Dia Chakravarty
Dia Chakravarty | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1984 Bangladesh |
| Occupation(s) | Political activist, singer, editor |
| Years active | 2012–present |
| Known for | Political director at the TaxPayers' Alliance, Brexit Editor for The Daily Telegraph |
Dia Sudeshna Chakravarty (; born 1984) is a British political activist originally from Bangladesh, known for her former role as political director at the TaxPayers' Alliance, her singing career, and her position as Brexit Editor for The Daily Telegraph.
Early life
Chakravarty was born in Bangladesh to parents practicing different religions. Her mother, Sultana Kamal, a Muslim lawyer and human rights advocate, leads a legal aid organisation, while her father, Supriyo Chakravarty, a Hindu lawyer, maintained his faith after marriage. She is their sole offspring. Her maternal grandmother was the poet Sufia Kamal.
Because of their activism and opposition to fundamentalism, the family endured persistent threats, including harassing phone calls and two firebomb assaults on their residence.
Chakravarty's education began at a school in Sylhet established by her parents, which provided the British Council-approved O-level syllabus until age 14, followed by private tutoring. She subsequently entered conventional schooling to complete seven O-level examinations.
After her parents took out a remortgage on their home, she secured a partial scholarship to attend a sixth-form college in Oxford for A-level studies and relocated to the UK in 2001. Meanwhile, her mother shifted to full-time work based in Dhaka. Chakravarty pursued a law degree at the University of Oxford and qualified as a Barrister in 2008.
Political activism
Starting her career as a tax consultant in London, Chakravarty transitioned into communications and public affairs roles. Between July 2012 and December 2013, she served as deputy director at The Freedom Association, promoting free speech and press liberties. In January 2014, she took on the role of political director at the TaxPayers' Alliance.
She also collaborated with Banking on Change, an initiative involving Barclays Bank and global charities aimed at increasing access to basic financial services through savings-driven microfinance programs.
In August 2014, Chakravarty appeared on BBC Two's Newsnight discussing consultancy practices within the public sector. From 2014 through 2017, she was featured multiple times on BBC One's Question Time and contributed to BBC Radio 4's Any Questions? in January 2015.
As an active supporter of the Leave campaign during the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum, she was appointed Brexit Editor at The Daily Telegraph in July 2017. She continued her media involvement with appearances on Question Time in September 2017 and Newsnight in October that year to discuss Brexit-related issues.
In October 2017, commentator Iain Dale placed her at number 100 in his list of the '100 Most Influential on the Right'.
Singing career
Chakravarty's musical education began under Prateek Enda in Sylhet, initially concentrating on songs by Rabindranath Tagore. While her primary focus was on Bengali music, she later incorporated Hindi songs into her repertoire after moving to the UK, where she currently studies with London-based vocalist Anuradha Roma Choudhury.
She performs both within London and internationally. In August 2014, Chakravarty released her first album, A Bloom in Vain and Other Songs, which features a fusion of traditional Bengali melodies with global music influences.
Personal life
In October 2007, Chakravarty wed Duncan Hall, whom she had known since their school days. Following the completion of her university education and successful Bar examinations, she made England her home. Additionally, she participates actively in Udayan, an organization dedicated to Bengali cultural activities.
A Bloom in Vain and Other Songs
A Bloom in Vain and Other Songs (), launched on 22 August 2014 under the Laser Vision label, marks Chakravarty's first studio album. The recording sessions took place at Studio Vibrations in Kolkata with production led by Prattyush Banerjee. The album embraces a blend of Bengali folk, bhajan, and world music styles.
Consisting of eight compositions arranged in four pairs, the album features works by Rabindranath Tagore, Atulprasad Sen, Dwijendralal Ray, and Rajanikanta Sen—each recognized for their legal backgrounds or connections to England. This choice mirrors Chakravarty’s own legal studies at the University of Oxford.
The official album release event was held at the Sufia Kamal Auditorium within the Bangladesh National Museum. Reviews highlighted Chakravarty’s heartfelt vocal performances and faithful renditions of these timeless Bengali pieces.
See also
External links
- Short description with empty Wikidata description
- Living people
- 1984 births
- Bangladeshi emigrants to England
- Naturalised citizens of the United Kingdom
- British women activists
- British political commentators
- British activists
- British free speech activists
- 21st-century Bangladeshi women singers
- 21st-century Bangladeshi singers
- British women singers
- Bengali-language singers
- Hindi-language singers
- British barristers
- 21st-century Bangladeshi women journalists
- British newspaper editors
- The Daily Telegraph people
- 21st-century British journalists
- Singers from London
- People from Sylhet Division
- Alumni of the University of Oxford
- Laser Vision artists