Chandan Mitra
Encyclopedia
Chandan Mitra (born December 12, 1955) is an Indian
journalist, presently editor and managing director of The Pioneer
newspaper in Delhi, India. He was nominated as a member of the Rajya Sabha
during August 2003 to August 2009. He was elected to another term in the Rajya Sabha, as a Bharatiya Janata Party
MP from Madhya Pradesh
, in June 2010.
Mitra was educated at La Martiniere College
, Kolkata
, where he was the Founder's Gold Medallist in 1971. He was a batchmate of Swapan Dasgupta
and Paranjoy Guha Thakurta at La Martiniere, and all three went up to St. Stephen's College
, Delhi University, after leaving school. At St.Stephen's, Mitra and Shashi Tharoor
were to become great friends and Mitra even became campaign manager for Tharoor's successful campaign to become President of the college's student union. Mitra received an MA and M.Phil in History at Delhi University as well. He taught for a short while at Hansraj College
.
In 1984 he was awarded a D.Phil degree at Oxford University, where he was a member of Magdalen College
, for the thesis "Political mobilisation and the nationalism movement in India – a study of eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, 1936-1942" written under supervision of the noted Indian historian Dr Tapan Raychaudhuri
.
Mitra started in journalism as Assistant Editor with The Statesman
in Kolkata
before he moved to the Times of India in Delhi and then The Sunday Observer; he went on to become Editor of the paper which was funded by Reliance Industries
. After Reliance stopped funding, Mitra moved to the Hindustan Times
as Executive Editor. Mitra left to join The Pioneer as Editor, and eventually bought control of the newspaper from the Thapar family in 1998 when industrialist L. M. Thapar
decided to cut his losses.
He wrote a well-received history of his alma mater, La Martiniere, titled Constant Glory, for the 150th anniversary of the school's founding in 1986.
Mitra is married to Shobori Ganguly. He has two sons from a previous marriage.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
journalist, presently editor and managing director of The Pioneer
The Pioneer (daily)
The Pioneer is a medium-sized English language newspaper in India.It is published from multiple locations in India, including Delhi. It is the second oldest English language newspaper in India that is operational...
newspaper in Delhi, India. He was nominated as a member of the Rajya Sabha
Rajya Sabha
The Rajya Sabha or Council of States is the upper house of the Parliament of India. Rajya means "state," and Sabha means "assembly hall" in Sanskrit. Membership is limited to 250 members, 12 of whom are chosen by the President of India for their expertise in specific fields of art, literature,...
during August 2003 to August 2009. He was elected to another term in the Rajya Sabha, as a Bharatiya Janata Party
Bharatiya Janata Party
The Bharatiya Janata Party ,; translation: Indian People's Party) is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Indian National Congress. Established in 1980, it is India's second largest political party in terms of representation in the parliament...
MP from Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
, in June 2010.
Mitra was educated at La Martiniere College
La Martiniere College
La Martiniere is a non-denominational public school in India and in France .La Martiniere Schools were founded posthumously by Major General Claude Martin in the early 19th century. Martin had acquired a large fortune while serving the Nawab of Awadh Asaf-ud-Daula and bequeathed a major part of...
, Kolkata
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
, where he was the Founder's Gold Medallist in 1971. He was a batchmate of Swapan Dasgupta
Swapan Dasgupta
Swapan Dasgupta is a senior conservative Indian journalist. At various points in his career, he has held senior editorial posts at The Statesman, The Telegraph, The Times of India, The Indian Express and most recently India Today, where he was Managing Editor till 2003...
and Paranjoy Guha Thakurta at La Martiniere, and all three went up to St. Stephen's College
St. Stephen's College, Delhi
St. Stephen's College is a constituent college of the University of Delhi located in Delhi, India. The college admits both undergraduates and post-graduates, and awards degrees under the purview of the University. Famous for its rich history and many traditions, St...
, Delhi University, after leaving school. At St.Stephen's, Mitra and Shashi Tharoor
Shashi Tharoor
Shashi Tharoor is an Indian politician and a Member of Parliament from the Thiruvananthapuram constituency in Kerala...
were to become great friends and Mitra even became campaign manager for Tharoor's successful campaign to become President of the college's student union. Mitra received an MA and M.Phil in History at Delhi University as well. He taught for a short while at Hansraj College
Hansraj College
Hans Raj College is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Delhi. This co- educational Institute offers education in all the three streams- arts, science and commerce, and is located on the Mahatma Hans Raj College Road, Kamla Nagar, in the Delhi University’s North campus, and...
.
In 1984 he was awarded a D.Phil degree at Oxford University, where he was a member of Magdalen College
Magdalen College
Magdalen College or Magdalene College may refer to:*Magdalen College, Oxford - a constituent college of the University of Oxford*Magdalene College, Cambridge - a constituent college of the University of Cambridge...
, for the thesis "Political mobilisation and the nationalism movement in India – a study of eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, 1936-1942" written under supervision of the noted Indian historian Dr Tapan Raychaudhuri
Tapan Raychaudhuri
Tapan Raychaudhuri is an Indian historian specialising in British Indian history, Indian economic history and the History of Bengal.-Background:...
.
Mitra started in journalism as Assistant Editor with The Statesman
The Statesman
The Statesman is an Indian English-language broadsheet daily newspaper founded in 1875 and published simultaneously in Kolkata, New Delhi, Siliguri and Bhubaneswar. The Statesman is owned by The Statesman Ltd., its headquarters at Statesman House, Chowringhee Square, Calcutta and its national...
in Kolkata
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
before he moved to the Times of India in Delhi and then The Sunday Observer; he went on to become Editor of the paper which was funded by Reliance Industries
Reliance Industries
Reliance Industries Limited is an Indian conglomerate company headquartered at Mumbai, India. The company operates through three business segments: petrochemicals, refining, and oil and gas, other segment of the company includes textile, retail business, special economic zone development and...
. After Reliance stopped funding, Mitra moved to the Hindustan Times
Hindustan Times
Hindustan Times is an Indian English-language daily newspaper founded in 1924 with roots in the Indian independence movement of the period ....
as Executive Editor. Mitra left to join The Pioneer as Editor, and eventually bought control of the newspaper from the Thapar family in 1998 when industrialist L. M. Thapar
L. M. Thapar
Lalit Mohan Thapar , often referred to by his initials LMT, headed the LM Thapar Group of companies. He was born to Karam Chand Thapar, the founder of the Thapar Group of companies that owned industrial powerhouses such as Crompton Greaves, BILT and JCT Mills. Inder Mohan Thapar, Brij Mohan Thapar...
decided to cut his losses.
He wrote a well-received history of his alma mater, La Martiniere, titled Constant Glory, for the 150th anniversary of the school's founding in 1986.
Mitra is married to Shobori Ganguly. He has two sons from a previous marriage.