Ravish Kumar (born Ravish Kumar Pandey; 5 December 1974) is an Indian journalist, author, media personality and YouTuber. He was the Senior Executive Editor of NDTV India. He hosted a number of programmes including the channel's flagship weekday show Prime Time, Hum Log, Ravish Ki Report, and Des Ki Baat.
Kumar has twice been conferred with Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award for the Best Journalist of the Year and became the fifth Indian journalist to receive the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2019.
Early life and education 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
NDTV career From 1994 to 2022, he was employed by NDTV India, eventually as a senior director. He hosted several programmes, including the channel's flagship weekday show Prime Time, Hum Log, Ravish Ki Report and Des Ki Baat.
He has received death threats in the past for his journalism.
On 30 November 2022, he resigned from NDTV, following the acquisition of NDTV by Adani Group.
YouTube career Kumar started a YouTube channel after resigning from his job at NDTV. On 5 May 2024, his channel reached the milestone of 10 million subscribers.
Awards and accolades
Kumar has been conferred 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 (2017, 2013) for the broadcast category in the Hindi language. The list of honours continues with Gauri Lankesh Award for Journalism, 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 YearAwardCategoryResultRef.2013Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism AwardBroadcast category in the Hindi language2014Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi AwardFor Hindi Journalism and Creative Literature (for 2010)2016Red Ink AwardJournalist of the Year Award for his consistent and down to earth reporting on politics and issues that concern the common man2017Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism AwardBroadcast category in the Hindi language 2019Ramon Magsaysay AwardFor 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 AwardHe 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.2023Honorary Title for Freedom of ExpressionFor 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.
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.
In popular culture Kumar was the subject of the 2023 documentary While We Watched directed by Vinay Shukla.
Books The Free Voice: On Democracy, Culture and the Nation, 2018. Bolna Hi Hai: Loktantra, Sanskriti Aur Rashtra Ke Bare Mein (in Hindi) Ishq Mein Shahar Hona (in Hindi) Dekhate Rahiye (in Hindi) Ravishpanti (in Hindi) A City Happens In Love
See also List of Indian journalists Godi media
References
External links
Ravish Kumar on YouTube