Vinod Dua
Encyclopedia
Vinod Dua is one of the best known names of the Indian media. He has been the face of Indian television since 1974. He has seen and been associated with
Indian television’s transition from a government controlled, black and white,
single-channel entity to the present-day multi-channel transnational satellite T.V.industry.
A veteran of thousands of hours of telecasting, Vinod Dua is an anchor, political commentator, election analyst, producer and director.
He was awarded the Padma Shri
for Journalism in 2008.
and went on to obtain his Masters degree in literature, both from the University of Delhi
.
Vinod Dua first appeared on television on November 27, 1974 in Yuva Manch, a Hindi
youth program aired on Doordarshan
(then known as Delhi television). In 1975, he anchored Yuv Jan for the Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (S.I.T.E) telecast for the youth of Raipur, Muzaffarpur
and Jaipur
. In the same year he also began anchoring Jawan Tarang, a youth program of newly commissioned Amritsar
T.V. He continued to anchor youth programs for these channels till 1980. In 1981, he started anchoring the Sunday morning family magazine Aap Ke Liye and continued to do so till 1984. The year 1984 marked a turning point in his career when he co-anchored the election analysis programs on Doordarshan with the noted psephologist Dr. Prannoy Roy
. Since then he has been a regular presence on election analysis programs for different television channels
.
In 1985, Vinod Dua anchored Janvani (translation: People's voice), the first ever program of its kind, where ministers were questioned by common people. This program became a landmark in the history of Indian television, inspiring a series of similar programs in today’s multi-channel scenario. The same year also saw initial openings of Indian television to non-governmental content providers. In 1987, he joined TV TODAY, a venture of the India Today Group, as its chief producer.
In 1988, he launched his own production company ‘The Communication Group’ to produce and anchor programs on current affairs, budget analyses and documentary films. In 1992 he anchored Chakravyuhafor Zee TV
. From 1992 to 1996 he produced Parakh, a weekly current affairs magazine telecast on Doordarshan.
Other notable programs he has anchored include
Vinod Dua is presently associated with NDTV
for daily news and analysis, election and budget analysis. He also produces a weekly show Zaika India Ka for street food lovers.
Indian television’s transition from a government controlled, black and white,
single-channel entity to the present-day multi-channel transnational satellite T.V.industry.
A veteran of thousands of hours of telecasting, Vinod Dua is an anchor, political commentator, election analyst, producer and director.
He was awarded the Padma Shri
Padma Shri
Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan...
for Journalism in 2008.
Early life
Vinod Dua’s early upbringing was in the refugee colonies of Delhi. He originally hails from Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan. He graduated with a degree in English Literature from Hans Raj CollegeHans Raj College
Hans Raj College is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Delhi. This co- educational Institute offers education in all the three streams- arts, science and commerce, and is located on the Mahatma Hans Raj College Road, Kamla Nagar, in the Delhi University’s North campus, and...
and went on to obtain his Masters degree in literature, both from the University of Delhi
University of Delhi
The University of Delhi is a central university situated in Delhi, India and is funded by Government of India. Established in 1922, it offers courses at the undergraduate and post-graduate level. Vice-President of India Mohammad Hamid Ansari is the Chancellor of the university...
.
Career
Vinod Dua was a singer and debater in his school and college days. He was also associated with theater activity in Delhi till the mid-80s. He has written two plays for children, performed by the Sutradhar Puppet Theater of Sri Ram Center for Art and Culture. He was also a member of Theatre Union, a street theatre group which created and performed plays against social problems like dowry.Vinod Dua first appeared on television on November 27, 1974 in Yuva Manch, a Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
youth program aired on Doordarshan
DoorDarshan
Doordarshan is an Indian public service broadcaster, a division of Prasar Bharati. It is one of the largest broadcasting organizations in India in terms of the infrastructure of studios and transmitters. Recently, it has also started Digital Terrestrial Transmitters. On September 15, 2009,...
