For five decades, B N Kumar, widely known as BNK, has remained closely connected to the changing landscape of Indian journalism, politics, public affairs, media, and communication. A veteran journalist, political columnist, political analyst, and communication strategist, BNK has built a career around observing society, questioning authority, reporting facts, and understanding the forces that shape public life. His professional journey has taken him through newsrooms, news agencies, public relations, corporate communications, political commentary, and civic engagement. Across these different roles, one principle has remained constant: journalism must never lose its responsibility to ask questions and serve the public interest.
BNK’s journey in journalism began during the Emergency era, one of the most defining and challenging periods in the history of the Indian press. As a young journalist, witnessing the environment of that time helped shape his understanding of the relationship between power, media, and democracy. It also strengthened his commitment to independent journalism and the public’s right to question those in positions of authority. An alumnus of Osmania University, Hyderabad, BNK began his professional career in Hyderabad, working with publications including The Indian Express, The Daily News, and The Skyline. These early experiences gave him a strong foundation in reporting and helped develop the journalistic instincts that would remain central to his career.
In 1977, BNK moved to Mumbai and joined The Free Press Journal. His career subsequently took him into field reporting with United News of India, where he experienced the fast-paced and demanding world of news agency journalism. Working in such an environment required accuracy, speed, curiosity, and the ability to identify what mattered in a developing story. These qualities would later become important elements of his political writing and analysis. His experience across different forms of journalism also allowed him to understand how news is gathered, shaped, communicated, and consumed.
BNK’s professional journey expanded beyond conventional journalism when he became part of the founding team of O&M PR, now Ogilvy PR, during the formative years of India’s professional public relations industry. This transition added another dimension to his understanding of communication. His subsequent career included assignments with major media organisations such as The Indian Express, Mid-Day, and Business India, along with contributions to The Times of India and magazines including Sunday, Onlooker, Surya India, and The Week. His experience across journalism and communications gave him an unusual ability to view public affairs from multiple perspectives.
His corporate communications career further broadened his professional experience. BNK worked with organisations including Reliance Industries, Reliance Infocomm, Capital Images, Beehive Communication, and Concept PR. These roles exposed him to the world of corporate communication, strategic messaging, business, and public relations. Yet even while working in corporate environments, his connection with journalism and public affairs remained strong. Over time, the combination of reporting experience, communication expertise, and political observation evolved into a distinctive voice that would become particularly visible through his political columns.
Today, BNK is widely associated with POLITRICKS, a political commentary series that examines Indian politics through reportage, analysis, humour, and satire. His writing does not limit itself to one side of the political spectrum. Instead, he approaches politics through the perspective of an observer who believes that both the government and the Opposition must remain accountable. This approach is also central to his book HIT WICKETS & NO BALLS: A Third Umpire View of POLITRICKS-2, where he uses cricket terminology to examine political hits, misses, controversies, contradictions, and self-inflicted mistakes.
The idea of the third umpire captures BNK’s approach to political commentary. Rather than presenting himself as a supporter of one political team, he positions himself as an observer examining the play. His writing questions government decisions, political promises, policy changes, and the ways in which public attention can be redirected. At the same time, he examines the weaknesses of the Opposition, including inconsistency, disunity, competing ambitions, and the struggle to establish itself as a credible alternative. For BNK, democracy requires both a stable government and a strong Opposition capable of asking difficult questions.
This belief in questioning also reflects his concerns about the changing media environment. BNK has consistently emphasised the importance of independent journalism and the responsibility of journalists to question both power and political narratives. His work argues for a media culture where uncomfortable questions are not avoided simply because they challenge popular or powerful positions. His long experience in journalism has given him a front-row view of how media, politics, business, and public opinion have evolved, making his observations particularly rooted in professional experience.
BNK’s literary work extends this larger engagement with journalism and public life. He is the author of POLITRICKS in India, NEWSFIRE: A 50-Year Connect with Media & Environment, and HIT WICKETS & NO BALLS. While each book explores different aspects of politics, media, journalism, and public affairs, they collectively reflect his lifelong interest in understanding the forces that shape society. Two additional books are currently in the making, continuing his exploration of journalism, politics, media, environment, and public life.
His commitment to civic issues is also reflected through the NatConnect Foundation, a not-for-profit environmental initiative focused on protecting wetlands, mangroves, urban hills, and other critical ecosystems. Alongside this work, BNK runs a network of news-driven digital platforms and The CONNECT TV YouTube channel. His involvement in environmental advocacy demonstrates that his interest in public affairs extends beyond politics and journalism to broader questions concerning communities and the environment.
With more than 30 awards to his name, BNK continues to mentor young journalists and communication professionals, conduct media training, and deliver guest lectures at universities. After five decades in the profession, his work continues to reflect the curiosity and questioning instinct that defined his early years in journalism. Whether through political satire, journalism, environmental advocacy, communication, or mentoring, BNK remains committed to observing power, questioning narratives, and keeping public interest at the centre of the conversation. His professional philosophy remains clear: follow the facts, question the powerful, read between the headlines, and never lose sight of the public interest.
