Mumbai: Arnab’s Republic has added another talented veteran, the Bangalore based historian and political commentator, Vikram Sampath to their team of contributors to bolster the strength of its Editorial team that has already roped in big names like Chitra Subramaniam, Gaurav Arya, Abhishek Kapoor, Aishwarya Kapoor, Prema Sreedevi, Snehesh Alex Philip, Harharan from Thanthi TV and Niranjan Narayanaswamy.
Apparently Vikram Sampath is a multi talented personality with likeminded zeal to partner with Arnab in de-Lutyenizing the Indian News Media. He will be playing the role of a contributor in the area of Political Analysis and various other issues based occasions.
Speaking on Vikram Sampath’s association with Republic’s editorial family – Arnab Goswami said, “Vikram Sampath was a talent who was neglected and suppressed by the National Media due to his straight forward approach that didn’t go well with the biased Indian News Media. We at Republic are a team of new age journalists who want redefine the meaning of journalism in India that is corrupted by lobbying practices in Delhi Gymkhana. Vikram is one such talent with outstanding knowledge and in-depth analytical sense that will add great value to our team that wants to speak the voice of the nation”
Vikram was awarded the Sahitya Akademi’s first Yuva Puraskar and the ARSC International Award for Excellence in Historical research in New York for his book on Gauhar Jaan. He was one among the crusaders who were up-against the Award-Wapsi drama enacted by a team of vested interest people.
Vikram Sampath who was delighted to partner with Arnab’s Republic said, “I am delighted to join the Republic Movement initiated by Arnab. The country is in grave need of revolution in News Media that is dominated by vested interest and favouritism. I strongly believe that Republic movement will surely change the face of Journalism in India and thanks to Arnab for making me a part of the this revolutionary movement.”
Vikram Sampath is the author of three acclaimed books: Splendours of Royal Mysore: the Untold Story of the Wodeyars on the Mysore royal family; “My Name Is Gauhar Jaan: The Life and Times of a Musician”- the biography of India’s first recording superstar Gauhar Jaan of Calcutta and “Voice of the Veena: S Balachander – A Biography” the story of eminent veena maestro late Dr. S Balachander.
Vikram was among the 4 writers and artists to be selected by the Honourable President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee as a Writer-in-Residence, to stay at the Rashtrapati Bhawan for 3 weeks, in 2015.
Vikram has been part of several Government Committees–the Central Government’s I&B Ministry Committee on Archives for AIR & DD, Dr Sam Pitroda Committee on archives, Karnataka Government Tourism Vision Group, Karnataka Knowledge Commission etc and represents India in the UNESCO body, ISME (International Society for Music Education). He has established the Archive of Indian Music, India’s first digital sound archive for vintage recordings, and is the Founder-Director of the Bangalore Literature Festival.
He is an engineer /mathematician BITS-Pilani and an MBA in Finance SP Jain, Mumbai. He is also a trained Carnatic vocalist trained under several eminent gurus and writes regularly for newspapers and magazines.