Arun Shourie

Arun Shourie is former Union Minister of the Government of India and one of India’s most renowned and uncompromising journalists. Shourie’s involvement in politics has led to significant contributions in shaping the country’s policies and procedures. From 1999–2004, he held several significant ministerial portfolios. As the Minister of Disinvestment, he undertook the difficult task of privatizing a number of public sector companies and is well known as the privatization czar of India. The procedures developed by him for disinvestment are now being emulated in other parts of the world. As Minister of Communications and Information Technology, he implemented policies that helped the telecommunication industry in India grow rapidly and quadrupled the use of cellular phones.

A prolific writer, he has written several articles and books including Worshipping False Gods and The World of Fatwas. Shourie previously served as an economist with the World Bank between 1967 and 1978, and as a consultant to the Indian Planning Commission from 1972 to 1974. He was also the Editor of The Indian Express. Educated in Delhi at Modern School and St. Stephens, he went on to earn his Doctorate in Economics from Syracuse University. He is the recipient of some of the country’s most prestigious awards including the Padma Bhushan, Magsaysay Award, Dadabhai Naoroji Award, Astor Award, and International Editor of the Year Award.

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