eARLY TIMES rEPORT
Jammu, Mar 28: Pradeep Dutta-a journalist from Jammu & Kashmir- became first and only Sikh scribe in the world to cover war from Ukraine. Dutta, one of India’s best known broadcast journalists, with over 20 years of experience in covering counter insurgency and counter terror operations is in Ukraine for the last one and a half month covering various aspects of Russia-Ukraine war from ground zero.
He is known for his aggressive and hard hitting reporting. “At many places because of my turban, people come and click selfies with me. Best thing is that because of my turban they immediately get to know that I am an Indian,” said Pradeep on phone from Kyiv.
Born in the apple town of Baramulla, Pradeep, started his career as reporter in The Indian Express and later he shifted to electronic media. Presently he is working as senior editor in Times Now TV Channel. “Thankful to my editors for giving me this opportunity to report from frontlines,” said Pradeep.
Dutta, is one of the most animated and passionate journalists of India. Has several years of experience in covering issues related to traditional and non traditional security. Whether it is direct reporting from encounter site in Pathankot or terror strike in any part of Jammu & Kashmir, or trekking non-stop 16 hours to reach the post at the LoC, which is at a height of 13,000 feet or spending a night at a forward post on the international border to get a first-hand report of jawans keeping watch against all odds, Pradeep is at the frontlines before most of his contemporaries.
Pradeep is the recipient of the highest award at Bennett and Coleman’s Company Limited (Times of India Group), the Chairman’s Award For Excellence for best reporting, Mehboob-ul-Haq award by Colombo based Regional Centre for Strategic Studies (RCSS) for joint research with academician from Karachi on Indo-Pak Water Politics, and has been the Charkha-Sanjoy Ghose Fellow for Peace & Development, 2004-05.
Besides his home state Pradeep has actively covered political developments and electoral coverage in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. For his reporting, this year Pradeep was bestowed with J&K state award for excellence in field of journalism.
Pradeep, from time to time has written and presented papers in national and international conferences on topics related to small arms proliferation, Indo Pak relations, Elections 2014, Politics of Displacement and Trust Deficit etc. Besides this he writes poetry on sensitive issues like partition, Kashmir imbroglio, woman literacy, girl education under shadow of gun etc that have been published in premium places.
During his student days he was founder and editor of bi-monthly children magazine Oyster. This magazine was launched in 93 when militancy in Kashmir was at its peak and many a youth had been lured top gun-culture. Idea behind this magazine was to channelize energy of youngsters and carve positive space and positive atmosphere.
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