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Zee Punjabi turns six
MUMBAI: Zee Punjabi, the Punjabi entertainment channel from Zee Network, will complete six years on 18 October 2005. The channel offers entertainment that caters to the viewers all over Punjab and beyond the borders of the state and country. Apart from Punjab, Zee Punjabi also targets other parts of the country also and other international markets like UK and USA.
On this occasion, Zee Punjabi president Rabindra Narayan said, “Our main objective has been to establish the channel as a complete entertainment channel for Punjabis anywhere and everywhere. We are very thankful to the millions of viewers who have showered their love and support on us since beginning. The overwhelming response of the viewers reinforces our commitment to delivering the best in entertainment to them”.
Zee Punjabi VP programming Rajiee M Shinde adds, “We have always tried to be innovative as far as the programming content is concerned. Zee Punjabi was pioneer in providing a complete live show on Punjabi Television.”
In an official release, the channel claims that it is the only Punjabi channel which has the most diverse content portfolio consisting of news, current affairs based shows, interactive shows, dramas, music shows, magazine shows, Punjabi feature films and live events.
Over the past six years the channel has organized hugely successful musical events all over Punjab with some of the biggest stars in Punjabi music. Zee Punjabi, over the years has also provided one of the biggest platforms for the promotion of talent in Punjab. The channel has organized talent hunts like Pepsi Ban Ja Staara Yaara to find new musical talent in Punjab, Miss World Punjaban to explore the Punjabi beauty and place it on the national and international front, the release adds.
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.
