Sagarika Ghose

{{infobox officeholder

| name = Sagarika Ghose

| image = Sagarika Ghose at Rajya Sabha (2025).jpg

| image_size = 180px

| caption = Ghose remarks on Motion for Thanks on President's Address in Rajya Sabha ({{circa|2025}})

| office = Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha

| term_start = 3 April 2024

| predecessor = Abir Biswas

| constituency = West Bengal

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1964|11|8|df=yes}}

| birth_place = New Delhi, India

| education = St. Stephen's College, Delhi (BA)
Magdalen College, Oxford (BA)
St Antony's College, Oxford (MPhil)

| occupation = {{hlist|Journalist|Politician}}

| party = Trinamool Congress (since 2024)

| mother = Chitralekha Ghose

| father = Bhaskar Ghose

| relatives = Dilip Sardesai (father-in-law)
Arundhati Ghose (aunt)
Ruma Pal (aunt)
Sanjay Ghose (cousin)

| module =

{{infobox journalist

| embed = yes

| years_active = 1991-present

| spouse = {{marriage|Rajdeep Sardesai|1994}}

| notable_works = Indira: India's Most Powerful Prime Minister

}}

Sagarika Ghose ({{IPA|bn|ʃagorika ɡʱoʃ}}; born 8 November 1964) is an Indian Member of Parliament, journalist, columnist and author.{{cite web|url=https://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/bloody-mary/strategy-to-breach-bjp-mukt-south-india-cant-rely-on-hindu-card-modi/|title=Strategy to breach BJP-mukt South India can't rely on Hindu card, Modi|date=6 May 2018|access-date=3 September 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://harpercollins.co.in/author-details/sagarika-ghose/|title=Sagarika Ghose|access-date=3 May 2020}}{{Cite web |date=2024-02-12 |title=‘Inspired by Mamata's courage’: Journalist Sagarika Ghose as TMC names her Rajya Sabha candidate |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/inspired-by-mamatas-courage-journalist-sagarika-ghose-as-tmc-names-her-rajya-sabha-candidate-101707702531465.html |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}} She has been a journalist since 1991 and has worked at The Times of India, Outlook and The Indian Express. She was a prime time anchor for BBC World on Question Time India and on the news network CNN-IBN, also being the deputy editor for the latter. Ghose has won several awards in journalism and is the author of two novels, as well as the biography of Indira Gandhi, Indira: India's Most Powerful Prime Minister. She worked as Consulting Editor of The Times of India from 2014 to 2020. {{cite web|url=https://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/bloody-mary/chanakyas-not-21st-century-misuse-of-power-in-karnataka-cannot-be-justified-as-an-ancient-art-of-politics/|title=Chanakya's not 21st century: Misuse of power in Karnataka cannot be justified as an ancient art of politics|work=The Times of India|date=28 May 2018|access-date=3 September 2019}} In 2022, her biography of former Indian Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee was released.{{Cite web|date=2022-01-01|title=A deep dive research into Vajpayee's life|url=https://www.sundayguardianlive.com/news/deep-dive-research-vajpayees-life|access-date=2022-01-08|website=The Sunday Guardian Live|language=en-US}}

Education

Ghose studied from Delhi Public School, R. K. Puram and received her BA History from St. Stephen's College, Delhi. A recipient of the Rhodes Scholarship in 1987, she has a BA Modern History from Magdalen College and an MPhil from St Antony's College, Oxford.{{cite web|author=Sagarika Ghose |url=http://www.harpercollins.com/authors/32718/Sagarika_Ghose/index.aspx |title=Sagarika Ghose from HarperCollins Publishers |publisher=Harpercollins.com |date=24 March 2010 |access-date=18 April 2013}}

Career

Since 1991, she has worked as a journalist at The Times Of India, Outlook magazine and The Indian Express and was deputy editor and prime time anchor on the news network CNN-IBN.{{cite news |last1=Arya |first1=Divya |title=Why are Indian women being attacked on social media? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-22378366 |access-date=18 June 2021 |work=BBC News |date=May 8, 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://mutiny.in/2007/06/05/interview-with-sagarika-ghose |title=Interview with Sagarika Ghose |publisher=mutiny.in |date=5 June 2007 |access-date=9 April 2011 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090131085318/http://mutiny.in/2007/06/05/interview-with-sagarika-ghose |archive-date=31 January 2009 }}{{cite web|author=Seema Chowdhry |url=http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/PUpBx8sSjFQRrjhqBMVmiO/Airing-both-sides.html |title=Airing both sides |publisher=Livemint |date=8 February 2013 |access-date=18 April 2013}} Ghose resigned as deputy editor of CNN-IBN in July 2014.{{cite news|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/140704/nation-current-affairs/article/rajdeep-sardesai-resigns-editor-chief-cnn-ibn|title=Rajdeep Sardesai Resigns as Editor in Chief of CNN-IBN|work=Deccan Chronicle|date=5 July 2014|access-date=3 September 2019}}

