Arun Shourie

Arun Shourie is among India's best known and controversial commentators on current and political affairs. He backs his distinctive writing and his conscientiously independent perspective with rigorous analysis and meticulous research.

Born in Jalandhar[?], Punjab, India in 1941, he studied at Modern School and St. Stephen's College in Delhi. He obtained his doctorate in Economics from Syracuse University in the United States. He has been an economist with the World Bank, a consultant to the Planning Commision, India and editor of the Indian Express[?] (a leading Indian newspaper).

His writings have gained him a vast following around the country, as well as several national and international honours. Among these are the Padma Bhushan[?], the Magasaysay Award[?], the Dadabhai Naoroji Award[?], the Astor Award[?], the K.S. Hegde Award[?] and the International Editor of the Year Award[?]. The Federation of Indian Publishers[?] recently conferred The Freedom to Publish Award[?] on him.

Arun Shourie has been a member of the Rajya Sabha and is currently (03/2003) the Minister of Dis-investment, Communication and Information Technology in the Government of India[?].

He has written 15 books which include "Worshiping False Gods[?]", "Eminent Historians - Their Technology, Their Line, Their Fraud[?]", "Missionaries in India[?]" and "The World of Fatwas[?]" among others.