Hari Kumar

I am a New York Times reporter based in New Delhi, India, covering news in what is the world’s most populous country.

What I Cover

I report about breaking news in India as well as the changes taking place in Indian society, the economy and the government. I also cover India-Pakistan relations, the ongoing conflict in Kashmir and the diplomatic challenges between India and China.

My Background

Before I became a journalist, I worked as an activist in the field of bonded labor and child labor. That work took me to many villages where I witnessed the hard economic and social realities in India. I then began freelancing as a reporter/researcher for several news organizations, including ZDF, a German TV broadcaster. I joined The Times in 1997. At The Times, I have reported on major events in South Asia, including the 2004 tsunami, the earthquake in Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, and cyclones in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. I also extensively reported the ground situation in India during the Covid pandemic.

I was born in Meerut district of western Uttar Pradesh and got my schooling at different places in the region. I did my undergraduate and postgraduate education at Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Agra, and received a master’s degree in sociology. I also received a law degree from the University of Delhi.

Journalistic Ethics

I strive to be as accurate as possible in my work. That requires checking facts from different sources. I do not accept any hospitality or favors during work situations and reporting trips. I try to understand all the aspects of my subject, I identify myself as a reporter for The Times when I do my reporting. You can learn more about The Times’s ethics guidelines here.

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