News Broadcasting
Salman Rushdie – on BBC World’s Hardtalk Extra
This week on BBC World’s HARDtalk Extra, watch an in-depth interview with renowned author, Salman Rushdie.
Salman Rushdie is one of the world’s most acclaimed novelists – and also, for a time, one of the most despised people on earth. His book The Satanic Verses offended Muslims worldwide and attracted a death sentence from the Ayatollah Khomeini. He was forced into hiding for close to a decade. His new book Shalimar the Clown attempts to put the reader into the mind of a terrorist. He tells Gavin Esler why he now sees the Satanic Verses controversy as a “prologue” to the attacks on September 11th 2001.
HARDtalk Extra is the BBC’s most widely broadcast arts and entertainment interview programme. Each Friday, the programme profiles leading personalities in the arts, entertainment, science, culture and the media. This edition of HARDtalk Extra will be broadcast on BBC World on Friday 2ndSeptember at 1400 and 2100 IST.
Further information:
Deeptie Sethi/ Gayathri Sharma
Tel: 91 11 2341 2672/73 Extn. 102
Fax: 91 11 2341 1109
Email: deeptie.sethi@bbc.co.uk / gayathri.sharma@bbc.co.uk
News Broadcasting
Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
