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Tehelka founder seeks support for print venture
MUMBAI: Tehelka founder Tarun J Tejpal will be back with his weekend print publication Tehelka on the Weekend in October 2003.
Tejpal’s company has embarked upon a communication campaign to enrol people who will become a founder subscriber or a member of the Tehelka Engaged Circle. Tejpal hopes to preserve the publication’s independence by enlisting support for the paper while hoping that this monetary support will contribute to sustain the publication.
Inviting subscriptions from thousands of people in advance, Tejpal claims that the new publication will represent everything Tehelka has come to symbolise, in the last three years – free, fair and fearless public interest journalism. Tejpal’s website Tehelka.com created waves two years ago when it broke the story of high level corruption in defence procurements.
Tejpal also claims that the publication will be aggressively independent. “It will not be aligned to any business house or political party. It will be aligned only to the public interest,” he adds.
A note from the Tehelka team says that those who enrol as Founder Subscriber will join the ranks of luminaries like Shahrukh Khan, Shabana Azmi, Mira Nair, Javed Akhtar, Mahesh Mathai, Parmeshwar Godrej, Shobhaa De, Sunil Khilnani, Shanti Bhushan, Vikram Lal, Anil Aggarwal, Arif Mohd Khan, Jit Paul, Saeed Naqvi, John Singh, Dr.Prathap.C.Reddy and more.
“You will also be a part of the Tehelka National Collegium where you can have a firsthand discussion with people at the forefront of change and contribute to the agenda of Tehelka as well,” adds Tejpal.
The note also says that those who subscribe to the Tehelka Engaged Circle will have a platform to connect with warriors who are on the frontlines, fighting pitched battles against all odds; with other like-minded socially conscious Indians.
The Engaged Circle will act as a catalyst to make issues into crusades and resurrect a critical mass that can make a bigger impact. “You will be invited to Tehelka National Engaged Forums as well, where you can come face to face with these warriors,” Tejpal adds.
While referring to the past, Tejpal reminisces: “Ever since we broke the story on corruption in defence procurements, we have had to face relentless victimisation at the hands of a powerful establishment. In two years Tehelka’s staff has gone from 120 people to three; its office has been vacated; its staffers arrested and harassed; and its debts have spiralled. Yet its support has grown, as has its resolve.”
Tejpal goes on to add: “We are determined to keep Tehelka from becoming a bad story: do the right thing and be destroyed for it. We want Tehelka to be a good story: do the right thing, suffer for it, but succeed in the end.
The Tehelka Advisory Board has eminent personalities such as Anna Hazare, Kuldip Nayyar, Mahashweta Devi, Mark Tully, Ram Jethmalani, Swami Agnivesh, Shyam Benegal, Sir V.S. Naipaul, Alyque Padamsee, Mallika Sarabhai, Mahesh Bhatt, Kapil Sibal, Julio Ribeiro amongst others.
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.
