Unlike popular notion, the first section I read in any newspaper is the?OP-ED? section. Those who don?t know what Op-Ed stands for, it is a section where the newspaper and eminent journalists/analysts portray their views on current events and policy matters.
This section in reality reflects intellectual wealth a particular newspaper inhabits. A good newspaper would allow contrasting opinions in a free manner, whereas an ideologically biased newspaper would have an Op-Ed section generally swaying opinion in their preferred direction.
Main reason I like reading editorials is that it adds an invaluable wealth to my knowledge bank. I get to learn diverse impacts of impeding policy measures and ramifications of a recent policy measure or a significant current event. And ultimately with better handle at the actual goings on around me, I can build my own opinion on the matter after going through diverse opinions.
Over the years, I have followed opinions of certain columnist with great astonishment. There are distinct types of columnists today who pen their thoughts in print media. There are those who stick to their professional journalistic ethics without getting caught in their ideological inclination. For this bunch, every right has to be commended and every wrong has to be condemned. And in most cases you will end up agreeing with them on what they consider is right or wrong. Then there is other bunch that cannot come out of their narrow ideological pocket borough that every event or a policy has to have a particular political color. This review is about the former bunch, a group of distinguished columnists.
Tavleen Singh - The Indian Express(Sundays) and Afternoon Dispatch and Courier(Thursdays):
First time when I read Tavleen Singh was immediately after India conducted Nuclear Tests in Pokhran. She used to write for India Today then. The article largely talked of the foreign policy failures of the past and the opportunities the tests presented to the government to do away with laggard NAM centric mentality and move on to adjust with the changed world where US was undisputedly the only super power of the World.
Tavleen Singh is ideologically quite opposite to the Marxist advocated socialist economy. She successfully presents her argument without mincing words on what she believes. Her articles mainly cover social issues, politics, economy and seldom foreign policy. A regular invitee at the World Economic Forum in Davos, she is one of the most popular columnists currently. However, Ms. Singh?s columns sometime do turn out to be unnecessarily harsh and her readers will certainly appreciate some moderation.
C Rajamohan, The Indian Express(every other Tuesday):
When it comes to foreign policy analysis, C Rajamohan is unbeatable. During his earlier stint at The Hindu, he was probably the lone voice who preached a foreign policy solely driven by country?s self interests. He was for junking NAM, which had become obsolete following disintegration of USSR and demise of the great socialist role model of the world. His advocacies to establish diplomatic relations with Israel in mid-nineties received some flack but that did not deterred him from his views. Ultimately, during the later part of his regime, PM Narsimharao decided to establish diplomatic relations with Israel.
C Rajamohan?s pragmatist thoughts did not survive at the ideologically extreme Left editorial team of The Hindu. He has now moved to The Indian Express and his columns continue to provide a great insight into various foreign policy initiatives of the Government, be it closer ties with Israel and US, junking the NAM or highly successful?Look East? policy.
Rohit Brijnath: Former Sports Editor, India Today
Rohit Brijnath?s articles provided in-depth analysis of any sport event. Nowadays, it is quite difficult to find an analyst with such impeccable expertise in different sports. Most columns and analysis on sports today are penned by retired sportsman. Some of them are exceptional beyond any doubt; however, Rohit Brijanth stands out by his intricate analysis of different facet of a game or a personality without falling into mundane jingoistic traps.
It is sad to see such a genius sports writer not penning regularly nowadays. He used to write for India Today before short stints at Rediff.com and *The Indian Express. *I was pleasantly surprise when I came a across a recent article by him on Narain Karthikeyan on BBC.co.uk. I really do hope to see regular columns from him in mainstream media.
Gurcharan Das - The Times of India, Sundays
A graduate from Harvard and former CEO of Proctor & Gamble(India), Gurcharan Das? columns are brutally honest. Being a former CEO, his views mostly echo majority of the reviled lot called?filthy rich?, yet his columns never exude any such ego. An ardent fan of Gandhiji, he comes down heavily on those who conveniently distort his views and prophesies.
His columns are more like interaction and gladly avoid long analytical essays. Gurcharan Das has authored a few books. Worth noticing amongst them is India Unbound which has been filmed by BBC. His impeccable knowledge of historical Indian literature like Mahabharat and his attempts to draw analogy between those ancient events and the contemporary happenings really make for an interesting reading.
Jairam Ramesh:
The guru of economy, trade and commerce related policies. I must admit, my thoughts and ideology on economy are highly influenced by Jairam Rameh. His envious educations qualifications(IIT Mumbai, Carnegie Melon and MIT) stand out in today?s ugly and imprudent politicians. Just about a year ago, he was a hairbreadth away from crossing over to the BJP, largely due to continuously ignored by Congress leadership; he was successfully convinced by Rahul Gandhi to stay with the party.
Jairam Ramesh used to pen?Kautilya? in India Today. Unlike his fellow party man Manishanker Aiyar, Ramesh?s columns consisted economic thoughts and analysis with maturity. A champion of free market economy and liberalization, and an ardent opponent of License, Quota, Permit regime, he helped Manmohan Singh and P Chidambaram in heralding new grand phase of economic reforms in India. Highly recommended!