Weekly Author Feature 

Vidya krishnan

Vidya Krishnan

Vidya Krishnan is an Indian investigative journalist and author known for her in-depth reporting on public health, science, and social justice. Over the years, she has built a reputation for covering complex health issues such as tuberculosis, pandemic preparedness, pharmaceutical ethics, and health inequality. Her journalism often examines how politics and power structures influence access to healthcare, especially in developing countries.

She has worked with prominent publications in India and internationally. In India, she served as a health and science editor at The Hindu, and her writing has also appeared in global outlets that focus on policy, science, and international affairs. Her reporting during the COVID-19 pandemic gained attention for its critical and evidence-based analysis, though it also exposed her to online harassment for speaking out on sensitive issues.

As an author, she wrote Phantom Plague, which explores how tuberculosis shaped world history, public health systems, and global inequalities. The book combines medical history with investigative journalism to show how TB remains a major but neglected disease. She later authored White Lilies, a reflective work that blends personal narrative, grief, and cultural observation.

Vidya Krishnan has also been associated with leading academic institutions such as Harvard University, University of Oxford, and SOAS University of London. She was a recipient of the Nieman Fellowship, a prestigious program that supports accomplished journalists from around the world. Her work continues to focus on the intersection of science, policy, and human rights.

Sources: Wikipedia, Penguin Random House India (official publisher website), The Indian Express (Book Review Section), and Kirkus Reviews.