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...
December 25,2011 03:56:28 AM
It is unusual,if not unheard of,for this columnist to tread carefully but this week I am going to because the subject is Sonia Gandhi and her food bill
Sun, Dec 25, 2011December 18,2011 02:31:52 AM
Speaking about our useless Right to Education law,this is what Lant Pritchett told this newspaper
Sun, Dec 18, 2011December 11,2011 02:59:35 AM
Has the time come to admit that the experiment of India having a prime minister appointed by the high command has failed?
Sun, Dec 11, 2011December 04,2011 02:54:37 AM
There are times when I believe India deserves to be a poor country.
Sun, Dec 04, 2011November 27,2011 01:27:29 AM
Everyone has a theory about why there has been such an explosion of urban rage in our ancient non-violent land.
Sun, Nov 27, 2011November 20,2011 02:31:13 AM
It has to be said and I am going to say it clearly.
Sun, Nov 20, 2011November 13,2011 00:19:36 AM
The trial began last week of A Raja and his associates. May the law follow a speedier course than it usually does in India and may those found guilty be severely punished.
Sun, Nov 13, 2011November 06,2011 00:43:33 AM
As a humble cog in the vast and wondrous machine of the Indian media,I want to extend my personal thanks to Justice Markandey Katju for his recent comments.
Sun, Nov 06, 2011October 30,2011 03:30:25 AM
Let me begin by stating clearly that I believe Jairam Ramesh is the most dangerous minister in the Government of India.
Sun, Oct 30, 2011October 23,2011 01:45:05 AM
Then I covered my head with the nearest rag and imitated the skit she performed at Ramlila Maidan to ridicule politicians.
Sun, Oct 23, 2011October 16,2011 01:15:23 AM
Prashant Bhushan got thrashed by thugs last week. Thugs will be thugs,alas,which is a bore.
Sun, Oct 16, 2011October 09,2011 02:03:16 AM
We deserve Anna Hazare. As an implacable opponent of his movement and his methods,it is with sadness that I admit that my relentless opposition has been wasted.
Sun, Oct 09, 2011October 02,2011 02:44:39 AM
Like petulant schoolboys after a dressing-down,the Finance Minister and the Home Minister appeared together last week to say aal is vell.
Sun, Oct 02, 2011September 25,2011 03:42:13 AM
Last week,the Planning Commission proved that its smug,cloistered officials have never met a poor Indian
Sun, Sep 25, 2011September 18,2011 01:58:53 AM
Sonia Gandhi is back. And when news spread through Delhis newsrooms and television studios on Thursday that she would be making her first public appearance since her illness.
Sun, Sep 18, 2011September 11,2011 00:01:27 AM
Nothing bears more eloquent testimony to the failure of politics and governance in India than the squalor of our towns and villages.
Sun, Sep 11, 2011September 04,2011 01:29:25 AM
As someone who is totally opposed to dynastic democracy,it disappointed me that Anna Hazares crusaders against corruption did not identify this as a major source.
Sun, Sep 04, 2011August 28,2011 01:37:19 AM
It is because of my conviction that Indias greatest achievement in the past 64 years is our democracy that I disapprove of Anna Hazare and his methods.
Sun, Aug 28, 2011August 21,2011 00:49:21 AM
For a government that has been exceptionally inept at projecting its own leaders, it is amazing how well it has done by Anna Hazare.
Sun, Aug 21, 2011August 14,2011 00:21:33 AM
So India that is Bharat,in its current incarnation as a modern nation state,turns 64 tomorrow.
Sun, Aug 14, 2011August 07,2011 01:15:40 AM
When the Prime Ministers economic advisory committee admitted last week that India seems to have lost the economic plot.
Sun, Aug 07, 2011July 31,2011 00:44:25 AM
For weeks now,I have been meaning to draw attention to the Bharatiya Janata Partys abysmal performance in Opposition but something more topical has intervened.
Sun, Jul 31, 2011July 24,2011 00:24:20 AM
This column has been clear from day one that Anna Hazares crusade against corruption is a futile exercise.
Sun, Jul 24, 2011July 17,2011 00:10:26 AM
As an itinerant citizen of Mumbai for more than twenty years,I felt its pain last week and its rage.
Sun, Jul 17, 2011July 10,2011 01:16:34 AM
One of the only weeks,in more than twenty years,that this column did not appear in this space was when I wrote a piece some years ago describing the state of Indian courts.
Sun, Jul 10, 2011





