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Sports lead Google searches in India; Sindhu most searched
MUMBAI: Sports stood at the podium in terms of searches in India, according to a survey released by the US based-search engine. While PV Sindhu made a lot of inroads into people’s hearts with her heroics at Rio Olympics, Sultan and MS Dhoni – The Untold Story were both the among the highest grossing movies in 2016.
Based on different forms of sports, MS Dhoni made Sushant Singh Rajput and Disha Patani household names in the second half of the year while Sultan ruled the roost in terms of earnings.
According to a report released by Google Analytics, Sports was the leading property in terms of searches in India in 2016. Rio Olympics was the most trending item in India, with Pokemon Go standing second. The Olympics was also No. 1 on the list of most-searched news events.
Amongst personalities, Indian Olympic silver medallist PV Sindhu has been the second most searched personality in India, also being the most-searched Indian personality. The badminton ace was beaten by controversial US President Donald Trump, who led the personalities chart. Athlete Dipa Karmakar, MS Dhoni actress Disha Patani and Wrestler Sakshi Malik also feature in the top 10, giving sports the bragging rights over other genres.
Looking at the most searched Bollywood male celebrities, MS Dhoni actor Sushant Singh Rajput was the top trending star of 2016. Disha Patani heads that list in the female category, featuring in the same movie. In the movies category, Sultan, a film based on wrestling, was searched the most number of times in India. US Elections was the most searched news event after Rio Olympics, garnering great attention.
Indian Premier League 2016 and Euro 2016 also feature on the list of the most trending searches, with the football tournament standing at the third spot and IPL getting the sixth spot on the list. It is quite clear that for Indian audiences, Sports has been the most searched beat against other genres and the industry can always capitalise on that front.
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.