In 2004, she became the first woman to host Question Time India. She was the deputy editor and a prime time anchor on the news network CNN-IBN. Her writings and broadcasts have earned her popularity and also criticism from right-wing viewers.{{cite news |url=http://m.outlookindia.com/story.aspx?sid=4&aid=282107 |title=Netiquette, Not Censorship |publisher=M.outlookindia.com |access-date=18 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020103341/http://m.outlookindia.com/story.aspx?sid=4&aid=282107 |archive-date=20 October 2012 |df=dmy-all }}{{cite news|url=http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/asia-pacific/india/120615/internet-hindus-hindu-nationalists-right-wing-politics |title=India: Meet the 'Internet Hindus' |publisher=GlobalPost |date=18 June 2012 |access-date=18 April 2013}}

Ghose's Twitter interview with Arvind Kejriwal of the Aam Aadmi Party in 2013 became the first instance of an Indian politician giving a social media interview prior to the polls.{{cite news|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/in-first-twitter-interview-kejriwal-says-no-free-power-if-aap-wins-in-delhi/431654-80-258.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103005925/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/in-first-twitter-interview-kejriwal-says-no-free-power-if-aap-wins-in-delhi/431654-80-258.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 November 2013|title=In first Twitter interview, Kejriwal says no free power if AAP wins in Delhi|work=IBNLive.com | date=1 November 2013 | access-date=28 November 2013}} Ghose resigned from CNN-IBN on 5 July 2014 after the network was acquired by the Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries ltd. She was deputy editor of the channel.{{cite web|url=http://www.livemint.com/Consumer/57yRvDxbdsfoQMhZMwWcPO/CNNIBN-editors-Rajdeep-Sardesai-and-Sagarika-Ghose-quit.html|title=CNN-IBN editors Rajdeep Sardesai and Sagarika Ghose quit|work=livemint.com}}{{cite web|url=http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/NAT-TOP-rajdeep-sardesai-sagarika-ghose-quit-cnn-ibn-herere-their-emotional-farewell-not-4669527-NOR.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714193434/http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/NAT-TOP-rajdeep-sardesai-sagarika-ghose-quit-cnn-ibn-herere-their-emotional-farewell-not-4669527-NOR.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 July 2014|title=Rajdeep Sardesai and Sagarika Ghose Quit CNN-IBN|work=daily.bhaskar.com}}

Awards and honors

Her show Question Time Didi, an audience based interaction with West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and students, from which Banerjee famously stormed out mid-way, received the NT Award for Best Public Debate Show in 2013.{{cite web|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/newstopics/National-Television-Awards.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629120450/http://ibnlive.in.com/newstopics/National-Television-Awards.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 June 2013 |title=National Television Awards: Latest News Stories, Photos, Videos, Blogs & Talks |publisher=Ibnlive.in.com |access-date=18 April 2013}} She was awarded the Gr8-ITA award for Excellence in Journalism in 2009.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}} Ghose was awarded an Excellence in Journalism Award (Aparajita Award) from FICCI Ladies Organisation in 2005.{{cn|date=May 2024}} In 2012 she received the CF Andrews Award for Distinguished Alumnus from St Stephen's College.{{cite web|url=http://www.in.com/videos/news-video-live/news/watch-st-stephens-felicitates-sagarika-ghose-other-alumni-310686-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130823033630/http://www.in.com/videos/news-video-live/news/watch-st-stephens-felicitates-sagarika-ghose-other-alumni-310686-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 August 2013 |title=Watch: St Stephen's Felicitates Sagarika Ghose, Other Alumni |publisher=In.com |access-date=18 April 2013}}

In 2013, Ghose received the ITA Best Anchor Award from the Indian Television Academy (ITA).{{cite web|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/ita-awards-cnnibn-best-english-news-channel-sagarika-ghose-best-anchor/430119-3.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131028022023/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/ita-awards-cnnibn-best-english-news-channel-sagarika-ghose-best-anchor/430119-3.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 October 2013 |title=ITA Awards: CNN-IBN best English news channel, Sagarika Ghose best anchor |publisher=IBNLive.com |access-date=1 November 2013}} In 2014, The Rhodes Project included Ghose on a list of 13 famous women Rhodes Scholars.{{cite web|title=13 famous Rhodes Women|url=http://rhodesproject.com/13-famous-rhodes-women/|publisher=rhodesproject.com}} In 2017 Ghose was awarded the C.H.Mohammed Koya National Award for journalism.{{Cite news|url=http://bureaucracybuzz.com/2017/01/21/vice-president-giving-away-the-c-h-mohammed-koya-national-journalism-award-2016/|title=Vice President giving away the C.H. Mohammed Koya National Journalism Award 2016 - BureaucracyBuzz.com|date=2017-01-21|work=BureaucracyBuzz.com|access-date=2018-09-10|language=en-US}}

