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Star India’s senior VP legal Pulak Bagchi quits company
MUMBAI: Star India senior VP, legal and regulatory, Pulak Bagchi, is moving out of India’s biggest broadcasting and content company to seek new challenges in a sector that’s quite far removed from the country’s hectic and complex media industry.
June 30, 2017 would be the last day for Bagchi at Star where he along with his boss — Deepak Jacob, president, legal and regulatory affairs and general counsel — drafted solutions to many a legal issue and articulated at various forums Star and Indian media industry’s views on complex issues ranging from media ownership, mergers & acquisitions, licensing of content, etc., apart from policy evangelism in general.
Sources in Star confirmed the development saying Bagchi, who shuttled every week between Mumbai and New Delhi on official work, put in his papers some time back after almost seven and half years of eventful stay in the company.
Bagchi’s LinkedIn profile makes clear his desire to be at the confluence of cutting edge/emerging technologies, ideas and concepts and adding value through evolving state of the art/next gen legal/regulatory knowledge — basically being part of convergence.
Before joining Star India, the 40-something Bagchi, a graduate of Calcutta University’s Jogesh Chandra Choudhury College of Law, had done stints at MSM Discovery, a JV between Sony Entertainment Television and The Discovery Channel, Vodafone Essar and law firm Singhania & Co LLP. If one thinks lawyers are serious people, who they are, of course, this gentleman has an active interest in Hindi, Bengali and English music and loves to explore the world via travels.
Recently, Star India communications head Parul Sharma too had quit the company after over a decade to pursue new challenges and interests, including photography.
ALSO READ: Star India’s Parul Sharma puts in her papers
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.
