Dr. Shirish Kashikar, Director of the national institute of mass communication and journalism, Ahmedabad has a career in Journalism & academics spanning over 23 years. After completing his Masters in English literature, he completed his Masters’s in Mass Communication and Journalism with the first rank in Saurashtra University. He started his career as a reporter cum sub-editor in Desh Pardesh ni Aajkal, an evening daily from Rajkot in 1996. Two years later he moved on to the state information department as an Information Officer. Dr. Kashikar was bestowed with the best article writer’s award by the State Information Department in 2002-03. As an academician, he has taught in the journalism department of Saurashtra University as a visiting faculty. He has presented papers on various subjects related to modern Mass Communication and the history of Journalism. He is a member of the Academic Council of Gujarat University and a Member of the Planning Board of IGNOU. He is also a vice-chairman of the Education Task Force of Gujarat chamber of commerce. He regularly participates in national and regional news channel’s Political & Social debates.