Tavleen Singh is a distinguished Indian journalist, political reporter, and author, currently serving as a leading columnist for The Indian Express. With a career spanning over four decades, she is widely recognized for her incisive commentary on Indian politics, public policy, and governance.
Professional Experience & Journey: Singh began her journalistic career in the United Kingdom with the Evening Mail in Slough, where she trained under the Westminster Press training scheme. She returned to India in 1974, joining The Statesman as a reporter. Her extensive fieldwork includes tenure as a Special Correspondent for The Telegraph in 1982 and as the South Asia Correspondent for the Sunday Times, London. Over the years, she has contributed to major publications including India Today and has played a pioneering role in Indian television journalism, heading the Delhi bureau for Plus Channel.
Expertise & Focus Areas: Renowned for her deep understanding of India's political landscape, Singh has covered some of the most critical events in the nation's history, including the Punjab insurgency and the conflict in Kashmir. Her writing often bridges the gap between the "Durbar" of Delhi’s political elite and the ground realities of rural India. She currently writes the popular weekly column "Fifth Column" for The Indian Express, appearing every Sunday, where she offers critical analysis of government policies and political shifts.
Authoritativeness & Recognition Singh is a celebrated author of several best-selling books that serve as important records of contemporary Indian history. Her notable works include:
Kashmir: A Tragedy of Errors (1995)
Lollipop Street: Why India Will Survive Her Politicians (1999)
Durbar (2012)
India's Broken Tryst (2016)
Messiah Modi: A Tale of Great Expectations (2020)
Her fearless reporting has earned her significant accolades, including the Chameli Devi Jain Award for Outstanding Woman Mediaperson (1988) and the Sanskriti Award (1985) for her comprehensive coverage of the Punjab crisis.
Trust & Credibility As a veteran voice in Indian media, Singh is known for her unyielding candor and independent perspective. Her long-standing association with The Indian Express, a publication known for its "Journalism of Courage," reinforces her standing as a...
June 27, 2010 02:54 IST
New York on a hot summers day appears even to me like an odd place to be writing about Afghanistan.
Sun, Jun 27, 2010June 20, 2010 02:59 IST
Is it just me or do you notice the whiff of deception that emanates from the Group of Ministers currently discussing Bhopal?....
Sun, Jun 20, 2010June 13, 2010 02:14 IST
Last Sunday when I wrote about the Indian medias reverence for Sonia Gandhi and her family,I had not foreseen that an event would shortly prove me right....
Sun, Jun 13, 2010June 06, 2010 02:21 IST
If the attitude of the Indian media to Sonia Gandhi were to be summed up in one word,that word would be reverence....
Sun, Jun 06, 2010June 03, 2010 00:44 IST
The Election Commission on Wednesday approached the Supreme Court seeking urgent directions to UP Chief Minister Mayawati...
Thu, Jun 03, 2010May 30, 2010 01:58 IST
After last weeks horrible attack on the Gyaneshwari Express,what we must at the very least expect from the Government of India is that it starts speaking in one voice....
Sun, May 30, 2010May 23, 2010 02:27 IST
As someone whose usual reaction to our politicians is disdain,let me begin by confessing that one of the few for whom I have real respect is the Prime Minister....
Sun, May 23, 2010May 16, 2010 02:49 IST
Any country that allows its laws and social customs to be dictated (or defied) by peasants and half-literate priests deserves to be called primitive.
Sun, May 16, 2010May 09, 2010 21:20 IST
In one of lifes mysterious coincidences,a Pakistani tried to blow up New Yorks legendary Times Square in the week that our most famous Pakistani terrorist was sentenced to death in Mumbai.
Sun, May 09, 2010May 02, 2010 02:32 IST
Having reported on the flaws and foibles of Indian politicians for more than 30 years,I had come to believe that I was now immune and that nothing they did would surprise me.....
Sun, May 02, 2010April 25, 2010 02:00 IST
For someone with no interest in cricket,I find myself in the strange position of having to write about it yet again this week....
Sun, Apr 25, 2010April 18, 2010 02:21 IST
One of the worst legacies from our bad old socialist days is the income tax raid....
Sun, Apr 18, 2010April 11, 2010 02:10 IST
It is the considered opinion of this Fifth Columnist that every single man who died in Dantewada was worth more to India than all our politicians put together.
Sun, Apr 11, 2010March 28, 2010 02:30 IST
Whichever way I say this,it is going to sound wrong in these politically correct times,so I am going to say it straight out....
Sun, Mar 28, 2010March 14, 2010 02:27 IST
Is it political correctness or just plain stupidity that prevents us from seeing that the Womens Reservation Bill is dangerous because it attacks the fundamental values of parliamentary democracy in India?....
Sun, Mar 14, 2010March 07, 2010 02:39 IST
If only the Bharatiya Janata Party could understand that accusations and acrimony do not a debate make....
Sun, Mar 07, 2010February 28, 2010 02:10 IST
Not only do our politicians not get it,we in the media seem not to understand either that governance has become the single most important political issue in India....
Sun, Feb 28, 2010February 21, 2010 02:33 IST
Every time I deal with Indian officials I become so depressed that I almost need therapy. As a reckless optimist and a proud Indian...
Sun, Feb 21, 2010February 14, 2010 03:08 IST
My contempt for the Shiv Sena is of such a high order that I avoid writing about it. This is why I have steered clear of analysing the Shah Rukh Khan saga....
Sun, Feb 14, 2010February 07, 2010 01:21 IST
There are weeks when I find myself defeated by all efforts to analyse Indian politics. This is one of them.
Sun, Feb 07, 2010January 31, 2010 02:01 IST
There is an exercise I conduct every year in Davos. I try to attend all sessions addressed by Indian political leaders....
Sun, Jan 31, 2010January 24, 2010 02:10 IST
As someone who has no interest in cricket (not even 20/20) I find myself in the bewildering position this week of having to write about...
Sun, Jan 24, 2010January 17, 2010 02:07 IST
Having spent my formative years in olden socialist times I pay close attention to political witch-hunts.
Sun, Jan 17, 2010January 10, 2010 03:16 IST
ON a cold and foggy evening last week,I went to see Shashi Tharoor....
Sun, Jan 10, 2010January 03, 2010 02:53 IST
Let me begin by admitting that the reason why I have rarely written about Rahul Gandhi in this column is because I find it hard to take him seriously....
Sun, Jan 03, 2010



