Writer, photographer, explorer, globe trotter, public speaker, communications specialist and brand guru Kounteya Sinha is a multiple award-winning journalist and one of India’s most respected and followed names in the world of reportage. Kounteya was the UK and Europe editor of The Times of India based out of London from 2011-2015. Before that, he was a Senior Assistant Editor in the national and political news bureau of the Times of India in Delhi.
Kounteya is also a contributing editor of the world’s greatest magazine – the National Geographic and has travelled to over 70 countries. He has to his credit a 16,400 articles – from foreign policy, defence, espionage to arts and culture. The Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi recently hailed his work on the diaspora live on television and radio during his famous “Mann Ki Baat” which was viewed by millions. He has interviewed dozens of presidents and prime ministers, Nobel laureates and the who’s who of the world.
Kounteya is now an internationally acclaimed photographer. He is presently on a year-long sabbatical finishing six books. Kounteya is now also revered as a brand guru where he advises high net worth individuals and organisations on how to improve their brand presence and value.
1. Which place, or city or country do you most feel at home in?
The one I am going to next. I am an urban nomad, constantly moving.
After staring at sunsets in one continent and waking up to sunrises in another, I am constantly faced with a single question - where truly is home?
When I am in Britain, I long to be in the undulating plains of Spain. When I get there, I feel like enjoying the warmth of the winter sun in Kolkata. I travel in search of home only to sometimes find peace and warmth in an alien country.
2. What are your proudest achievements?
Having had a privilege of being a journalist and a photographer – to be able to dig out a story that is trying so hard to hide and tell it to the world gives me my greatest sense of achievement. I became the UK and Europe correspondent of The Times of India in 2011 at the age of 32.
I have interviewed presidents, prime ministers, royalty, almost 50 Nobel laureates, whistle blowers like Julian Assange, tech giants like Bill Gates and his wife Melinda among a few.
I was the first Indian journalist to report on the Nobel Prize from Stockholm three years in a row and also covered the recent Russian conflict in Ukraine from ground zero.
Recently, I became the world’s first European Union Fellow on diaspora under which I travelled to 11 European countries over three months discovering and documenting the unknown lives of Indians who have made EU their home.
3. What inspires you?
The Impossible. I have a constant need to push the limits. Whatever seems undoable, unachievable and intimidating appeals to me the most. To be able to achieve a goal considered improbable keeps me going. I need a constant challenge.
4. What has been biggest obstacle in your career?
Time. There is so much to do, such little time.
5. Who has been the biggest influence on your career to date?
Some great people and the open road have been my greatest teachers and influencers. I have been very lucky to have worked directly with some of the greatest names in the field of journalism – M J Akbar and Tikli Basu. My life was touched most by Jaideep Bose (Jojo), Arindam Sengupta and Diwakar Asthana. Everything I am today is directly because of these three people. They not only taught me journalism, they also gave me the greatest lessons in life – the tenets of humility and hard work. They were my guardians and my mentors, my family and my soul mates.
6. If you were Prime Minister, what one aspect would you change?
Poverty, inequality, wastage of food, intolerance based on religion, caste, creed and colour. Democracy does not mean tolerance always. I wouldn’t keep terrorists like Kasab as a state guest feeding him. I wouldn’t entertain rapists and acid throwers. They are best wiped out. You can’t reform such people.
7. What is the best aspect about your current role?
The variety of it is what I like most. No single day is the same as the other.
I am on a sabbatical now finishing four large book projects. I have six large photo shows planned for 2018.
I have chalked out a plan to travel across 22 new countries in 2018 taking me closer to my goal of having travelled the whole world by 2022.
I am running a highly successful programme called LOF (Leap of Faith) that helps women achieve their dreams.
8. What is the worst aspect?
There is nothing I don’t like about my life now. I am finally in the Utopia of my mind.
9. What are your long term goals?
In the long run, I want to base myself in the world’s worst conflict zones, telling stories of hope and survival.
I want to make films, write books, teach in India’s villages, start something to make the old feel wanted, help the poor by teaching them skills and above all rehabilitate women and children who have suffered physical abuse.
Maybe someday I will come to Britain and run for elections and join into the great Indian success story played out by so many before me.
10. If you were marooned on a desert island, which historical figure would you like to spend your time with and why?
God. I am really keen to know how he/she keeps track of everyone’s lives and finds time to manage them individually.
