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TV9 Network ropes in Panini Anand and Ajith Vijay Kumar in its digital team
Mumbai : TV9 Network has expanded its editorial capabilities in the digital space. With two senior-level hires, TV9 Digital’s digital proposition is set to gain a competitive advantage as it embarks on a massive expansion plan.
Panini Anand from India Today joined TV9 Network’s digital editorial leadership team. Times Now Digital’s Ajith Vijay Kumar also joined the team.
As the new Group Editor of Digital, HSM Properties, Panini will direct expanded TV9 digital products in other languages like Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, and Punjabi in addition to concentrating on www.tv9hindi.com. As senior Executive Editor, Ajith will be in charge of the English version of www.news9live.com.
Ajith Vijay Kumar will be in charge of the English text digital platform, while Panini Anand will lead the Hindi offering together with other regional digital text assets, including proposed launches in this area. Ajith Vijay Kumar was a senior News Editor at Times Now Digital, while Panini Anand was previously the Executive Editor of Aaj Tak Digital.
Panini brings a plethora of editing expertise to his new position thanks to his 20 years of experience covering social and political movements. He has held positions with respected media companies like Rajya Sabha TV, Outlook Magazine, the BBC, and Rajasthan Patrika.
In just about three years of operation, the Hindi news site for TV9 Network, tv9hindi.com, has quickly made a name for itself in the extremely competitive market. The website currently intends to assume the top position with a wide range of material including politics, business, education, careers, science, technology, farming, agriculture, entertainment, and viral news.
The network’s leadership position has been further strengthened by the recent introduction of TV9 Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh Uttarakhand digital channel, which is quickly gaining popularity among the most affluent people throughout the Hindi heartland.
The English digital service news9live.com focuses on thought-provoking stories from across the world on subjects like the most recent news, politics, defence, money, entertainment, and sports, as well as the newest social media trends, wellness trends, and technological advancements. The platform is currently being redesigned to provide readers with an integrated news experience that has never been available before.
Ajith Vijay Kumar, a seasoned journalist with around 20 years of expertise in managing digital newsrooms, will serve as the executive producer of News9 Live. Some of India’s largest newsrooms’ digital news ecosystems have been effectively altered by him.
Commenting on the appointment of the two digital leaders, TV9 Network’s MD & CEO Barun Das said, “TV9 Network has scripted a historical growth in the broadcast space leading to the Network achieving national leadership position. We aim to replicate the success in the digital space as well. We have lined up some out-of-box propositions including News9 Plus and Money9 as part of an aggressive digital growth strategy. We are now ready to embark on our journey for the next big leap.”
“The current year boasts of a very busy news calendar leading up to the mega news event of 2024 when general elections are due in India. Panini’s valuable editorial experience will further elevate our editorial content. Ajith too is a seasoned induction. There will be further beefing up of our digital firepower,” Barun added.
Commenting on his appointment, Panini said, “TV9 Network has disrupted the news television genre beating legacy players. It’s phenomenal broadcast success is also mirrored in its ever-growing digital presence. I am happy to be part of this acclaimed turnaround story driven by the mission to create a new compelling digital experience for the ever demanding and politically alive HSM news aficionado.”
“I am elated to join TV9 Network, among the most successful news media companies that has not only bucked the trend but also set a new benchmark. I look forward to some learning and unlearning as News9 Live aims to be a truly distinct English news offering,” said Ajith Vijay Kumar.
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.
