MUMBAI: Mukesh Sharma was recently felicitated by the Governor of Maharashtra for his Excellency CH Vidyasagar Rao when Svajan an NGO run by the former Addl Chief Sec Gov tog Maharashtra and also the former Municipal Comm of Mumbai, Shri Karun Shrivastav who noticed the hard work put up by Mukesh Sharma in the field of PSB.
Awards and felicitations are not new to the Additional Director General of Doordarshan who was a fortnight ago felicitated by the Global Sindhi Council at the hands of former Law Minister Shri Ram Jethmalani.
Most of us may think that PSB is a losing proposition but Mukesh Sharma with his innovation, ingenuity and skill has set a record as the only Head in the entire DD fraternity to run Doordarshan in PROFIT.
In the year 2013-14 DDK Mumbai spent 52 crores to run the channel and the station and posted a business of 57 crores through corporate, government and hiring out equipment of the Kendra to generate revenue. In fact Doordarshan National can take a leaf out of the book of Best Practices adopted and implemented by DD Sahyadri as this commercial success was achieved without compromising with the mandate of Public Service Broadcasting. Conceptualizing market driven programmes in fields as diverse as women empowerment, Krishi, organ donation, education for the girl child, robotics, film festivals among others were the channel drivers during his tenure.
Serialized TV shows like Young – Tarang, Krishi Darshan, Amchi Maati – Aamchi Mansa, Aswaad, Sakhi Sahyadri, Hello Doctor, Swastha Bharat, Patla Tar Ghya, Kridangan,Music Masti Gappa Gane (M2 G2), Contests based reality shows like Sahyadri Antakshari, Dhina Dhin Dha, Dam Dama Dam, Naad Bhed, Aajche Davedaar – Udyache Superstar etc. have not only entertained viewers over the years, but also have created awareness about richness of the culture and traditions of Maharashtra.
With revolutionary changes taking place in an around the world addressing citizen is becoming the most difficult and challenging job undoubtedly for a public service broadcaster. But the “CALENDAR EVENTS” of DD Sahyadri created and conceptualized by Mukesh Sharma clearly demarcates his outstanding contribution as a Public Service Broadcaster.
A brainchild of Shri Mukesh Sharma - DD Sahyadri offers about sixteen calendar events in a year mainly in compliance with its responsibilities as a Public Service Broadcaster.
1. Prerna Puraskar is specially designed event for celebrating “Mother’s Day” which is a special award function showcasing the unique bonding of “Mother-Daughter “relationship as well as working towards girl child progress (education).
2. Navaratan Awards wherein nine prominent Maharashtrians every year are felicitated by the Governor of Maharashtra for their distinguished contribution in various spheres of activity including the Arts, Education, Industry, Literature, Science, Sports, Medicine, Social Service and Public Affairs.
3. Hirkhani Awards are organized to felicitate nine woman of substance who, with sheer grit and determination, left their stamp in a male-dominated arena and brought the desired social change in the society.
4. Sahyadri Cine Awards felicitates Marathi Cine Artists and Technicians to promote and applaud the Marathi Cinema for the excellent work done in the entire last one year.
5. Sanjeevani Awards acknowledging the outstanding work done by the medicos in the rural areas and to the under privileged. It honors these “COMMUNITY LEADERS” for with a view to encourage/motivate the young medicos to go the rural areas and work for the masses in the villages.
6. Navjyoti which is a joint venture of UNICEF and DD Mumbai Kendra, the programme aims at giving recognition to nine girls from remote Maharashtra for resisting child marriages and also helping other girls fight the scourge.
7. First Television event “Naate Janmaantaricha” on Organ Donation to create awareness among the people on the noble cause of ORGAN DONATION.
8. Sahyadri Sindhu Sahyog Awards to felicitate the Sindhi Community who had done extraordinary work in their respective fields.
9. Krishi Awards in which farmers, scholars and experts are honored for their contribution in the field of Agriculture.
10. Arya Chanakya Maharashtra Rajya Puraskar, an annual state-level award, honoring the contributors in building a strong democracy from the fields such as legislature, judiciary, administration and media.
11. Monsoon Marathi Chitrapat Mahotsav at DDK Mumbai in order to promote good cinema which showcase award winning films and an interactive session with the film maker’s and the audience.
12. A specially designed event to recognize the contribution of Nation Builders on the Public Service Broadcasting Day – “Shiladaar Rashtra Nirmiteeche”.
13. Jaago Re Jaago – A live program on the eve of “Independence Day and Republic Day to rekindle and reignite the value of freedom in the minds of young and old of this great nation.
14. RBI National Quiz, promoting Financial Literacy among the youth.
15. National & International Robotic Contest, Robocon offering young engineers a platform to excel in their creative thinking apart from demonstrating their technical ideas in robotics as well as establishing a cross cultural awareness facilitating their overall development.
16. Celebrations of festivals like Govinda and Ganesh Chaturthi - “Aaley Ganray” and major sports and cultural events are brought live to the viewers by the channel every year.
17. All India Urdu Mushaira, to promote national integration and to provide a wide reach platform to the Nations Urdu Poets.
Very few people know that he has produced nearly 50 feature films and directed one for which he was honoured with the national award. He has also worked in All India Radio, Doordarshan Sales and Commercial Services; and at the moment apart from looking after the DD Kendra at Mumbai he also heads the Commercial and Revenue Division single handedly.
Mukesh Sharma is perhaps the last of the Mughals to survive the onslaught of commercial broadcasting, to not only survive but to give them a run for their money.