(then known as Delhi television). In 1975, he anchored Yuv Jan for the Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (S.I.T.E) telecast for the youth of Raipur, Muzaffarpur
Muzaffarpur
Muzaffarpur Town is a town in Muzaffarpur district in the Indian state of Bihar. It serves as the headquarters of Muzaffarpur district and Tirhut division....
and Jaipur
Jaipur
Jaipur , also popularly known as the Pink City, is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Rajasthan. Founded on 18 November 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the ruler of Amber, the city today has a population of more than 3.1 million....
. In the same year he also began anchoring Jawan Tarang, a youth program of newly commissioned Amritsar
Amritsar
Amritsar is a city in the northern part of India and is the administrative headquarters of Amritsar district in the state of Punjab, India. The 2001 Indian census reported the population of the city to be over 1,500,000, with that of the entire district numbering 3,695,077...
T.V. He continued to anchor youth programs for these channels till 1980. In 1981, he started anchoring the Sunday morning family magazine Aap Ke Liye and continued to do so till 1984. The year 1984 marked a turning point in his career when he co-anchored the election analysis programs on Doordarshan with the noted psephologist Dr. Prannoy Roy
Prannoy Roy
Prannoy L Roy, Ph.D is an Indian journalist and media journalist. He is the founder and Executive Chairperson of New Delhi Television .-Early life:...
. Since then he has been a regular presence on election analysis programs for different television channels
Television channel
A television channel is a physical or virtual channel over which a television station or television network is distributed. For example, in North America, "channel 2" refers to the broadcast or cable band of 54 to 60 MHz, with carrier frequencies of 55.25 MHz for NTSC analog video and...
.
In 1985, Vinod Dua anchored Janvani (translation: People's voice), the first ever program of its kind, where ministers were questioned by common people. This program became a landmark in the history of Indian television, inspiring a series of similar programs in today’s multi-channel scenario. The same year also saw initial openings of Indian television to non-governmental content providers. In 1987, he joined TV TODAY, a venture of the India Today Group, as its chief producer.
In 1988, he launched his own production company ‘The Communication Group’ to produce and anchor programs on current affairs, budget analyses and documentary films. In 1992 he anchored Chakravyuhafor Zee TV
Zee TV
Zee TV is an India-based satellite television channel owned by Zee Entertainment Enterprises based in Mumbai, Maharashtra, which broadcasts various programmes in Hindi and other regional languages of India. Broadcasting is also present in various nations of South Asia, Europe, the Middle East,...
. From 1992 to 1996 he produced Parakh, a weekly current affairs magazine telecast on Doordarshan.
Other notable programs he has anchored include
- Tasveer-e-Hind (1997–98) on DD3,
- Chunav Chunauti (March, 1998) on Sony Entertainment TelevisionSony Entertainment Television (India)This article is about the SET channel in India. For the Indian version broadcasted worldwide, see Sony Entertainment Television Asia.Sony Entertainment Television, or SET, is a Hindi-language based general entertainment television channel in India. It was launched in October 1996 and is owned by...
, - Election analysis (1999) on Zee NewsZee NewsZee News, the news and current affairs channel, is the oldest channel of Zee News Ltd, founded in 1992. It was the first 24-hour Hindi current affairs and news channel in India. In spite of being the only pay channel in its genre, it maintains its position among the top three Hindi news channels in...
, - Pratidin and Parakh (2000–2003) on Sahara TV
- and Kaun Banega Mukhyamantri (2003) on STAR NewsSTAR NewsSTAR News is the Hindi language news channel of STAR TV based in Mumbai. The channel is a co-production of STAR Group and ABP Pvt. Ltd...
Vinod Dua is presently associated with NDTV
NDTV
NDTV is an Indian commercial broadcasting television network founded in 1988. It was founded by Prannoy Roy, an eminent journalist and current chairman and director of NDTV Group. NDTV currently has more than 1,000 employees producing news from over twenty locations in India...
for daily news and analysis, election and budget analysis. He also produces a weekly show Zaika India Ka for street food lovers.
Awards
- The first electronic media journalist awarded by esteemed BD Goenka Award for excellence in journalism in 1996.
- Awarded the Padma ShriPadma ShriPadma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan...
for Journalism in 2008.