Ravish Kumar

Ravish Kumar
Kumar receiving 12th Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award in New Delhi, 2017.
Born (1974-12-05) 5 December 1974 (age 51)
Jitwarpur, Bihar, India
EducationUniversity of Delhi
Indian Institute of Mass Communication
OccupationJournalist
EmployerNDTV (1994–2022)
SpouseNayana Dasgupta
Children2
Awards
YouTube information
Channel
Subscribers14.6 million
Views2.95 billion
Last updated: 6 June 2026

Ravish Kumar (born Ravish Kumar Pandey; 5 December 1974) is an Indian journalist and author. He worked for the Hindi-language television news channel NDTV India from 1994 to 2022, eventually becoming its Senior Executive Editor. He hosted a number of the channel's programmes including its flagship weekday show Prime Time as well as Hum Log, Ravish Ki Report, and Des Ki Baat. In 2022, Kumar resigned from NDTV, following its acquisition by the Adani Group, and started a YouTube channel. Kumar has twice been conferred with Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award (in 2013 and 2017) and became the fifth Indian journalist to receive the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2019.

Early life and education

Ravish Kumar delivering a lecture in New Delhi
Ravish Kumar (visible on stage on the left) speaking during a lecture at University of Chicago Center's Journalism week in New Delhi in 2018.

Kumar was born on 5 December 1974 in Jitwarpur village in East Champaran district of Bihar, to Baliram Pandey and Yashoda Pandey. He obtained his high school education from Loyola High School, Patna. Later he moved to Delhi for higher studies. He graduated from Deshbandhu College, affiliated with the University of Delhi. Eventually he enrolled in post-graduate diploma in Hindi Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication.

Kumar has a brother named Brajesh Kumar, who is an Indian National Congress leader from Bihar.

Career

From 1994 to 2022, he was employed by NDTV India (New Delhi Television), eventually as the Senior Executive Editor. He hosted several programmes, including the channel's flagship weekday show Prime Time as well as Hum Log, Ravish Ki Report, and Des Ki Baat.

During the 2014 Indian general election, he did extensive field interviews in several North Indian states about the opinions and needs of the people on the ground highlighting aspects of rural and suburban life which do not receive much attention in television news. He is noted for his offbeat reporting in explaining the contemporary plight of Indian society. Kumar is also known for writing romantic micro fiction stories for which he coined the term "laprek" (short for "laghu prem katha" lit. 'short love story').

Kumar is known for coining the term "Godi media" (lit. 'lap dog media') for mainstream Indian media outlets that critics regard as uncritically supportive of prime minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He also coined the term "WhatsApp University" to refer to the fake news and misinformation spread in India through WhatsApp forwards particularly those by the BJP IT Cell.

He has received death threats in the past for his journalism. On 30 November 2022, he resigned from NDTV, following the television network's acquisition of NDTV by the Adani Group. The Adani Group is owned by billionaire Gautam Adani who is seen as close to prime minister Modi.

Kumar started a YouTube channel after resigning from his job. On 5 May 2024, his channel reached the milestone of 10 million subscribers.

Personal life

Kumar is married to Nayana Dasgupta who teaches history at the Lady Shri Ram College, University of Delhi. He has two daughters, Tanima and Tanisha.

Works

Books

Non-fiction

Fiction

  • Ishq Mein Shahar Hona (2015, Hindi)
    • A City Happens In Love (2018, English translation by Akhil Katyal)

Films

Kumar was the subject of the 2023 documentary While We Watched directed by Vinay Shukla.

Television

As host on NDTV India:

Awards and accolades

Kumar has been conferred with various awards for his work in journalism including the Ramon Magsaysay Award (2019). He has twice been the recipient of the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award (2013, 2017) for the broadcast category in the Hindi language. The list of honours continues with the first Gauri Lankesh Award for Journalism, the first Kuldip Nayar Journalism Award (2017), Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Award for Hindi Journalism and Creative Literature (for 2010, awarded in 2014). He was included in the list of 100 most influential Indians (2016) by The Indian Express and also named "Journalist of the Year" by the Mumbai Press Club.

