Tanish Sharma, a Class IX student at Auckland House School for Boys in Shimla, has achieved eighth place in the finals of the inaugural Invitational India Investigative Journalism Competition for Young Journalists. The competition was organized by the Centre for Investigative Journalism (CIJ), New Delhi, in partnership with the Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN).
Competition Scale and Achievement
Tanish competed against more than 25,000 participants from across India, including professional journalists, to secure a spot among the country's top performers. His award-winning investigative article examined the persistent issue of caste-based discrimination, a socially sensitive topic that required extensive fieldwork, interviews, and careful documentation. According to Tanish, working on the story exposed him to the realities of investigative reporting, where earning people's trust and presenting facts objectively proved as important as the writing itself. He described the experience as one of the most valuable learning opportunities of his young career.
Background and Inspirations
Hailing from Rohru in Shimla district, Tanish has steadily built a reputation as a promising young writer. He is the self-published author of three books: The Trapped Soul, The Stupid and the Annoyed, and Everyday Facade, an essay collection inspired by his observations of everyday life and society. Beyond writing, he has performed open-mic comedy at various cafés in Shimla, reflecting his passion for communication and public engagement. Tanish credits veteran journalist Ravish Kumar as his biggest inspiration, noting that Kumar's people-centric journalism shaped his understanding of the profession. Political analyst Yogendra Yadav has also influenced his thinking, particularly Yadav's emphasis on grassroots realities and informed public discourse.
Future Plans
Tanish says that while journalism remains an enduring passion, he plans to pursue law as his undergraduate degree before preparing for the Civil Services Examination. He believes legal education will provide a strong foundation for public service while complementing his interest in governance and constitutional values. He also intends to become a regular newspaper columnist and continue writing on societal issues. “A journalist’s responsibility is not to showcase his own knowledge but to simplify complex issues for ordinary people. When citizens understand issues clearly, they can make informed decisions and that is how journalism contributes to a better society,” he added.
