The career of Gauri Lankesh spanned 35 years of journalism, culminating in her leadership of a Kannada weekly publication that challenged the political establishment in India. Born in Bengaluru in 1962, she utilized her position as an editor to critique right-wing extremism, caste-based social hierarchies, and the activities of prominent religious and political figures across the state of Karnataka.
Early Career and Lankesh Patrike
Lankesh began her professional path as a journalist with The Times of India in Bengaluru. Following a period in Delhi working for the Sunday magazine and an Eenadu television channel, she returned to her home state. Upon the death of her father, P. Lankesh, she assumed the role of editor for his publication, Lankesh Patrike. Internal disputes with her brother, Indrajit, over editorial direction and ideological content led to a public separation in 2005. She subsequently established her own independent weekly, Gauri Lankesh Patrike, to continue her specific brand of investigative reporting.
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Throughout her career, Lankesh maintained a consistent opposition to right-wing Hindutva politics. Her activism included advocacy for the Lingayat community’s status, leadership of the communal harmony platform Komu Souharda Vedike, and critiques regarding the treatment of women within various social systems. She scrutinized the conduct of political leaders such as D. K. Shivakumar and challenged religious figures accused of sexual assault, including the head of Ramachandrapura Math. Her public criticism of the Bharatiya Janata Party often led to intense political friction, particularly regarding her role on a committee tasked with negotiating the surrender of Naxalites.
Legal Challenges and Final Years
The focus of her investigative journalism resulted in numerous defamation suits filed against her, notably by Raghaveshwara Bharati and various local BJP officials. A 2008 report alleging that BJP workers had defrauded a jeweller triggered prolonged legal proceedings that reached the High Court in 2016. On 5 September 2017, she was murdered outside her residence in Rajarajeshwari Nagar. Her contribution to freedom of the press and her advocacy for marginalized groups were recognized internationally, most notably through the Anna Politkovskaya Award.
Fast facts
- Born: 1962, Bengaluru
- Died: 5 September 2017, Rajarajeshwari Nagar
- Primary Languages: Kannada and English
- Key Publication: Gauri Lankesh Patrike
- Activism Focus: Freedom of the press and communal harmony
- Award: Anna Politkovskaya Award
- Citizenship: India
Questions readers ask
What was the primary focus of Gauri Lankesh's journalism?
She focused on critiquing right-wing Hindu extremism, caste-based discrimination, and the actions of powerful political and religious figures.
Why did she break away from her family's newspaper?
She developed ideological differences with her brother, Indrajit, regarding the paper's coverage of political issues and Naxalite activity, leading her to start her own publication.
