The Times Business Awards North East – 2nd Edition: A Grand Celebration of Excellence

The Times Business Awards North East – 2nd Edition, an initiative by the Times of India Group in association with Byatikram Group, concluded with resounding success on 24th January, 2025 at the luxurious Hotel Taj Vivanta, Guwahati. This prestigious event brought together business leaders, innovators, and achievers from across the Northeast, celebrating their remarkable contributions to their respective industries.

The highlight of the evening was the presence of Bollywood actor Sharman Joshi, who graciously presented the awards to the winners. He remarked, "It's inspiring to see such talent in the Northeast. Events like these motivate businesses and individuals to push boundaries and achieve excellence. I'm honored to be part of this celebration." Actress Seema Biswas added, "It’s heartwarming to witness such a celebration of talent in the Northeast. The Times Business Awards not only recognize excellence but inspire others to strive for greatness."

The evening began with a captivating Sattriya dance by the students of Sanskriti, Guwahati, founded by Jolly Moni Saikia, recipient of the 2020 Ustaad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar. The formal proceedings commenced with a ceremonial lamp lighting by an esteemed panel of guests, including Robert Royte, MLA and Former Minister; Seema Biswas, eminent actress; Ruhul Amin, Asst. High Commissioner of Bangladesh in Guwahati; Manisha Hazarika, distinguished artist; Chetna Das, eminent actress; Prateek Bordoloi, President of Radio Gupshup 94.3 FM; RJ Mandy, Cluster Programming Head of Radio Gupshup 94.3 FM; and Dr. Kasturi Chakraborty.

The Times Business Awards North East – 2nd Edition celebrated 35 exceptional achievers across diverse categories. Pradeep Bharech Agarwal (Surendra Steel) won Trusted Steel Distributor of the Year, Dr. Sangeeta Tripathi (NERIM) won Leading Educational Institute in North East, Pulak Goswami (Green Valley Pride) received Excellence in Automobile and Transportation, Pawan Kumar Agarwalla (Datamation Services) was awarded Business Leader of the Year in IT and Tech Services, Satyajit Kumar and Mridul Mishra (SPM IAS Academy) won Leading Institute for Civil Services Preparation, and Sudip Lodh (SITM) won Technology and Management Education, Harsh Jhunjhunwala (Eastern Panaroma) won Innovative Education Material, Ratan Debnath (Longtharai) for Authentic Spices, Sanjukta Dutta (Sanjukta's Studio) for Excellence in Ethnic Wear, Anil and Sunil Bhartiya (CAPS International) received Trusted Brand for Kitchen Appliances, Sanjay Aditya Singh (Jettwings) won Aviation Training Excellence, P.S. Reddy (Sai Vikash) for Academic Excellence in Assam, and Pranab and Abhijit Dutta (Fortune Wings) won Trusted Investment Advisors, Apollo Hospitals won Leading Multispecialty Hospital, Visesh and Vishal Aggarwal (Pushpak Air Travels) won Leading Travel Agency, Dr. Kripesh Sharma received Pulmonary Health Excellence, Babul Ali (NEPNI Group) won Leading Nursing Institute, Vijay Naidu (Blue Paradise) won Leadership in Hospitality, Partha Pratim Pathak (Fresh AirIndia) received Sustainability and Waste Management, Dr. Biplab Halder (ICFAI University Tripura) received University Education Excellence, and Archana Kabra (Bon Vivant) won Bespoke Menswear Excellence, Ajay Poddar (H.L. Poddar Foundations) won Leading Social Worker, Dr. Rishikesh Hazarika (Cosmo Group of Hospitals) won Affordable Healthcare, Gopi Krishna More (Torsa) won Trusted Quality in Heavy Equipment and Machinery, Vanlalfelpuia Royte (North East Consultancy Services) won Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Frontier Corporation LLP was recognized as an Innovative Business House of North East, Dr. Bedabrata Pathak for Healthcare Management Excellence, Sweta Himatsingka for Holistic Health and Wellness, Ratan Kumar Sharma (Mayfair Spring Valley Resort) for Luxury Hospitality Excellence, and Ghanshyam Dhanuka (GRD Pharmaceuticals) won Visionary Business Leader.

Special recognition was given to Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, named Woman of the Year 2024, PVSLN Murthy (NEDFi) for Banking and Financial Services Excellence, Moumita Debnath (BNAS Advertising) for Outdoor Advertising Excellence, Pranab Sarkar (Headlines Tripura National) for Excellence in Sports, Media, and Social Service, and Dr. Sangeeta Tripathi (NERIM) as an Outstanding Visionary Academic Leader. Adding to the cultural splendor, the audience was treated to a soulful violin performance by Manoj Baruah, while the evening concluded on a high note with a captivating mandolin performance by Kuntal Raj Chakraborty. Dr. Saumen Bharatiya, Director of Byatikram Group, said, "This event showcases the Northeast's potential as a hub of innovation and talent. Honoring these achievers celebrates their success and inspires others to dream bigger. It’s an honor to collaborate with the Times of India Group." The evening concluded with a sense of pride and optimism as the region's top achievers were celebrated. The Times Business Awards North East – 2nd Edition reinforced the Northeast's position as a powerhouse of innovation and excellence.