2023 SCHOLARSHIP AWARDEE

Anisha Dutta (India)

Anisha Dutta is a New York-based investigative journalist from India with experience spanning nine years as a leading correspondent specializing in the intricate interplay between politics and policy.

Her recent stories have been published in The Guardian, Al Jazeera, Indian Express, Hindustan Times, Economic Times, and The Print.

With a steadfast commitment to uncovering the truth, Anisha has made significant contributions to journalism by meticulously documenting the rise of authoritarianism in South Asia, closely tracking far-right Hindu nationalism, national Indian politics, foreign policy, and international conflicts.

One of Anisha’s recent achievements includes a two-part investigation for The Guardian, delving into the Indian government's classified documents on the complex issue of Kashmir. In June 2022, she also published a special investigation for The Guardian on how the Indian government has been secretly working to keep its reputation as the “world’s largest democracy” alive after being called out by researchers for serious democratic backsliding under the nationalist rule of Narendra Modi.

Anisha enrolled in Columbia University's master's program for political journalism, where she deepened her expertise in political writing and analytical reporting. Prior to her studies at Columbia, Anisha served as an Assistant Editor at the Indian Express, one of India's leading English dailies. In this role, she was instrumental in delivering exclusive scoops on India's right-wing Narendra Modi-led government, shedding light on intricate and fast-paced beats. Her ground-breaking reporting on government letters, revealing India's attempts to influence global democracy rankings, further demonstrated her commitment to uncovering politically sensitive information. 

During her tenure as Special Correspondent in the national political bureau of Hindustan Times, Anisha contributed significantly to the field by breaking essential stories, including her exposé on India's handling of the COVID-19 crisis. Her reporting led to a political uproar, culminating in the Indian government officially acknowledging the death toll among migrant laborers.