Page 67 - English Tehelka Issue 5 - March 15, 2018

MEDIA

egendary American gained overnight national
whistleblower Ed- and international acclaim
ward Snowden had as a journalist in a somewhat
reacted in the wake unusually short career span?
Lof registration of a “I simply did a story as part
police case against The Tribune of my daily work. But yes,
reporter Rachna Khaira for I never expected it would
her investigative story expos- get such large scale recogni-
ing chinks in India’s Aadhaar tion though I was aware it
system, saying such journal- was something sensitive I
ists actually deserve an award was working on,” she said.
and not punishment. Her equation with colleagues
Following it up though not is as it was earlier even after
necessarily on Snowden’s acquiring, as one may put
nudging, Harish Khare, it, a kind of celebrity-journal-
the Editor-in-Chief of her ist status. Probably, this is
employer organization her nature — unruffled, cool
befittingly awarded her a and unpretentious. And
cash prize of 50,000 for the which is why her responses
story which shook the Indian
establishment and caused
ripples worldwide especially ‘Not scared of fIr as I dId Only a few
in the media. This gesture by years-old in
Khare in his personal capacity
even before his organization NothINg wroNg’: the profession
could come up with the idea and Rachna
is surely commendable and it aadhaar-fame jourNalIst
came forth because Rachna has become a
worked hard to earn it. trend-setter,
This monetary reward is In the news across the world for her investigative
not a one-time inspiration. a huge source
Naming it as Editor’s Choice, story on UIDAI security breach and Aadhar of motivation
Khare declared in an in-house data leak, Rachna Khaira has already become a
communication that he trend-setter and a source of motivation for others for others
has decided to institute this
cash award for the best story with little experience like her, writes Raju William
matching his expectations.
Khaira is not only its first other organizations including against me in Aadhaar data are uncalculated, clear and
recipient, she has also become a news agency. leak story because I knew I did honest.
the inspiration for instituting A few minutes into a nothing wrong,” she said. “Public and national inter-
this best story award at The conversation with her is It is not the first time that est is what occupies my mind
Tribune. enough to get an idea of the this Delhi University gradu- whenever I do a story,” said
Only a few years-old in stuff this go-getter journalist ate has done an incisive piece this first generation journalist
the profession and she has is made up of. She is so full of journalism. In 2016, she in her family. She, in fact,
become a trend-setter, a huge of energy that hardly leaves exposed violations of adop- obtained a degree in mass
source of motivation for one unimpressed about her tion procedures under the communication to join the
others with as little experi- untiring zeal to work. No bit Juvenile Justice (Care and Army. But she was destined
ence as her. Khaira joined The of information is insignificant Protection of Child) Act, 2000. to pursue journalism as a
Tribune as a stringer in 2013 for her. Unafraid of taking All assignments, even if it is career and marry into a fam-
at Jalandhar and rose to the on challenges and her pen- removal of a few local en- ily of Army officers. “I can
position of senior staff cor- chant to dig out information croachments in her city, are say I stumbled into the field
respondent when taken on is what makes her tempera- important for her, she said. It of active journalism,” she
regular payrolls. Before this, mentally fit for an investiga- is a measure of her passion summed up.
she had worked for nearly tive reporter’s job. “I am not for work.
5-6 years as a field reporter in at all scared of the FIR filed How does she feel having letters@tehelka.com

Tehelka / 15 march 2018 66 www.Tehelka.com

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