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It’s family time this Diwali
In this world of cut-throat competition where life is full of struggles and work for the people in the corporate world, Diwali is a moment of relief. The lights of Diwali doesn’t just spread brightness around but also illuminates their inner self as they get a chance to have family time. Few corporate head honchos talk about their plans this Diwali and talk about their memorable Diwali moments.
I am spending time with my family and friends but I won’t be bursting any crackers as I am against it. Diwali is a festival of lights and not noise.
One of the fondest memories of Diwali is when I once made sweets and kandil at home and kept it in a way that everybody could see it. These days we usually buy sweets from outside.
Raj Nayak, CEO, Colors
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On Diwali, everybody is at home and if something happens we have to be on our toes. And thus, I would be working on Diwali. I remember how as a kid I used to wake up early morning at 4.00-4.30 and be the first one to burst crackers. Later, when I became a cable guy, it was to go and adjust the CNN dish. Arvind Prabhoo, president, MCOF (Maharashtra Cable Operators Association) |
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Festivals are the best time to be at home and with the family. I too will be home and play with my children and grandchildren. On Diwali, we’ll have a puja and then we would burst crackers. Every year, we plan a family get together to celebrate the festival of lights. Even this year, the families of my three brothers and few colleagues will come to my home to celebrate the festival. The best Diwali in my life was in 2004 when my daughter got married just before Diwali. M Rajendran, MD, Raj network |
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This Diwali, I will praying to the almighty that light enters many lives and the earth becomes harmonised. I will also be lighting lamps and celebrating with friends. I have a hilarious memory of Diwali. When I was a seven year old, a rocket cracker flew into our house and went inside our landlord’s lungi, who was standing on the top floor balcony. Thankfully, the rocket had already burst earlier. Swapna Sundari, COO, Raj Network (Telugu market) |
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For me the festival of lights has always been about spending some quality time with family, friends and relatives. Enjoying food and sweets, and of course burst a few crackers. But this time around, Diwali will be even more special as I will get to spend time with my twin daughters who are two years old and are learning everything slowly. It is going to be a really special time with them. Krishna Desai, network head, Kids Entertainment, India, Turner International |
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I always remember Diwali as the festival when we spent time with close friends and family, burst lots of crackers and enjoy the variety of sweets on offer. However, this time around, Diwali will be a quiet affair. I will spend time with my family and kids. Rohit Lamba, head, network distribution, business development & affiliate sales, Times Global Broadcasting Company Limited |
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Well, Diwali, the festival of lights, is a great occasion to sit back and spend time with family and friends. But, I also take this opportunity to rethink on key issues relating to my professional and personal life. Sandeep Arora, vice president, sales – India & SAARC Service Provider (Telco), Cisco Systems |
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I remember how as a kid Diwali used to be a time when the entire family got together and spent time with each-other. Everyone used to be excited as this was a time to buy new clothes and eat great food. But now I feel we need to be conscious about not adding to the already polluted environment by bursting crackers. It would be best to celebrate a noise free Diwali and have fun too. Uday Singh, managing director, Motion Picture Association (India) |
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We celebrated the second anniversary of Helios on 1 November. Diwali has become a special event for us because it brings with it double celebrations. Another reason I love Diwali is because I am a big gambler and I love playing cards. While I play cards almost every weekend, Diwali gives me an opportunity to play the game with more fervor. Divya Radhakrishnan, managing director, Helios Media |
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Diwali is a family affair for me. Whenever possible, I try to visit my hometown where my parents live and we light lamps, burst crackers with the children. My parents usually shuttle between Nanital and Bombay, so when they are in Bombay it becomes much easier for us. But we always make a point to be together on Diwali. Since childhood it has been a complete family affair and I looked forward to the festival. I try to keep it like that. We avoid going out and try to be together. Ashish Bhasin, chairman India and CEO South East Asia, Aegis Group |
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Diwali is all about puja, bhajan and family time. Usually we go out every year, but this time we will be celebrating the festival with relatives and close friends. Diwali is much more than a holiday as it is also the beginning of the new year for Hindus. For Gujaratris, it’s a special occasion, to say saal-mubarak. For us, these two days are very important and auspicious. Diwali is the occasion where you can greet people with not only love and affection but also with gifts and mitthai. It is an occasion to stop worrying about the calorie counts and eat as many sweets as you want to. It is a colourful occasion and very lively atmosphere. J.D Majethia, producer and actor/director, Hats Off Productions |
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When we were kids we used to celebrate Diwali with lots of crackers, but now the festival is much more than bursting crackers. It is one occasion when we get together with family and get a little religious. It is so hectic in Mumbai that socialising becomes a little difficult. This is a day for extended family get together. Ravi Mansukhani, CEO, Incable |
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The festival is for family and friends. It is about lots of food and playing cards. This year, I will celebrate the festival with my family and friends in Mumbai first and then head to Delhi to meet my parents. My kids are excited to be with their grandparents this Diwali. The fondest childhood memory of Diwali is how we wanted to be the one to burst the longest ladi in the neighbourhood along with loads of other fireworks. Though with time I have grown to become more eco-friendly and thus fireworks now is a big ‘No no’. Gaurav Gandhi, group COO, IndiaCast |
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Diwali for me is a day which is spent well with family, performing puja and playing teen patti. There was a time when I used to burst a lot of crackers. But once I grew up I realised how annoying it could be for others, so I don’t burst crackers anymore, but yes I have to admit that it used to be great fun bursting crackers. Ferzad Palia, senior VP & GM, English entertainment, Viacom18 Media |
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My (escape) plan for Diwali is to drive down to the peace and quiet of Goa. The most memorable Diwali for me was last year when I celebrated the festival with my niece and nephew in North Korea. They had enough fireworks to give North Korea an inferiority complex. Anil Kakkar, founder/chief creative officer, Gasoline |
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India Today Group debuts AI anchor ‘Sutra’ at AI Impact Summit 2026
Sutra aims to simplify live policy debates using sovereign AI models
NEW DELHI: India Today Group has unveiled Sutra, an AI-driven news anchor designed to deliver real-time, contextual reporting, marking the group’s latest push to integrate artificial intelligence into mainstream journalism.
The AI anchor was introduced at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi and developed in collaboration with BharatGen, with the initiative showcased by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
India Today Group said Sutra is built to navigate complex policy discussions and fast-moving developments by synthesising information into concise, accessible insights, aimed at narrowing the gap between high-level debates and public understanding. The AI anchor was used to surface live takeaways from key sessions at the summit.
India Today Group chief AI officer Nilanjan Das, said the project was focused on clarity and accessibility without diluting editorial rigour. He added that working with BharatGen aligned the group’s AI ambitions with India’s broader push towards sovereign technology capabilities.
BharatGen CEO Rishi Bal, said the partnership reflected a shift from basic automation towards deeper contextual intelligence in media. He emphasised the importance of indigenous, multimodal AI models capable of understanding Indian languages, regional dialects and cultural nuance, particularly as AI-driven news formats gain traction.
The launch positions India Today Group among the first major Indian media houses to deploy an AI anchor backed by home-grown technology, underscoring a growing convergence between journalism, public policy and sovereign AI infrastructure.
