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WWE kicks off reading initiative ahead of ‘SummerSlam’ PPV
MUMBAI: Get real! World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in the US has kicked off its annual Summer Reading Slam to encourage summer reading.
It’s all part of the activities leading up to WWE’s SummerSlam Pay-Per-View on 21 August in Washington. In India WWE action airs on Ten Sports.
Fans can write to getreal@wwecorp.com with the title of the book they have or will read this summer, including the name of the author, and why they enjoyed the book. Upon receiving their submissions, WWE will send a complimentary poster featuring WWE SmackDown! star Rey Mysterio. Each submission should include a mailing address where to send the poster. Fans can check back frequently to see which books are being read by their fellow fans by visiting getreal.wwe.com.
Get Real is an acronym for respect, education, achievement, and leadership. Since 2001, the Get Real programme has partnered with schools and libraries across the country promoting the importance of reading and education.
Meanwhile to bolster its presence in the US the WWE is rolling out a suite of Spanish-language wrestling and sports entertainment programming to Cable, Satellite and Telco providers as a Video On Demand (VOD) offering. This new Spanish-language product will be made available on a transactional basis separately from WWE 24/7, the company’s subscription video on demand (SVOD) offering.
WWE Enterprises executive VP Tom Barreca says, “This Spanish rollout is our initial answer to those Cable, Satellite and Telco providers who have told us they are looking for new, compelling non-English transactional content to provide for a growing and specific ethnic consumer base. WWE is hugely popular with Hispanic viewers, and they are among the most loyal groups of Pay-Per-View and WWE consumer product buyers we’ve identified. As a frequent ratings leader among this valuable demo, we believe that the WWE can help distributors attract legions of Hispanic fans to the new platforms like VOD and retain them thereafter.”
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.
