dispatches

Muzamil Jaleel /

Muzamil Jaleel, as Srinagar bureau chief of the Indian Express, has shed vital light on conflict in Kashmir for the last decade. He has broken more than 50 stories, from Jihadi terrorism to sex scandals. Foreign correspondents learn quickly not only to tap his encyclopedic knowledge but also to savor the wry wit underpinning his reporting.

On one fellowship, he was a visiting scholar at the University of California-Berkeley. On another, he worked in London for the Guardian, the Observer, and the Times. His honors include a coveted Sankrit Award for excellence in Indian journalism and literature. He also won a Kurt Shorck Award for International Journalism administered by Columbia University.

Jaleel comes from humble Kashmiri roots, with a strong sense of family and tradition. With a sly smile that erupts easily into laughter, he has fun. He is also an intrepid reporter of rare courage. He spent two months looking at America, starting in New Orleans and ending up on Capitol Hill. Somewhere in there, he found time to get married in Portland, Oregon.