The best news channel in the business and the most powerful Indian corporate came together in 2008 to launch an initiative – Real Heroes. Rajdeep Sardesai from CNN-IBN in partnership with Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani from Reliance Industries Limited instituted an effort to honor the unsung heroes of our nation. This initiative is all about people like you and me, the common man of India who has done extraordinary things to make our nation proud. ‘Real Heroes’ started in 2008 is into its third year in 2010. This initiative run by Reliance Industries Limited and CNN-IBN is surely going to bring in change by acknowledging the ordinary Indian who has made difference to people’s lives.

This prestigious award salutes the unsung heroes without whom India would not have been a global entity. Every year, the award is given in the categories including education, environment, healthcare, rural development, sports, social welfare, women & child welfare and wildlife conservation. The award panel selects 24 ‘Real Heroes’ across India from four different zones. Talking about the significance of this initiative, Nita Ambani, wife of RIL chairman Mukesh Ambani said, “Each one of these achievers has left a huge impact on thousands of men and women and have transformed lives by perseverance, passion for a cause.”

The selection process includes Indian citizens suggesting names for Real Heroes and then the editorial board at IBN18 shortlists and finalises the list of the recipients, the recipient is then felicitated with a trophy and a cash prize of Rs. 5 lakhs. The recipient list of 2008 consisted of Sunita Krishnan who bagged the award in women’s welfare category for taking on the trafficking mafia. Nishtha Desai received the award for social work along with other exceptional works.

In 2009, the recipient list included Dr. Rouf M. Malik, K.M Chinnappa, Hemant Patel, Deepak Saha and many more courageous Indians. Speaking on the initiative, Nita Ambani said, “We are proud to be associated with Real Heroes, a movement to honour the men and women who have been working with never ending courage and unflagging dedication to make a better society for their countrymen to live in. We are sure that their inspiring stories will serve as a beacon of inspiration for many others.”

People across diverse age groups like the octogenarian Ram Snehi to 31 year old Ishita Khanna and from all corners of India from Mohd Iqbal of Ladakh to T. Raja from Chennai have been recipients of the Real Heroes award in 2010. Bollywood legend Aamir Khan during one of the award ceremonies of Real Heroes said, “There are very few of us who put aside our own goals and think about others: and this ability to care for other people, their requirements or their needs is really special.”

IBN18 India’s leading No 1 News Network in partnership with Reliance Industries Limited India’s largest private sector enterprise honored 24 Real Heroes of India. Real Heroes is a movement to acknowledge the unsung champions of the common man who strove tirelessly to promote the welfare of others. These Real Heroes were shortlisted by the editorial team of CNN-IBN, and they were spread across six categories including, Women Welfare, Social Welfare, Health and Disability, Youth, Education and Children & Sports.

The ceremony was attended by luminaries including CMD of Reliance Industries, Mr. Mukesh Ambani, his wife, Mrs. Nita Ambani, Sachin Tendulkar, Aamir Khan, Yash Chopra and other eminent personalities applauded the heroes who through their extraordinary work have made a difference. Each of the Real Heroes was presented a trophy along with a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh.

The Real Heroes all represent an inspirational story of selfless service, these range from a mechanic in Jharkhand who has set up an orphanage with his own meagre resources to provide education, food and shelter to children who were left orphans due to polygamy or alcoholism to a person who has been fighting to preserve the environment over the past three decades. From a hockey coach who is on a mission to train players free of cost to an 80 year old gynecologist who is fighting to rehabilitate mentally challenged women and provide them vocational training so they can be financially independent, and many more who have dared to stand up for the betterment of the society were awarded as the Real Heroes.
Speaking on the initiative on behalf of Reliance Industries, Nita Ambani, President, Dhirubhai Ambani Foundation said, “I feel proud today – proud to be an Indian. I also feel proud of ‘Indianness’ today. ‘Indianness’ that puts compassion, kindness and empathy before everything else. We salute the benevolence of these extraordinary people. They embody the purity of the human spirit. They may not have received the spotlight of publicity but their actions radiate the sunlight of generosity. Each of these stories is a font of inspiration. My Real Heroes friends you are our crusaders of hope. Thank you for this
Rajdeep Sardesai, Editor-in-Chief, IBN18 Network added, “Each one of these real heroes has performed extraordinary deeds to promote the welfare of their fellow citizens and society as a whole. Their path wasn’t easy and they have battled tremendous odds ranging from personal tragedy to social opposition and financial constraints. Yet the flame to make a positive impact has continued to burn bright and they have truly been the instruments of change. I would like to thank all our distinguished guests for their presence here in support of the Real Heroes of our nation”.