and vice chairman
Mumbai: Singer India Ltd., one of the leading and the most trusted brand in the sewing machine category and the home appliances industry, plans to revamp the company’s product portfolio, strengthen its marketing and distribution while focusing on investing in talent and manufacturing as the company gets to ready to expand and diversify, under the leadership of recently appointed managing director and vice chairman, Rakesh Khanna.
Khanna comes with a varied and rich experience in the consumer and white goods industry, which is the perfect mix of what Singer India is planning to achieve an innovation journey that will put the consumer and the company’s employee needs at the core of its business functions. India Is showing resilience towards a slow global economy and is growing at a steady and cautious pace, Khanna is confident that with the rich pedigree behind Singer India and the company’s commitment to creating technically superior products, Singer wants to now explore the full potential that a market like India has to offer which has emerged as one of the largest exporters of textiles and apparel products in the world with the huge manufacturing base.
Khanna said, “It is an honor to lead a brand like Singer India, which comes with a strong 170-year-old legacy. I am very excited to partner & collaborate with the rich talent & our other stakeholders to explore the huge playground that India has to offer. I surely look forward to the onward journey of Singer India towards new horizons of innovation and creating newer experiences for our consumers to instill greater confidence and love in the brand.”
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.
