
Barkha Dutt
Barkha Dutt is consulting editor, NDTV, and founding member, Ideas Collective. She tweets as @BDUTT.
Articles by Barkha Dutt

For India’s women, a week of hope — and anguish
By Barkha Dutt
PUBLISHED ON FEB 19, 2021 06:33 PM IST
The Priya Ramani verdict has shut down the debate on the most banal and common question asked of women: Why didn’t you speak up earlier?

How not to respond to Greta, Meena, Rihanna
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON FEB 06, 2021 06:38 AM IST
As India sought to stand against propaganda on farm protests, it appeared to be teaching the world a class on propaganda. And not very smartly at that

When invasion of privacy comes back full circle
By Barkha Dutt
PUBLISHED ON JAN 22, 2021 10:39 PM IST
The sanctimony that a section of the media wears like a second skin comes undone so fast when the scrutiny is on them.

After anarchy in the US, reimagining the middle ground
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON JAN 08, 2021 07:53 PM IST
Governments have to learn how to engage with those who did not vote for them. Citizens have to learn how to converse amidst ideological divisions

How the TMC is fighting the BJP juggernaut in Bengal
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON DEC 25, 2020 05:36 PM IST
The Trinamool Congress has made dramatic changes to its organisational power structure and launched two key mass outreach programmes

Powerful citizens, missing Opposition
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON DEC 11, 2020 07:47 PM IST
The two agitations which have made a mark in the past year have been led by citizens. The Opposition remains absent and redundant

Why Ahmed Patel mattered in Indian politics
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON NOV 27, 2020 08:51 PM IST
With his pragmatism, openness, rigorous work ethic, and absolute commitment to the Congress and Sonia Gandhi, he emerged as a pillar of the party

From Bihar, a message for Indian politics, writes Barkha Dutt
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON NOV 13, 2020 08:51 PM IST
The national Opposition does not exist, the Congress’s claim to this role is cosmetic, and only regional parties can be a bulwark against the BJP

In Bihar, the eclipse of Brand Nitish Kumar, writes Barkha Dutt
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON OCT 30, 2020 07:33 PM IST
Irrespective of the outcome in the assembly elections, the rage against the Bihar chief minister is palpable — and he only has himself to blame

What’s common to TV news and the Opposition, writes Barkha Dutt
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON OCT 17, 2020 06:35 AM IST
Both have failed to create a new template to take on the new normal. Both critique, but often don’t offer their own narrative. Imitation won’t work

Hathras: Making a mockery of the idea of justice
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON OCT 03, 2020 05:57 AM IST
The institutional response to sexual violence is critical. On this, the UP police have covered themselves in shame. At every turn, they robbed the family of its agency to make key decisions

A wake-up call: There is a crisis in India’s schools
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON SEP 19, 2020 05:57 AM IST
Covid has hit incomes. Parents are unable to pay fees. Schools, in turn, are blocking children from classes and exams. The government must step in

Chronicling the tragic death of television news
By Barkha Dutt
PUBLISHED ON SEP 04, 2020 08:02 PM IST
Nothing has, as dramatically, underscored the death of journalism as the coverage of Sushant’s death. Those who are watching it are enablers

Don’t fear democratic and lawful politics in Jammu and Kashmir | Opinion
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON AUG 22, 2020 09:53 PM IST
The BJP has successfully buried the 370 debate. Why, then, marginalise pro-India democrats?

From Kashmir to Ayodhya, the BJP’s total domination of politics
By Barkha Dutt
PUBLISHED ON AUG 07, 2020 05:51 PM IST
The failure of the Opposition is on display yet again. It needs a new leader, a new language, a new story

Rahul Gandhi should either take charge or get out of the way, writes Barkha Dutt
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON JUL 24, 2020 10:00 PM IST
The Congress faces a leadership crisis, an inter-generational tussle and lacks a political narrative

This is not justice. India has faltered on the fundamentals of law, writes Barkha Dutt
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON JUL 10, 2020 07:37 PM IST
There can’t be double standards on extrajudicial killings, depending on the case. It isn’t right

On China, the Indian government needs to communicate better
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON JUN 26, 2020 07:39 PM IST
To lose the information war is to let down brave soldiers. Emulate the positive lessons from Kargil

The worst is yet to come in Delhi and Mumbai, writes Barkha Dutt
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON JUN 13, 2020 05:51 AM IST
Requisition health care workers; create temporary facilities; have a clear chain of command; help patients

The solicitor general is wrong on migrant workers, writes Barkha Dutt
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON MAY 29, 2020 07:38 PM IST
The crisis has exposed deep inequities. Glossing over the tragedy is an abdication of professional and moral duty

There is a humanitarian crisis in India. Lift the lockdown, now
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON MAY 15, 2020 05:34 PM IST
There is panic and devastation; social, economic and emotional structures are breaking down

India is staring at a crisis greater than Covid-19. It is time to open up
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON MAY 01, 2020 08:15 PM IST
Continue to test, trace, and quarantine patients. But the rest of the nation has to get back to work

Migrant workers are being treated poorly. Address their concerns, now
By Barkha Dutt
PUBLISHED ON APR 17, 2020 07:35 PM IST
They are hungry, scared and worried. If the State cannot look after them, let them go home

From Nizamuddin, on the ground, the story of the Tablighi Jamaat
By Barkha Dutt
PUBLISHED ON APR 03, 2020 05:50 PM IST
The Jamaat was wrong. So were State agencies which allowed the gathering to take place

Modi is right to prepare India for a deeper crisis, writes Barkha Dutt
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON MAR 20, 2020 06:57 PM IST
The PM used the grammar and rallying spirit of wartime. Be prepared for a longer, more formal, set of restrictions

Delhi riots: How India has failed its riot victims. Twice over, writes Barkha Dutt
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON MAR 06, 2020 06:37 PM IST
No politician, from those in power to Opposition leaders, has reached out to the victims of the riot.

Why jailing Kashmir’s leaders is wrong, undemocratic and unwise, writes Barkha Dutt
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON FEB 22, 2020 06:17 AM IST
The Modi government’s actions are only emboldening separatists and jihadis

How Kejriwal avoided the trap laid by the BJP in this election, writes Barkha Dutt
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON SEP 10, 2020 09:48 PM IST
The system has mellowed him. But the CM has also placed new political cards on the table

Opinion| Indians can no longer talk to each other in the age of the mob
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON JAN 25, 2020 08:13 AM IST
The polarisation of personality and thought only suits those who fan it. It is self-defeating

The immense integrity and courage of Deepika Padukone, writes Barkha Dutt
By Barkha Dutt
UPDATED ON JAN 11, 2020 05:27 PM IST
In a risk-averse and status-quoist industry such as Bollywood, it’s not easy to go against the tide