Date of Birth: 11 January 1951
(Capricorn)
Education:Calcutta
Boys’ School |Presidency College, Calcutta
Bachelor of Arts: English (Honours): 1967-1970
Joined
the Times of India in 1971
as a
trainee. Within a few months moved to the Illustrated
Weekly of India, then India’s largest selling
magazine, as sub-editorand feature writer, and contributed a prolific
number of stories.In the Weekly till 1973, when he was named editor of
the news fortnightly, ONLOOKER,
owned by the Free Press Journal Group in Mumbai.
In 1976
moved to Calcutta to join the Ananda BazarPatrika Group as editor ofSUNDAY,
India's first genuine political weekly. Within just
three years of its launch, the investigative reporting
pioneered by the magazine established its national
circulation and number one position. The magazine took
an uncompromising stand against the Emergency, and
fought press censorship and dictatorship. SUNDAY
not only established major trends in journalism but
also spawned a new generation of journalists in the
country
1982: After the success of
Sunday, launched what would be
called India’s first modern newspaper. Conceived,
designed and edited the daily newspaper, THE
TELEGRAPH, which had a major impact on newspaper
journalism in India.
1989:
Left journalism for a brief stint in politics.
Contested the general elections of 1989 from
Kishanganj in Bihar on the Congress ticket, and
despite the fact that the Congress was wiped out from
the political map of the state, won his seat. Served
in Lok Sabha (Parliament) from 1989 and 1991
1991:
Joined Government as advisor in the Ministry of Human
Resources, and helped policy planning in the key areas
of education, the National Literacy Mission and
protection of heritage.
1992:
Resigned from government, and left politics in
December 1992. Returned to journalism and full time
writing. In 1993 starteda new media company with the aim of creating
India’s first newspaper that would not only include an
international focus within its editorial range, but
also be the first Indian daily with an international
edition.
1994:
This newspaper appeared in February.
THE
ASIAN AGE, India’s first global newspaper, was
launched with initial editions in Delhi, Bombay, and
London, and has now grown, in collaboration with the
Deccan Chronicle, to eight editions, into a major
media presence nationally and internationally.In 2004, the group began publishing THE
INTERNATIONAL HEARLD TRIBUNE in India, and became
a publishing partner of THE NEW YORK
TIMES. Also
Editor-in-Chief of the DECCANCHRONICLE.
2008: Launched "COVERT" in mid May - A Fortnightly Political
Magazine: An MJP Venture, M J Akbar as Chairman &
Director, Covert Magazine
Ram Jethmalani JOINS COVERT
MAGAZINE AS
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD IN
NOVEMBER
2009
THE SUNDAY GUARDIAN :
M J Akbar Launched The Sunday Guardian in Delhi on 31st January 2010
(Sunday).
DELHI'S ONLY SUNDAY NEWSPAPER Published simultaneously in
Delhi and London BY M J AKBAR
DELHI'S ONLY SUNDAY NEWSPAPER by M J Akbar
Published simultaneously in
Delhi and London
40 pages | Rs. 3/- To get a copy, Ask News
Agent or sms <TSG> to 56070
“A
skillfully crafted family saga down three generations
packed with information of events in the country and
the world, particularly changing Hindu-Muslim
relations.It
could be a textbook on how to write, mix fact, fiction
and history. It is beautifully written; it deserves to
be in Category A1.”
Khushwant Singh,
Author & Historian
“I
enjoyed M.J. Akbar’s Blood Brothers (as though it
were) my own biography… it is an exquisitely written
narrative to truth disguised in fiction and ends on a
note that is deeply moving and unforgettable.”
Sunil
Gangopadhyay, Pre-eminent Bengali novelist
“M.J. Akbar’s Blood Brothers is a marvelous work
of history in the form of a deeply engaging story of a
Muslim family in Bengal.The exploration of the complex interface
between Muslims and Hindus over the last 150 years has
the freshness of a first-person experience which it
actually is.A
work of considerable charm, grace and insight.A worthy companion to his earlier book Shade of
Swords on the Islam/West encounter.”
Shyam Benegal,
Renowned Film-maker
The
AUTHOR: MJ Akbar
MJ
AKBAR's first book, which was published by Penguin in London in
1984, created a sensation in both general and academic
circles because of the strength of its documented
analysis and argument. India: The Siege Within, Challenges to a Nation's Unity won
excellent notices internationally, and became a staple
of university courses on South Asia. It was also
unique in that it accurately predicted where the next
round of secessionist violence would come, in Punjab
and Kashmir, and put these movements both in a
historical as well as immediate context. No book by an
Indian author on politics has had quite the impact
that the author’s first book had. A sample of the
reviews with tell their own story.
Post your comments on Bylines Posts or Send your Email comments,
concerns or book recommendations.Anything you wish to
communicate to MJ Akbar.
He doesn't always have the
opportunity to reply to everything, but he certainly reads it
all! (E-mails Without Attachments, please!) M J Akbar E-MAIL:
mjakbar@mjakbar.org / ilaxi@mjakbar.org
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