“Join my channel” Ravish Kumar appeals viewers as he scales 8M subscribers on YouTube
Kumar's channel reached 8 million subscribers in one year's span since he joined YT
New Delhi: Ravish Kumar, the former Executive Editor of NDTV and renowned Indian journalist, has achieved a milestone with his YouTube channel crossing 8 million subscribers. The accomplishment comes just over a year after Kumar officially launched his channel in October 2022. Notably, he commenced publishing videos on the platform after announcing his resignation from NDTV on December 1, 2022, through a video post.
In a recent video expressing gratitude to his viewers, Kumar thanked them for their unwavering support. He encouraged more people to subscribe to his channel and emphasized the importance of viewers "Joining" the channel on YouTube, a feature that allows users to support creators through paid memberships.
Known for his incisive commentary and independent perspective, Kumar's YouTube channel has become immensely popular, attracting millions of views for most of his videos. The veteran journalist, based in Uttar Pradesh, Northern India, had dedicated 27 years to NDTV, where he held the position of senior executive editor and anchored several flagship shows.
The decision to resign and venture into the digital media came amid a challenging period for Kumar. Apart from personal challenges, including his mother's illness in Bihar, he faced death threats on his personal phone from supporters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi due to his political coverage. Additionally, NDTV was grappling with a hostile takeover by Adani Group, known for its close association with the prime minister.
Choosing his YouTube channel as the platform to announce his departure, Kumar maintained his composure, expressing gratitude to viewers for their decades-long support. In his resignation speech, he likened the situation to a bird losing its nest to external forces. Kumar also issued a warning about authoritarian forces dividing the country and lamented the state of journalism in India, describing it as the "dark age of journalism."
Ravish Kumar is leading a growing trend among Indian journalists who have departed mainstream media organizations in recent years, opting to establish a presence on YouTube and other social media platforms. This shift is seen as a response to the challenges faced by noncompliant media organizations in the current political climate in India.
“As the country approaches the general election anticipated in April or May 2024, where Prime Minister Modi seeks a third term, social media platforms like YouTube are increasingly becoming vital spaces for journalists to share unbiased news and maintain their journalistic endeavors,” a report of “Rest of World” mentioned earlier this week.
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Two Delhi men held for BMTC bus phone thefts in Bengaluru
Bengaluru: Whitefield police have arrested two men from Delhi for allegedly stealing mobile phones from passengers travelling in Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) buses and solved 14 theft cases, officials said on Tuesday.
The arrested accused have been identified as Jai Chand (25), who worked at a hotel in Delhi, and Tarun (34), an autorickshaw driver in Delhi.
Officials said on January 24, a Mahadevapura resident lodged a complaint that his iPhone 15 Plus was stolen while he was travelling on a BMTC bus towards Whitefield.
Based on the complaint, police registered a case and arrested two suspects within an hour near a lodge on Hosa Road. During the arrest, the police found a bag containing several stolen mobile phones.
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“During interrogation, the suspects confessed that they were stealing mobile phones from passengers travelling in BMTC buses. They had also committed thefts during a concert held under the Channarayapatna police station limits on January 23,” the police said.
Investigations revealed that the accused had travelled from Delhi for the concert and stolen mobile phones from the audience. A third suspect is at large and is likely hiding in the Shahdara area of Delhi.
One of the victims, a YouTuber, raised the theft issue in February in a post on X.
“Here is my (FIR No 0013/2026 is registered in Channarayapatana PS. Your GSC No. is PO1814260100013) request @DelhiPolice @BlrCityPolice to plz look into this & get my device back since it's my work phone & I am a youtuber, all my data is there! someone plz help. @dcpwhitefield,” Anirban Sarkar posted on X on February 6.
Police have recovered 14 mobile phones of various brands, collectively valued at about Rs 9 lakh, from the accused. The two were produced before the court and remanded in judicial custody.
In total, one case from Whitefield and 13 from Channarayapatna police stations were detected. Further investigation is underway.
