Rajesh Mahapatra was the Chief Content Officer at Hindustan Times. From sports to politics, analytics to economics, he has an interest in everything that makes news. He tweets as @rajeshmahapatra
Articles by Rajesh Mahapatra
The Khan of Nabarangpur
In a state often infamous for religious tension, he is one of India’s longest serving MLAs — a Muslim who has never lost in a constituency where Muslims do not make up even 1 per cent of the voters. Rajesh Mahapatra reports.
Updated on Apr 05, 2009 11:17 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Rajesh Mahapatra, Nabarangpur, Orissa
There’s no hunger in hunger capital
Behind India’s back, Kalahandi has transformed beyond recognition. And voters won’t be pacified by free grain any more. Now, they want a university, a rail network, better prices for produce. Rajesh Mahapatra reports.
Updated on Apr 03, 2009 03:40 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Rajesh Mahapatra, Cuttack
At the headquarters of rage, an island of calm
The Daringibadi area saw no rioting when the rest of Orissa’s troubled Kandhamal district was burning. It has zero tolerance for religious hatred. And it wants peace for votes, reports Rajesh Mahapatra.
Updated on Mar 31, 2009 01:31 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Rajesh Mahapatra, Daringibadi, Orissa
For Orissa’s poor, an expensive peace
Ethnic groups are pitched against each other. Hindu nationalists are targeting non-Hindus. Christians want a province. Politicians are hiding away issues of governance in Kandhamal, India’s crucible of ethnic conflict, reports Rajesh Mahapatra.
Updated on Mar 28, 2009 09:17 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Rajesh Mahapatra, Orissa
Naidu, YSR call each other scamsters
Whose is the bigger fraud, is the theme of the big fight being played out in Andhra Pradesh as election fever rises. Rajesh Mahapatra and Ashok Das report.
Updated on Feb 19, 2009 01:13 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Rajesh Mahapatra and Ashok Das, New Delhi/hyderabad
Pranab to present interim budget today, expect only tweaks
As he unveils the interim budget on Monday, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee faces the daunting task of balancing demands for more fiscal stimulus for a slowing economy with the limited mandate of an outgoing government. If he sticks to convention, Mukherjee is unlikely to propose tax changes other than tweaking a few fiscal incentives for sectors such as housing, construction and exports that have been hit hard by the economic downturn. Rajesh Mahapatra reports. See graphics
Updated on Feb 16, 2009 02:25 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Rajesh Mahapatra, New Delhi
Narendra Modi India Inc’s choice for PM? Think again
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh remains India Inc’s first choice for the nation’s top job, according to a poll of senior business executives across the country. Rajesh Mahapatra reports. See graphics
Updated on Jan 18, 2009 10:37 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Rajesh Mahapatra, New Delhi
Satyam scam: Village mourns and prays for Raju
Despite admitting to a fraud worth millions of rupees, disgraced Satyam founder and chairman B Ramalinga Raju is still considered a hero in his ancestral village, reports Rajesh Mahapatra. Satyam sinks | New auditors on board, PwC backs out | Satyam saga
Updated on Jan 16, 2009 07:02 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Rajesh Mahapatra, Garagaparru (west Godavari)
Bailout among Govt options; new Satyam board takes charge
The newly appointed board of Satyam Computer Services said on Monday that finding a new CEO for the scam-hit company and restating its finances were its top priority. A possible merger with a rival company is also on the table, reports Rajesh Mahapatra.
Updated on Jan 13, 2009 11:04 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Rajesh Mahapatra, New Delhi
Satyam sibling, Maytas, looks in trouble now
More than Satyam, it's the uncertain future of Maytas Infra Ltd that could precipitate a bigger crisis for Andhra Pradesh, where the company has bagged scores of development projects in recent years, reports Rajesh Mahapatra. Full Coverage
Updated on Jan 12, 2009 12:49 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Rajesh Mahapatra, Hyderabad
Time to change gear on national highway project
The national highway programme may be the steroid that India needs to beat the economic blues and get back on the high growth trajectory. Sadly, the progress on NHDP project has been tardy during the tenure of the UPA Govt. There are signs, however, that the authorities realise it is time to change gears, Rajesh Mahapatra and Arnab Hazra explore.
Updated on Jan 04, 2009 03:15 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Rajesh Mahapatra and Arnab Hazra, New Delhi
Homes that won’t hurt
The bigger challenge before the government as well as developers is: how to break out of conventional construction practices and build houses that cost less not because they are smaller in size but because they are designed to cost less, report Rajesh Mahapatra and Vandana Ramnani.
Updated on Jan 03, 2009 12:34 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Rajesh Mahapatra and Vandana Ramnani, New Delhi
Opportunity from adversity
As we step into 2009, India stands at the inflexion point between hope and despair. The euphoria over the ‘India Story’ has been replaced by fear — of terror, of recession, of job losses, and of an immediate future. Read more...See special coverage.
Updated on Jan 02, 2009 02:23 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Rajesh Mahapatra & Arnab Mitra, New Delhi
Bullish on India: Lots of steam still left in the growth story
As the world ushers in a new year, we have a simple advice: ignore the doomsayers, especially the economic forecasters. They got it all wrong in 2008, and this year too, they will go off the mark, reports Rajesh Mahapatra.