Kumar was awarded the "Honorary Title for Freedom of Expression" for his critical and independent journalism in India by the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) in Brussels, Belgium on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, 2023.

List of awards and nominations

Year Award Notes Ref.
2013 Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award "Journalist of the Year Award". Broadcast category in the Hindi language.
2014 Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Award For Hindi Journalism and Creative Literature (for 2010).
2016 Red Ink Award "Journalist of the Year Award" for his consistent and down to earth reporting on politics and issues that concern the common man.
100 Most Influential Indians By the Indian Express.
2017 Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award "Journalist of the Year Award". Broadcast category in the Hindi language.
Kuldip Nayar Journalism Award The first recipient of the award.
2019 Ramon Magsaysay Award For his unfaltering commitment to a professional, ethical journalism of the highest standards; his moral courage in standing up for truth, integrity, and independence; and his principled belief that it is in giving full and respectful voice to the voiceless, in speaking truth bravely yet soberly to power, that journalism fulfills its noblest aims to advance democracy.
Gauri Lankesh Memorial Award He was chosen for the award for sharp news analysis and uncompromising secular stance by the Gauri Lankesh Memorial Trust, founded in memory of the journalist. The first recipient of the award.
2023 Honorary Title for Freedom of Expression For his critical and independent journalism in India by the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) in Brussels, Belgium on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, 2023.
2024 Peabody Award
Journalist of the Year By the Mumbai Press Club.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "NDTV's Ravish Kumar wins the 2019 Ramon Magsaysay Award". ThePrint. PTI. 2 August 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  2. ↑ "Journalist Ravish Kumar wins 2019 Ramon Magsaysay Award". Deccan Herald. PTI. 2 August 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  3. ↑ "Indian journalist Ravish Kumar receives 2019 Ramon Magsaysay Award". The Hindu. PTI. 9 September 2019. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 28 December 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  4. ↑ "7 साल डेटिंग करने के बाद रवीश और नयना ने की थीं शादी, जानें कौन हैं और क्या करती हैं रवीश कुमार की पत्नी" [Ravish and Nayana got married after dating for seven years, find out who Ravish Kumar's wife is and what she does.]. Jansatta (in Hindi). 5 December 2020. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  5. ↑ Puri, Anjali (2 December 2019). "Ravish Kumar: The rooted anchor". Business Standard. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  6. ↑ "YouTube is the last bastion of unbiased journalism in India". Rest of World. 19 December 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  7. ↑ Kumar, Raksha (9 May 2024). "Indian journalists turned to YouTube to dodge Modi's censorship. Some of their channels are now being blocked". Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards: Full list of winners". The Indian Express. 22 December 2017. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  9. 1 2 3 ""Truth Essential To Democracy": Ravish Kumar Receives Magsaysay Award". NDTV.com. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  10. 1 2 3 Tripathi, Shailaja (24 August 2022). "Ravish Kumar Biography: Wife, Early Life, Education, TV Show, Awards, Age, News and other latest details". Jagran Josh. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  11. ↑ "दिल्ली में बंगाल की नयना पर दिल हार बैठे थे रवीश कुमार, तमाम मुश्क़िलों को पार कर रचाई शादी" [Ravish Kumar lost his heart to Nayana from Bengal in Delhi, overcoming numerous hurdles got married.]. Jansatta (in Hindi). 4 August 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  12. ↑ "SC grants relief to Ravish Kumar's brother in sexual offence case". National Herald. 11 September 2017.
  13. ↑ "NDTV - The Company". NDTV. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  14. 1 2 "Hum Log". NDTV.com. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  15. 1 2 "Ravish Ki Report". NDTV.com. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  16. 1 2 "Des Ki Baat". NDTV.com. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  17. 1 2 "Kumar, Ravish". Ramon Magsaysay Award. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  18. ↑ Roy, Sandip (7 July 2018). "WhatsApp — India's leading university". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X.