Published works

Ghose is the author of two novels, The Gin Drinkers, published in 1998, and Blind Faith, in 2004. The Gin Drinkers was also published in the Netherlands.{{cite web|url=http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/printed-books/the-gin-drinkers-sagarika-ghose/1141542/ |title=The Gin Drinkers - Sagarika Ghose - Review - A lush portrait of Delhi Intellectual life |publisher=Dooyoo.co.uk |date=18 October 2008 |access-date=18 April 2013}} Ghose also published a biography of former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Indira: India's Most Powerful Prime Minister (Juggernaut Books) in 2017.{{cite news |last1=Special Correspondent |title=The lasting mystique of Indira Gandhi: Sagarika Ghose speaks about her book 'Indira, India's Most Powerful Prime Minister' |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/the-lasting-mystique-of-indira-gandhi/article19280984.ece |access-date=18 June 2021 |work=The Hindu |date=July 15, 2017}} The biography is slated to be made into a film.{{cite web|url=https://scroll.in/reel/864556/vidya-balan-to-play-indira-gandhi-in-adaptation-of-sagarika-ghoses-biography |title=Vidya Balan to play Indira Gandhi in the adaptation of Sagarika Ghose's biography |publisher=scroll.in |date=10 January 2018 |access-date=30 May 2019}} In 2022 her biography of former Indian Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee was released.

In her 2018 non-fiction book, Why I Am A Liberal: A Manifesto For Indians Who Believe in Individual Freedom,{{cite web|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/book-review-of-blind-faith-by-sagarika-ghose/1/180498.html|title=Pulp friction|last=Bose|first=Brinda|date=25 September 2006|access-date=11 July 2013|work=India Today}}{{Cite web|title=Why I Am a Liberal|url=https://penguin.co.in/book/why-i-am-a-liberal/|access-date=2020-07-01|website=Penguin Random House India|language=en-US}} Ghose describes herself as a liberal who believes in rule of law, limited government, robust institutions and individual liberty. Ghose propounds the thesis that although the republic of India was founded as a liberal democracy in 1947, subsequent Indian governments throughout the post-Independence period have sought to attack individual liberty and vastly increase the powers of the government, or the powers of what she calls the Indian 'Big State'.

Personal life

She is the daughter of Bhaskar Ghose, formerly of the Indian Administrative Service 1960 batch, erstwhile Director General of Doordarshan, the Indian public television network.{{cite news|last=Som|first=Rituparna|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/1062473/report-most-of-my-critics-are-talentless-elderly-ladies-sagarika-ghose|title=Most of my critics are talentless lderly ladies: Sagarika Ghose|work=DNA | date=6 November 2006 | access-date=10 July 2013}} Her two aunts include Arundhati Ghose, former ambassador and diplomat and Ruma Pal, former justice of the Supreme Court of India. She is married to journalist and news anchor Rajdeep Sardesai, the son of former Indian test cricketer Dilip Sardesai. Rajdeep and Sagarika have two children, son Dr. Ishan Sardesai and daughter Tarini Sardesai, advocate.{{cite news|title=The referee in town|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2004/06/10/stories/2004061001580100.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041121220555/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2004/06/10/stories/2004061001580100.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 November 2004|newspaper=The Hindu|date=10 June 2004}}

Political career

Sagarika Ghose joined the Trinamool Congress Party on 11 February 2024,{{cite news |last1=Deccan Herald |title=Journalist Sagarika Ghose joins TMC, to contest Rajya Sabha election |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/journalist-sagarika-ghose-joins-tmc-to-contest-rajya-sabha-election-2889947 |access-date=11 February 2024 |date=11 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240211171250/https://www.deccanherald.com/india/journalist-sagarika-ghose-joins-tmc-to-contest-rajya-sabha-election-2889947 |archive-date=11 February 2024 |language=en}} and was elected as the party's candidate to the Rajya Sabha in 2024.{{cite news |last1=The Hindu |first1= |title=Trinamool names Sagarika Ghose, Sushmita Dev, and two others for Rajya Sabha |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kolkata/tmc-announces-candidature-of-sagarika-ghose-sushmita-dev-2-others-for-rs-polls/article67834933.ece |access-date=11 February 2024 |date=11 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240211171055/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kolkata/tmc-announces-candidature-of-sagarika-ghose-sushmita-dev-2-others-for-rs-polls/article67834933.ece |archive-date=11 February 2024 |language=en-IN}}

Bibliography

The Gin Drinkers (1998)
Blind Faith (2004)
Indira: India's Most Powerful Prime Minister (2017)
Why I Am A Liberal: A Manifesto For Indians Who Believe in Individual Freedom (2018)
Atal Bihari Vajpayee – India's Most Loved Prime Minister (2022)