A. Surya Prakash

For more than fifty years, A. Surya Prakash has written about one subject above all: how India’s democracy actually works, and how it could work better. In 2025 he was named for the Padma Bhushan in the field of literature and education, from Karnataka ^[1].

A reporter of Parliament

Arkalgud Anantaramaiah Surya Prakash was born on 9 February 1950. He studied science at Bangalore University and sociology at Mysore University, and later earned a D.Litt. from Tumkur University for a thesis on the working of India’s Parliament ^[2].

His career in journalism took him through some of the country’s best-known newsrooms. He was chief of bureau of The Indian Express in New Delhi, political editor of the Eenadu group, India editor of Asia Times, executive editor of The Pioneer and editor of Zee News ^[2].

Books on democracy

His 1995 book What Ails Indian Parliament looked at how MPs juggle their work in the two Houses with the demands of their constituencies ^[2]. In 2013, Public Money, Private Agenda examined how the MP Local Area Development Scheme was used, and in 2017 he wrote The Emergency: Indian Democracy’s Darkest Hour ^[2].

The citation credits his long campaign for a more efficient and open Parliament with contributing to two changes in 1993: the system of department-related standing committees, and the televising of parliamentary proceedings ^[2].

Public roles

Surya Prakash later chaired Prasar Bharati, India’s public service broadcaster. As vice-chairman of the executive council of the Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library, he played a key part in shaping the Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya, and he chaired the committee that merged Lok Sabha TV and Rajya Sabha TV into Sansad TV ^[2].

His other honours include the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award in 2010 ^[2].