  19. ↑ "Why teachers, students are calling JNU's first WhatsApp exam a 'mockery of education'". Edex Live. 17 December 2019. Ramon Magsaysay award-winning journalist Ravish Kumar had coined the term WhatsApp University.
  20. ↑ "Maharashtra Minister's "WhatsApp University" Jibe At BJP's New Online Campaign Plan". NDTV.com.
  21. ↑ "Yogi getting my telephones tapped: Akhilesh". The Hindu. PTI. 20 December 2021. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 3 January 2022. The Yogi Adityanath government is running a WhatsApp University in the State, Mr. Yadav said derisively.
  22. ↑ "NDTV के पत्रकार रवीश कुमार को दी जा रही है जान से मारने की धमक़ी" [NDTV journalist Ravish Kumar gets death threats]. NDTV India (in Hindi). 25 May 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  23. ↑ "NDTV's Ravish Kumar says the frequency of death threats increased, calls it 'all well organised'". Firstpost. 27 May 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  24. ↑ "NDTV's Ravish Kumar says death threats have increased". The Hindu. 25 May 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  25. ↑ "Senior journalist Ravish Kumar resigns from NDTV". The Indian Express. 30 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  26. ↑ "Media freedom fears in India after Modi ally Adani buys 29% stake in NDTV". The Guardian. 24 August 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  27. ↑ "Adani's NDTV Takeover: Ravish Kumar launches YouTube channel after resignation, says 'Road ahead is not fixed but his courage is'; watch". Free Press Journal. 1 December 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  28. ↑ "India's YouTubers take on Narendra Modi". The Economist. 23 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.(subscription required)
  29. ↑ "Ravish Kumar completes 10 million subscribers on YouTube 18 months after launching channel". Vartha Bharati. 6 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  30. ↑ Joshi, Namrata (12 October 2015). "The Peace Maker". Outlook. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  31. 1 2 "'Most of Mainstream Media a Disgrace to Democracy': Ravish Kumar at Peabody Ceremony". The Wire. 21 June 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  32. ↑ "'रवीशपंती' और 'बस इतनी सी थी ये कहानी' का लोकार्पण" [Launch of 'Ravishpanti' and 'Bas Itni Si Thi Yeh Kahani']. Aaj Tak (in Hindi). 16 December 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  33. ↑ Kumar, Ravish (1 February 2020). Bolna Hi Hai: Loktantra, Sanskriti Aur Rashtra Ke Bare Mein. Rajkamal Prakashan. ISBN 978-93-88933-61-2.
  34. ↑ Raman, Anuradha (24 May 2018). "Book review - "The Free Voice"". The Hindu. Retrieved 8 June 2018.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  35. ↑ Ray, Prakash K. (5 April 2018). "Review: Democracy and Debate in the Time of 'IT Cell'". The Wire. Retrieved 8 June 2018.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  36. ↑ "Dekhate Rahiye : Ravish Kumar : 9789380044590". bookdepository.com. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  37. ↑ Trivedi, Vikas (19 February 2015). "बुक रिव्यू: 'इश्क़ में शहर होना' सिखाती हैं टीवी वाले रवीश कुमार की फ़ेसबुक लव कहानियां" [Book Review: Ravish Kumar’s Facebook love stories teach us what it means to 'Ishq Mein Sehar Hona']. Aaj Tak (in Hindi). Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  38. ↑ Kumar, Ravish (10 September 2018). A City Happens In Love. Translated by Katyal, Akhil. Speaking Tiger. ISBN 9789388326032.
  39. ↑ Girish, Devika (20 July 2023). "'While We Watched' Review: A Lament and a Battle Cry". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  40. 1 2 "First Gauri Lankesh Memorial Award given to senior TV journalist Ravish Kumar". The New Indian Express. 23 September 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  41. ↑ "President Pranab Mukherjee honours 28 persons for contribution towards Hindi language". The Economic Times. 27 August 2014. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  42. ↑ "Kuldip Nayar journalism awards: First winner Ravish Kumar says journalists 'have to rise above flattery of establishment'". The Indian Express. 21 March 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  43. ↑ "#ie100: Narendra Modi to Ravish Kumar, the most powerful Indians". The Indian Express. 14 April 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  44. 1 2 "Author Jennifer Clement and journalist Ravish Kumar receive Honorary Title for Freedom of Expression". Vrije Universiteit Brussel. 3 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.