The Telegraph editor Sankarshan Thakur dies in Gurgaon hospital
New Delhi (PTI): Veteran journalist Sankarshan Thakur, editor of The Telegraph whose prowess with words added that extra edge to his analyses and ground reports, died at a Gurgaon hospital on Monday after prolonged illness. He was 63.
Born in Patna in 1962, Thakur was the son of senior journalist Janardhan Thakur. He received his early education at St Xavier’s in Patna and later in Delhi, before earning a degree in political science from Hindu College, Delhi University.
Thakur, who began his journalism career in 1984 with SUNDAY magazine, is survived by his wife Sona, daughter Jahan and son Ayushman.
He worked in several places, including The Indian Express, Tehelka and The Telegraph in two stints.
Known for his sharp political commentary and empathetic pen, Thakur was a keen chronicler of India’s politics, particularly Bihar. His home state was the focus of not just his journalism but also his credentials as an author.
Thakur authored the widely cited and bestselling biographies of the state’s prominent political figures. His books include "Subaltern Saheb", a political biography of former chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, "Single Man: The Life and Times of Nitish Kumar of Bihar", and "The Brothers Bihari", a highly acclaimed political diptych on Yadav and Kumar.
His untimely death led to an outpouring of grief on social media and elsewhere.
Several politicians, including Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh and RJD’s Manoj Kumar Jha remembered the journalist for his incisive writings.
Abdullah said Thakur was one of the few journalists who "made an effort to travel extensively around J&K and, while travelling, actually listened without judgment".
“Very sorry to hear about the tragic death of @SankarshanT. He was an excellent journalist, objective & well informed... He put up a brave fight but ultimately the illness prevailed. May his soul rest in peace. My heartfelt condolences to his family,” Abdullah posted on X.
Ramesh described Thakur as a "delightfully brilliant writer".
"He was a very incisive analyst of Indian politics and his numerous articles on Bihar as well as J&K established his reputation. Over the many years that he sparkled as a journalist, he was consistently informed and educated. He belonged to a breed that is already endangered," the Rajya Sabha MP said in his post.
One might agree or disagree with his views on Bihar and Jammu and Kashmir but he shall always be remembered for his insight into the ground, said Jha in a lengthy post while pointing out that Thakur loved “swimming against the current”.
His colleagues and many readers agreed.
"Thakur was deeply objective in his writings, never allowing his personal likes or dislikes to influence his reportage. In fact, I had a word with him 10-15 days ago and as usual, he was full of life - telling stories, laughing. He was not someone who would make his illness a big deal," senior journalist and author Rasheed Kidwai told PTI.
Struggling to speak about his long-time associate who had drafted him into The Telegraph in 1995-96, Kidwai remembered him as a “lively figure” and a journalist with impeccable integrity.
"He was eagerly looking forward to covering the upcoming Bihar elections. But his knowledge wasn’t confined to Bihar alone - it was encyclopaedic. He wrote on a wide range of issues. Kashmir, in particular, was very close to his heart; it was his idea of happiness," he added.
In addition to his in-depth reporting on Bihar, Thakur published monographs on a range of critical issues, including the Kargil War, Pakistan and caste-based honour killings in Uttar Pradesh.
The Editors Guild of India condoled the passing of the "gifted writer," noting that Thakur enjoyed a formidable reputation as both a journalist and an author.
"A fearless ground reporter, he brought to life some of India’s most defining events - from the Kargil war front, Bhopal tragedy, 1984 anti-Sikh riots and Indira Gandhi’s assassination, to the complexities of Kashmir, the Sri Lankan civil war, and socio-political currents in Bihar and Pakistan," the Guild said in a statement.
Thakur's distinguished contributions earned him the Prem Bhatia Award for excellence in political journalism (2001) and the Appan Menon Fellowship (2003).
Readers, fellow journalists and friends wrote in with their tributes and personal memories of the journalist, flooding social media platforms.
Senior journalist AJ Philip, in his tribute titled "Sankarshan Thakur: A Reporter Who Wrote with a Poet’s Pen", recalled Thakur’s “nuanced and riveting” dispatches from the 1999 Kargil War.
"He was holidaying in Goa when he heard about the 'war' in Kargil. Without hesitation, he rushed there. His reports from the conflict zone were nuanced and riveting. Television reporters like Barkha Dutt became household names with their ground-zero coverage, but Sankarshan’s words captured the complexity of the war with a depth that only print could provide," Philip wrote.
Author Nilanjana Roy termed him the "lighthouse of an editor".
"A great and saddening loss. Sankarshan Thakur held on to courage and his conscience when so many sold theirs. He was a gifted writer, the sharpest of political analysts, and kept faith with the people , the country, and the Constitution. Such a lighthouse of an editor," she said on X.
In January this year, Thakur wrote a condolence message for a friend on X and bemoaned the "brutal uncertainties of life".
"Irredeemably sad to learn that Tarun Bhartiya @LudditeNed is no more. What a fine mind, what a multifaceted person. What a loss. Such are the brutal uncertainties of life," he said.
It was among his last posts on X.
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India, Ethiopia elevate ties to strategic partnership as PM Modi holds talks with his counterpart
Addis Ababa (PTI): India and Ethiopia on Tuesday elevated their historical ties to a strategic partnership, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi held wide-ranging talks with his Ethiopian counterpart Abiy Ahmed Ali during which they discussed issues of bilateral and mutual interest.
