Calls on youth to protect their future and honour their hard work
Pallavi Sharma
Hamirpur: Senior BJP leader and Hamirpur MP Anurag Thakur issued a strong appeal to young students to stay away from drugs, warning that even casual experimentation can lead to irreversible consequences.
Speaking at the TNR-Shining Star Awards 3.0 in Hamirpur on Saturday (June 21, 2025) where he felicitated high-achieving Class 10 and 12 students from Bilaspur and Hamirpur districts, Anurag Thakur emphasised the devastating impact of substance abuse. “The first and second steps towards drugs may be out of curiosity or peer pressure, but the third step is always due to addiction,” he cautioned.
Anurag Thakur, a former Union Minister, said he had personally witnessed the tragic consequences of drug abuse among youth. “In the past five years, I have seen too many young children under 24 losing their lives to drugs. It’s an irreparable loss. Rehabilitation is an option, but the challenges that follow are lifelong,” he said.
Urging students to safeguard the effort they and their families have invested in their education, he said, “One wrong decision can destroy everything. Families have been shattered. Palatial homes have been left empty. Don’t let your hard work go to waste — stay miles away from intoxicants.”
Celebration of excellence and effort
The TNR-Shining Star Awards 3.0 honoured meritorious students who scored 90% and above in their Class 10 and 12 board examinations, across all boards and streams. Anurag Thakur said the event was a tribute to academic brilliance, discipline and resilience, values that defined true success.
“Each one of you is a shining star,” he told the awardees. “The goals you had set have been achieved and your dedication has borne fruit. You should be proud of yourselves — and we are proud of you too. But remember, the next phase of life will come with its own challenges. Be prepared, stay focused.”
Aptly named: ‘Shining Stars’ of Himachal
The event, hosted by The Newz Radar, Himachal Pradesh’s first and only English digital news network, celebrated not only academic results but also the spirit of perseverance. “This function is aptly named. You all are ‘shining stars’ and have reached these milestones through your own effort and commitment,” Anurag Thakur said.
Anurag Thakur expressed confidence that the event would leave a deep impact on young viewers. “There will be thousands and thousands of students watching the Shining Star Awards on The Newz Radar, who will now be motivated to work harder and aim for a place on next year’s merit list,” he said.
He praised S Gopal Puri and Sunil Chadha, founders of The Newz Radar, for their efforts in launching an independent digital platform dedicated to fearless journalism and community upliftment. “Both are renowned journalists who have always spoken truth to power. Launching their own news portal was a bold step — and they have succeeded admirably,” said Anurag Thakur.
Tells young achievers to make yoga a way of life
In a meaningful coincidence, the awards were presented on International Yoga Day. Anurag Thakur used the occasion to remind students of the importance of holistic well-being. He lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s global yoga campaign, calling it “a visionary step that had turned yoga into a global culture”. “Make yoga a part of your daily life. It will help you stay focused, healthy, and grounded,” he said.
The awards were presented at the auditorium of the National Institute of Technology in Hamirpur, which saw long queues of students from Bilaspur and Hamirpur districts for registration since early morning.
The awards, a flagship initiative of The Newz Radar, Himachal Pradesh’s first and only English digital news network, aim to recognise Class 10 and 12 students (across all boards) who have performed extraordinarily in their board exams.
The awards series, currently in its third edition after the launch in 2023, has already created waves across the state. The Dharamshala event saw Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri leading the celebrations, while Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania did the honours in Chamba. Nurpur’s ceremony, held on June 12 at Jyoti resort in Kandwal was presided over by local BJP MLA Ranbir Singh Nikka, who called the event a “meaningful celebration of youth, education and hope.”
Each ceremony witnessed an overwhelming turnout of students, teachers, parents and community members, making the awards not just a felicitation event but a people’s movement for academic pride and youth empowerment.
Powered by Aarni University and Minerva Study Circle, co-organised by NIT-Hamirpur, co-powered by IITians Classes and and supported by Ratan Jewellers-Mandi, P3Y, Club Viva-Hamirpur, Hamir Stone Crusher and Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd (HPPCL), the Shining Star Awards 3.0 continues to grow in strength and sentiment.
Keep following The Newz Radar for more updates on the TNR-Shining Star Awards 3.0 — and other breaking stories — at thenewzradar.com and on YouTube channel, X handle and Facebook and Instagram pages as the awards are taken to other parts of Himachal Pradesh.
