The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) held a glittering ceremony to confer its annual awards in Udaipur on March 15. India Today Group’s Kamlesh Singh was awarded the prestigious Haldi Ghati Award by the MMCF. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, is given for “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism”.
The award, presented by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, the Managing Trustee of the Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF), recognised Singh’s contributions of three decades to Indian media.
Kamlesh Singh currently leads several editorial initiatives at the India Today Group, including Aaj Tak Radio, the widely followed Teen Taal community, and The Lallantop.
“Known for innovations in digital journalism and mentoring young reporters, he has also gained popularity through the podcast Teen Taal, where his persona ‘Tau’ encourages thoughtful public discourse,” the MMCF said, recognising Singh’s accomplishments.
Over the years, Singh has built a reputation for thoughtful journalism and innovative editorial projects that deepen audience engagement while upholding the values of credible public discourse.
Among those awarded this year by the MMCF included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, and Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik.
The Colonel James Tod Award, instituted to honour a foreign national who contributes to the understanding of the spirit and values of Mewar, was given to US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken.
The Haldi Ghati Award is one of the four national awards conferred by the MMCF as part of the Maharana Mewar Foundation Annual Awards, which were instituted in the early 1980s.
The award draws its name from the historic Battle of Haldighati, long regarded as a symbol of valour and resilience in Indian history.
Over the years, the award has been conferred upon eminent personalities who have made significant contributions to journalism and media, including, Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey, and Raj Chengappa.