Modi, who arrived here from Jordan on his maiden bilateral visit, was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the National Palace ahead of the bilateral talks, reflecting the vibrant India-Ethiopia relations rooted in shared history and a promising future.
"We are elevating India and Ethiopia relations to a strategic partnership. This step will provide new energy, new momentum and new depth to our ties," Prime Minister Modi said during the delegation-level talks.
He thanked PM Ali for his support in India's fight against terrorism. "The support of friendly countries in this struggle against terrorism holds great significance," Modi said.
"Today, we got the opportunity to deliberate on the key aspects of our cooperation, such as economy, innovation, technology, defence, health, capacity-building and multilateral cooperation. I am pleased that today, we have decided to double the student scholarship for Ethiopia in India," Modi said.
Modi said that India and Ethiopia have shared contact, dialogue, and exchange for thousands of years. The two countries, which are rich in languages and traditions, are symbols of unity in diversity, he added.
"Both countries are democratic powers committed to peace and the welfare of humanity. We are co-travellers and partners of the Global South. On international platforms, we have stood shoulder-to-shoulder," he said.
The two sides signed eight MoUs/agreements, including upgrading ties to 'Strategic Partnership', customs cooperation, establishing data center at the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry, UN Peacekeeping training cooperation, debt restructuring under G20, more ICCR scholarships and AI short courses for Ethiopians, and support for maternal and neonatal healthcare.
Modi said the African Union's headquarters in Ethiopia makes the country a meeting point of African diplomacy. "Inspired by the common vision of an inclusive world, in 2023, India ensured that the African Union became a G20 member," he said.
In 2023, during India’s G20 Presidency, the African Union was admitted as a permanent member of the G20.
Modi said that though this is his first visit, he felt a deep sense of belonging and warmth, reflecting the thousands of years of connection between the two countries.
On his part, Prime Minister Ali said the two countries share over thousands of years of connection through trade, diplomacy, education, culture and even in our food and traditions. "These ties continue to shape a deep friendship, collaboration and mutual respect between our people," he said.
"We also appreciate your consistent message that Africa's priorities must lead the partnership. These kinds of dignified, respectful messages for Africa are very important. Mr Prime Minister, keep pushing. That is the type of message we are expecting from all our trusted friends," Ali said.
He said this aligned fully with Ethiopia's development plan - African-owned, African-led, and African-defined.
"Today, we meet with a clear focus to shape a modern partnership, grounded in sovereignty, self-reliance and practical cooperation. Our cooperation is rooted in equality and South-South solidarity," he said.
"Our economy is performing strongly. Last year, we grew 9.2% and this year we are expecting 10.3% GDP growth. Besides GDP growth, our FDI inflow is also rising big time. India is the leading source for our FDI," he said.
"We have more than 615 Indian companies which are investing in Ethiopia. This all gives our cooperation a strong foundation of trust. I think our decision today that we elevate our historic relationship to a strategic relationship is the right decision," he added.
Ethiopia also conferred its highest award - The Great Honour Nishan of Ethiopia - on PM Modi. He is the first global head of state to receive this award.
Prime Minister Modi also went to the Friendship Park and Friendship Square in Addis Ababa with PM Ali.
In a warm and special gesture, PM Modi was earlier received by his Ethiopian counterpart at the airport and accorded a warm and colourful welcome.
"Ethiopia is a nation with great history and vibrant culture," Modi said.
PM Ali informed his Indian counterpart about the varieties of Ethiopian coffee during informal talks.
"At Addis Ababa airport, took part in a traditional Coffee Ceremony with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali. The ceremony beautifully highlights Ethiopia’s rich heritage," Modi said.
In a unique gesture, the Ethiopian Prime Minister drove Modi to the hotel.
On the way, he took a special initiative of taking PM Modi to the Science Museum and Friendship Park, which was not in the itinerary.
"Gratitude to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali for showing me glimpses of Ethiopian history and culture at the National Palace Museum in Addis Ababa. It was a powerful reminder of Ethiopia’s rich traditions," Modi said in a post on X.
The Nobel Peace Prize-winning Ethiopian PM’s special gestures show remarkable respect for Modi, sources said.
"Thank you Ethiopia for a welcome that was unforgettable. The Indian community showed remarkable warmth and affection. India-Ethiopia friendship is going to get even more robust in the times to come," Modi said.
When Modi arrived at the hotel, he was warmly welcomed by the members of the Indian community. Local artists performed dances. Some of them danced on the theme of the popular Hindi song 'Aisa Des Hai Mera' to welcome him.
On Wednesday, Modi will address the Joint Session of Parliament and share his thoughts on India's journey as the "Mother of Democracy" and the value that the India-Ethiopia partnership can bring to the Global South.
PM Modi arrived in Ethiopia from Jordan, where he held a one-on-one meeting with King Abdullah II at the Husseiniya Palace on Monday before the delegation-level talks.
India and Jordan also inked MoUs in the fields of culture, renewable energy, water management, digital public infrastructure and twinning arrangement between Petra and Ellora, aimed at giving a major boost to bilateral ties and friendship.
From Ethiopia, Modi will visit Oman on the final leg of this three-nation tour.
