Rajat Sharma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rajat Sharma
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Rajat Sharma in 2019
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| Born | 18 February 1957 New Delhi, India
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| Nationality | Indian |
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| Occupation | |
| Organization | India TV |
| Spouse(s) |
Ritu Dhawan
(m. 1997) |
| Awards | Padma Bhushan (2015) |
Rajat Sharma, born on February 18, 1957, is a well-known Indian journalist and businessman. He is the chairman and Editor-in-chief of India TV, a popular news channel in India. He is most famous for hosting the TV show Aap Ki Adalat, which started in 1993. This show is one of the longest-running interview shows in Indian television history. In 2015, he received the Padma Bhushan, which is one of India's highest awards for civilians.
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Early Life and Education
Sharma was born in Sabzi Mandi, Delhi. He grew up with six brothers and one sister. He went to Sanatan Dharm Middle School and Ramjas School, Pusa Road.
During his school years, he became involved in a student movement led by Jayprakash Narayan. He also worked with a small newspaper called 'Mashaal'. In 1975, during a time of political change in India, he was briefly held for his student activities.
After his release, he continued his studies at the Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) and the University of Delhi. In 1977, he was chosen as the General Secretary of the Delhi University Students Union (DUSU).
Career in Journalism
After finishing his studies, Rajat Sharma began his career in journalism. In the late 1970s, he worked as a researcher for a political writer named Janardan Thakur. Soon, he became a reporter for a magazine called Onlooker. By 1984, he was the chief of the bureau, and in 1985, he became its editor in Mumbai.
He then became the editor of the newspaper Sunday Observer in 1987. Later, he was the editor of The Daily until 1992.
Aap Ki Adalat: A Unique Show
In 1993, Rajat Sharma started hosting Aap Ki Adalat on Zee TV. This show is unique because it's an interview program set up like a courtroom. The word Adalat means court in Hindi. In the show, Sharma asks famous people questions as if they are on trial, and the audience acts as the jury. This format made the show very popular.
Founding India TV
About ten years later, in 2004, he co-founded a news channel called India TV with his wife, Ritu Dhawan. Today, he is still the chairman and Editor-in-chief of India TV.
Leadership in News Broadcasting
In May 2023, Rajat Sharma took legal action against someone using names similar to his show. The court agreed with him and ordered the person to stop using those names and his images.
Sharma has also spoken out about "deepfake" videos, which are fake videos made using artificial intelligence. He asked the government to help stop these videos from spreading, especially after he himself was targeted by a fake video. The court agreed that this is an important issue.
On July 9, 2024, he was chosen as the president of the News Broadcasters & Digital Association (NBDA). This is the largest group of news broadcasters and digital media companies in India.
Awards and Recognition
- Padma Bhushan (2015): The Government of India honored him with this award for his important contributions to journalism.
Defamation Case
In June 2024, Rajat Sharma faced claims from some political leaders. They said he used inappropriate language during a live broadcast. Sharma then filed a defamation lawsuit in the Delhi High Court. He asked for the removal of social media posts and videos related to these claims. The court ruled in his favor, stating that the material could harm his reputation. The court ordered the removal of the tweets and asked social media platforms to make the videos private until the case is fully resolved.
