Actors Dia Mirza and Sonu Sood to co-host a three-part documentary, Bharat Ke Mahaveer, which celebrates selfless heroes of the pandemic
Recognising India’s unsung selfless heroes who have gone out of their way to help those in need during the pandemic, the United Nations in India and NITI Aayog, in partnership with Discovery channel, are launching a campaign #BharatKeMahaveer. It will celebrate Indians who have shown kindness, extending a helping hand to the vulnerable and have selflessly gone that extra mile.
As a part of the campaign, a three-part series will air on Discovery to celebrate the actions by 12 champions from across India who, through their exemplary actions have been spreading a ray of hope, coming together in strength and solidarity.
The series will be co-hosted by the UN Secretary-General’s SDG Advocate Dia Mirza and actor Sonu Sood, who was recently conferred the ‘Special Humanitarian Action Award’ by the Government of Punjab for his efforts during the COVID-19 crisis.
Speaking about the initiative, Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog, said, “Throughout this global crisis, we have seen countless stories of individuals across the country who have gone beyond their call of duty. Even in the aspirational districts, despite facing greater developmental challenges, people came forward in a tremendous display of humanity. We are happy to have come together for this initiative to recognise these stories.”
The campaign celebrates luminous stories of solidarity, where, whether through food distribution, medical care, donating their life savings or feeding a stray animal people have shown a strong sense of togetherness.
Renata Dessallien, UN Resident Coordinator in India said, “As COVID-19 continues to upend our lives, these unsung heroes are an inspiration and solace to us all. They remind us that it is only working together, with kindness and compassion, that we can succeed – a truth that underpins the message of UN. Through the campaign we wish to honour those individuals, who despite all odds, have gone out of their way to show extraordinary kindness to help those in need. They rekindle our faith in humanity and our hope for a better future. They make us proud.”
Megha Tata, Managing Director – South Asia, Discovery Communications India, said, “This is not just a TV show – it is a reflection of India’s gratitude to so many of the unsung heroes who became a shining beacon of hope and inspiration.”
Dia said, “Over the past few months, India has shown the world that when people come together, they can overcome any adversity. Instead of self-interest, we have seen an outpouring of solidarity during the pandemic. People are banding together to spread love, compassion and positivity through their actions, thereby ensuring that the most vulnerable are not left behind. I am proud to call myself an Indian and proud to be part of this excellent initiative.”
“The recent time has been painful for humanity. During this time, some individuals with extraordinary sense of empathy for fellow citizens gave away everything they had,” said Sonu. He added, “The almighty has been benevolent to me and has given me means to help others. I tried in my small way but some of the stories that I came across are of individuals with limited means but who with their strong will moved mountains. The world will know more about these heroes through this campaign.”
(The documentary will commence with phase 1 in November on Discovery, Discovery HD Channels and Discovery Plus app.)
Saturday, 17 October 2020 | PNS
