A special report on Madhya Pradesh Foundation Day

Shivani Bhardwaj

Renowned journalist Lalit Shastri, with an impressive career spanning decades, stands out as one of the most dedicated reporters to cover Madhya Pradesh since its inception. Notably, he served as the head of The Hindu bureau in Madhya Pradesh from 1991 to 2009 and later as the head of Bhopal Bureau of The Asian Age from 2010 to 2014.

Shastri’s reputation as an investigative journalist extends internationally, earning him respect and recognition. Beyond journalism, he wears many hats, including that of a conservationist, wildlife filmmaker, author, and Impact Communication Advisor and Mentor for the global fashion brand Looms of Ladakh.

In November 2022, Shastri had the honor of addressing Italian MPs in the Chamber of Deputies in Rome, where he shared his expertise on the Bhopal gas disaster.

Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee releasing the book “Political Mirage-50 years after India Became Republic” in June 2000

During Digvijay Singh’s tenure as Chief Minister in the 1990s, Shastri made a significant impact with his fearless reporting for The Hindu. His articles shed light on corruption and lack of accountability, leading to a collection of these exposés being published as a book titled “Political Mirage,” which was unveiled by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in June 2000.

One of Shastri’s remarkable achievements was exposing the fertiliser subsidy scam in the early ’90s, prompting a complete overhaul of the national subsidy regime. His hard-hitting stories also resulted in the removal of the State Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police in the aftermath of the post-Ayodhya riots. This was followed by another story that led to the dismissal of the Madhya Pradesh Governor during the extended President’s Rule in mid-1993.

Clipping from The Hindu, 1 January 1993

It’s worthwhile to note that there was a front page news in Times of India on 7 June 2012. It’s heading was: “Post Muslim cop in minority heavy area”. In this context, it may be noted that while covering Madhya Pradesh for The Hindu, Shastri had done a piece that revealed how the then Governor of Madhya Pradesh Kunwar Mehmood Ali khan, during President’s Rule, had communalised the Bhopal police stations by posting Muslim SHOs in affected areas after the 1992 riots in many cities in the wake of the demolition of the Babri structure in Ayodhya. Shastri’s report in The Hindu resulted in the summary removal of the erring Governor at the initiative of the then Prime Minister PV Narsimharao. The PM had read the report the day he was leaving on 3-day tour of UAE in July 1993. He had marked the newsreport and on his return, the clipping was placed before him and within a matter of few days the Governor was sacked (Shastri was informed about this by an umimpeachable source in the PMO) . .the Times of India news amply reveals how things had gone heywire during UPA-2 when Manmohan Singh was Prime Minister and media was playing to the tune of powers that be.

Shastri’s contributions extend to documentary filmmaking, with notable works like “The Tiger – Indicator of Healthy Forest Ecosystem,” “Bhopal Disaster-Toxic Waste,” and “Last of the Gharial,” which led to a total ban on sand mining in the Chambal River. He has appeared as an expert in the Belgian TV documentary “India for Beginners.”

As an author, Shastri has penned insightful books and investigative reports, including “The Vanishing Stripes,” “Bhopal Disaster—an eyewitness account,” “Political Mirage – 50 years after India became a Republic,” and “Don of Medical Council of India.” His writings have had a significant impact on issues of transparency, governance, and corruption.

Furthermore, Shastri is the Founder President of “Crusade for Revival of Environment and Wildlife” (CREW), a not-for-profit organization that organizes the Central Indian Highlands Wildlife Festival, promoting wildlife conservation and awareness. This initiative has helped in igniting the potential of some of the best wildlife documentary makers who have left a huge impact on the global stage.

Shastri’s involvement extends to judging roles, where he served as a judge for the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival 2017 and Jackson Hole Science Media Awards 2016. He is a member of the jury for the Madhya Pradesh Government’s Maharana Pratap Bravery Award and a founder member of the Child Rights Observatory Madhya Pradesh, supported by UNICEF.

Shastri was nominated by Union Ministry of External Affairs to be part of Media delegation to Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam for ASEAN India post-ministerial conference (June 24 to July 2, 2013). He has been in the Board of Governors of MP State Tiger Foundation for mutiple terms and was also a member of the Madhya Pradesh State Environment Council.

Lalit Shastri’s dedication and excellence in journalism have been recognized with the K.P. Narayanan Award for Excellence in Journalism, cementing his legacy as a trailblazer in the field of journalism and conservation.