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About Rajiv Shah

Former political editor of the Times of India (TOI), Rajiv covered the state government between late 1997 and early 2013 as the daily's representative in the Gujarat capital, Gandhinagar. In formal journalism since 1979, Rajiv believes in what George Orwell said, "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed: everything else is public relations."
Before he joined the Times of India as assistant editor in 1993, he was special correspondent in Moscow, covering Mikhail Gorbachev's rise and fall between 1986 and 1993 for Patriot, Delhi's semi-Left paper, and weekly newsmagazine Link. Though ideologies have fascinated him, he feels, in the changed scenario, they are losing ground. And what's taking the space? "I'm a newsman. How do I know?" he says.
As a blogger, Rajiv was associated with TOI's online blogging site, where his column was called True Lies. His stories/blogs (archived here) have been a modest attempt to bring forth impressions of the life around and efforts of the establishment to influence it. 
One who has had close access to the political and bureaucratic elite in the Gujarat capital, one of Rajiv's aims has been to find out if there are any ideological considerations behind what all one seeks to do. But in a high-voltage political world, do ideologies matter? Or, is objective reality so powerful that ideologies are forced to mould and bend? He seeks to find an answer – indeed, not as an ideologue.
Rajiv currently edits Counterview, a purely voluntary news and views site, a news blog not associated or supported by any organisation, and Counterview.in, its open forum.
Contact Rajiv Shah here: counterview.editor@gmail.com

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