The Duty To Observe, Analyse, Report and Expose. Tarun is very clear, and has travelled the path himself. Tehelka, which he started in March 2000, did pioneer investigative reporting, consequently going through much turmoil. It was relaunched as a national weekly newspaper in January 2004. Tarun says, “Journalism is in a societal, public zone. As a journalist, your job is to inform and to expose. Often, it is ournalism that keeps the issue alive. It is the media that is most likely to give you the truth of the situation than any other source.”

Personally Speaking “What I live by is To be Humble and Unafraid. You need much more of that now, because if society becomes too afraid, it will be a Draconian (severe, harsh) society. Journalism is a duty that I believe I have to discharge. I had wanted to get into writing literary and more fiction, but journalism consumed me. Now, journalistic management and the task of doing what I believe is my public commitment takes up most of my time.”

The Grounding Well, you have to read a lot. Tarun was a voracious reader as a child, and still is. He says, “I was and still am shaped by my reading.” You should read books, magazines and the newspaper. Write as much as you can about anything, and just ask questions. Be curious and try to know more about anything and everything. Seek answers. Dig for knowledge.

Is Journalism School Necessary? “No, absolutely not. Journalism is an attitude and aptitude business. It does not require any formal training.”

Tarun has been a national level basketball player. For him, it’s all about reading and sport. As a child, he went to many schools, as his father was a defence officer. Tarun likes to listen to old Hindi music, Sufi music, Western Classical and Jazz. But when it comes to journalism, Tarun says, “You need many more people to be unafraid.” He has a signature style, which he says is “basically a kind of manifestation of who you are, of your character, what you say, do, wear, even eat.”