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Zindagi partners with Give India to better some lives
MUMBAI: Launched with the aim of connecting hearts, Zindagi, is now returning its gratitude to all its dedicated audiences in a very unique manner.
Every hour, 31 children across the world are robbed off a future due to HIV. 3.8 million people go blind because of cataract every year. Over 50 per cent of Indian children drop out of school because they can’t afford to. This December, Zindagi has associated with Give India to undertake an initiative to bring about a change in the lives of children suffering from AIDS, old aged people suffering from cataract and children who are deprived of education.
The channel will donate to this cause on behalf of its dedicated viewers with a unique initiative on social media platforms. Kick starting on World Aids Day i.e. 1 December 2014, Zindagi will invite its fans to post messages on its official Facebook page in support of little children suffering from AIDS. With every comment made on the Facebook page, Zindagi will make a contribution towards the fund on behalf of its fans. The amount raised through the day will be donated to support the living expenses of these children for a month. On 2 and 3 December, Zindagi will conduct similar initiatives to sponsor surgeries for aged people suffering from cataract and sponsor school supplies for children who cannot afford education respectively.
Zindagi invites active participation from viewers through their Facebook page where they have to post comments supporting this cause. Each day, the first 60 viewers that post comments will get a certificate from Zindagi acknowledging their contribution towards the cause.
Speaking about this initiative, the channel’s business head Priyanka Datta said, “Zindagi has had such a phenomenal response from audiences in India since its launch and this initiative is just our way of saying ‘Thank you’! The appreciation we have received in the last 5 months is humbling and this is a very small step onour digital platforms taken to make a difference in some lives for all the love and support we have received.”
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.
