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 07, 2009 03:42 IST
The day before President Obama set off to win Muslim hearts and minds last week,I had an interesting conversation about Islam....
Sun, Jun 07, 2009May 31, 2009 01:06 IST
Last week,while the Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi were choosing ministers for the new government...
Sun, May 31, 2009May 24, 2009 00:42 IST
It was not so much Dr Manmohan Singhs new ministers but the Tamil tableau that enthralled me last week.
Sun, May 24, 2009May 17, 2009 01:41 IST
Before writing one word of this piece I spent many moments staring at my computers smugly blank screen wondering why the results....
Sun, May 17, 2009May 10, 2009 03:32 IST
When Priyanka Gandhis clothes became a major political story last week,I realised sadly that it was time for me to stop being a conscientious objector to dynastic democracy.
Sun, May 10, 2009May 03, 2009 00:04 IST
As someone who believes Indira Gandhi was Indias worst Prime Minister it shocks me when I meet people who think she was the best....
Sun, May 03, 2009April 26, 2009 23:31 IST
At the best of times it is a bad idea to allow bureaucrats to run a country.
Sun, Apr 26, 2009April 19, 2009 00:32 IST
This week I meant to bring you tales of horror from India that is Bharat. Tales that urban hacks like me garner only when there is a general election.....
Sun, Apr 19, 2009April 12, 2009 01:18 IST
Half way through this election campaign the only thing that can be said with certainty is that it has mostly been a bore.
Sun, Apr 12, 2009April 05, 2009 00:52 IST
Hindutva martial music blared against a backdrop of angry saffron as the aged Iron Man sat amid his ageing comrades and tried to look young and vital....
Sun, Apr 05, 2009March 29, 2009 02:24 IST
Breaking News: For security reasons. Along with IPL cricket the Lok Sabha elections will be held outside the country......
Sun, Mar 29, 2009March 15, 2009 00:39 IST
As a huge fan of Barack Obama and a dedicated enemy of radical Islam it worried me to hear the American President talk of moderate Taliban.....
Sun, Mar 15, 2009March 08, 2009 04:30 IST
How sad that our Home Minister should have found the most unexpected way to link India to the terrorist attack in Lahore last week.....
Sun, Mar 08, 2009March 01, 2009 00:57 IST
In this week of economic gloom I searched hard to find something to write about that would make you and me feel less gloomy.
Sun, Mar 01, 2009February 22, 2009 01:20 IST
My column last week infuriated those of Hindutva persuasion. Especially the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Sun, Feb 22, 2009February 15, 2009 00:52 IST
As a natural ally of the Consortium of Pub-going,Loose and Forward women,my only objection to the Pink Chaddi Campaign is that large boxes of knickers are not being sent to the real villains of the piece.
Sun, Feb 15, 2009February 08, 2009 01:17 IST
The arrival card I filled on the flight back to the Motherland had a mysterious new question.
Sun, Feb 08, 2009February 01, 2009 00:53 IST
It is useless talking to Pakistans civilian leaders about what happened in Mumbai. They are not in charge of that unfortunate countrys foreign policy....
Sun, Feb 01, 2009January 25, 2009 00:46 IST
After transiting through the chamber of horrors that is Mumbai airports departure terminal,when we collapsed,drained of all energy,into the controlled safety of a European aeroplane...
Sun, Jan 25, 2009January 18, 2009 00:48 IST
Before writing this weeks column I looked up blogs on columns past and noticed that since the attack on Mumbai...
Sun, Jan 18, 2009January 11, 2009 01:39 IST
So where do we go from here? How do we deal with our Pakistan problem? The short answer to that question is,nobody knows...
Sun, Jan 11, 2009January 04, 2009 02:46 IST
It is my belief that the first column of a New Year should try to be cheerful no matter how bad the times.
Sun, Jan 04, 2009
March 05, 2006 00:00 IST
Even as someone who has difficulties with many aspects of President Bush’s policies I found myself on his side last week when the stree...
Sun, Mar 05, 2006
February 26, 2006 00:00 IST
When I heard this week that the man charged with killing Jessica Lall had been acquitted by a Delhi court, it made me sick. Not just because...
Sun, Feb 26, 2006
February 19, 2006 01:04 IST
As someone who believes that Indian communists always act against the interests of India I pay close attention to what they say. These days ...
Sun, Feb 19, 2006



