The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) hosted its annual awards ceremony in Udaipur on March 15, where India Today Group’s Kamlesh Singh was honoured with the prestigious Haldi Ghati Award. The recognition highlights his long-standing contributions to Indian journalism and media over the past three decades.
Instituted in 1981–82, the Haldi Ghati Award is presented for work in journalism that creates lasting impact and promotes social awareness. The award was conferred on Kamlesh Singh by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of the MMCF, in recognition of his sustained efforts in shaping meaningful and engaging public discourse through media.
Singh currently leads multiple editorial initiatives within the India Today Group, including Aaj Tak Radio, the popular Teen Taal community, and The Lallantop. He is widely known for his contributions to digital journalism and for mentoring emerging journalists. His work on the Teen Taal podcast, particularly his persona “Tau,” has gained significant popularity for encouraging thoughtful and nuanced conversations among audiences.
The foundation noted that Singh’s work reflects innovation in storytelling while maintaining a strong commitment to credible and responsible journalism. Over the years, he has developed projects that not only inform but also deepen audience engagement and participation in public dialogue.
The MMCF awards ceremony also recognised several other distinguished individuals across fields. Among the awardees were Padma Vibhushan recipient Pt. Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, environmentalist Marimuthu Yoganathan, widely known as the “Treeman of India,” and Vir Chakra awardee Captain Rizwan Malik.
In addition, the Colonel James Tod Award — which honours a foreign national for contributing to the understanding of Mewar’s heritage and values — was presented to US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken.
The Haldi Ghati Award is one of four national honours presented annually by the MMCF under the Maharana Mewar Foundation Awards, which were established in the early 1980s. The award takes its name from the historic Battle of Haldighati, symbolising courage and resilience. Over the years, it has been conferred on several prominent figures in journalism and media, including Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey, and Raj Chengappa.