Updated on Dec 31, 2008 10:32 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Rajesh Mahapatra
When the going gets tough, India can get going
Finally, 2008 is coming to an end. It was a year of tumult, turmoil and terror, a year that brought both -- the best of times and the worst of times. Read more... See Special Coverage
Updated on Dec 31, 2008 01:19 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Rajesh Mahapatra and Arnab Mitra, New Delhi
Back to business after the dizziness
As the economy braces for more bumps in 2009, reinforcing these inherent strengths will be crucial to how fast, and how well, we can tide over the crisis, writes Rajesh Mahapatra.
Updated on Dec 30, 2008 08:47 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Rajesh Mahapatra
That’s what Delhi wants
Politicians may rail at terrorism and demolition, but bijli, sadak and paani once again top the list of voters’ concern in Delhi that goes to polls on Saturday, reports Rajesh Mahapatra. HT survey: See graphics
Updated on Nov 27, 2008 03:52 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Rajesh Mahapatra, New Delhi
India loses $63 billion in six months
The country’s central bank has seen its forex reserves shrink more than $63 bn — enough to fund 600 Moon missions — as exports slumped, trade deficit widened and FIIs pulled out of the stock market, report Rajesh Mahapatra and Gaurav Choudhury. Tycoons tumble | See graph
Updated on Nov 14, 2008 01:43 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Rajesh Mahapatra and Gaurav Choudhury, New Delhi
‘We should be able to sustain high growth’
India's resilience to the current crisis is also a proof of how important it is to have strong government supervision of the financial sector, says Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia in an interview with Rajesh Mahapatra.
Updated on Oct 11, 2008 01:12 AM IST
None | Rajesh Mahapatra, New Delhi
Now is the time to act fast, and go big
Sensex tanks, industrial growth plunges and rupee touches all-time low. RBI steps in to boost liquidity, Govt promises more action as critics say it’s a ‘crisis of confidence’, reports Rajesh Mahapatra. See graphics.
Updated on Oct 11, 2008 08:42 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Rajesh Mahapatra, New Delhi
Riders of the storm
We have to reinforce the ‘emerging India’ image that once lured the FIIs and other foreign investors, writes Rajesh Mahapatra.
Updated on Oct 22, 2009 02:00 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Rajesh Mahapatra
It’s a lose-lose situation
There were always some takeaways from crises in the past. This time around, there appears to be none, except scores of empty condominiums and dead derivatives from this Wall Street crisis, writes Rajesh Mahapatra.
Updated on Sep 30, 2008 09:31 PM IST
None | Rajesh Mahapatra
Fix it. Else Manila, Ho Chi Minh City wait
With over 200 Fortune 500 companies, it is the gateway to the new India. But Gurgaon’s rapid slide into the third-world is demolishing its first-world dreams. Starting today HT pins down problems and officials, and shows you how Delhi's global city can be fixed. Special Coverage
Updated on Sep 24, 2008 01:44 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Rajesh Mahapatra, New Delhi
So did the Left get it right for once?
Minus the leftists, the UPA government could have moved much faster in opening up the financial sector, with measures that some believe would help accelerate the growth process, writes Rajesh Mahapatra.
Updated on Sep 18, 2008 09:23 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Rajesh Mahapatra
Everyone wants to smile
The impasse over Singur may end as early as Thursday, if Mamata Banerjee is to be believed. Rajesh Mahapatra tells more.....
Updated on Sep 04, 2008 01:00 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Rajesh Mahapatra
Salary hike fuels inflation worries
The cabinet’s decision to get more generous than the Sixth Pay Commission and dole out a bigger-than-recommended salary hike to the central government's 5 million employees is not surprising. But it is surely worrying, writes Rajesh Mahapatra.
Updated on Aug 15, 2008 12:07 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Rajesh Mahapatra
PM discusses deal with ‘friend’ Bush, bags support from G8
Bush said the US would continue to work with India to "develop not only a new strategic relationship, but a relationship that addresses some of the world's problem". Rajesh Mahapatra reports.
Updated on Jul 10, 2008 01:39 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Rajesh Mahapatra, Toyako
Plans to halve carbon emissions
Leaders of G8 countries endorse a proposal to halve carbon emissions by 2050, in what appeared to be a boost to the ongoing campaign on global warming, reports Rajesh Mahapatra.
Updated on Jul 08, 2008 08:24 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Rajesh Mahapatra, Rusutsu
Oil conundrum stumps G8
PM Manmohan Singh slams the developed countries for not doing enough to put a lid on soaring global food and oil prices, reports Rajesh Mahapatra.
Updated on Jul 08, 2008 08:25 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Rajesh Mahapatra, Rusutsu, Japan
IAEA decision soon, says PM; Left to meet today
Manmohan Singh's statement that a decision on going to the IAEA would come “very soon” triggered a speculation that Left may not wait for him to return from G8 summit, report J Gandhi and R Mahapatra. What next?
Updated on Jul 08, 2008 09:30 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Jatin Gandhi and Rajesh Mahapatra, New Delhi/on Board Pm’s Special Aircraft