National

Prabhash Joshi passes away

Prabhash Joshi

NEW DELHI: Eminent Hindi journalist and founder-editor of Jansatta Prabhash Joshi died here late on Thursday night following a heart attack. He was 73.

Beginning his career with Nai Duniya, Mr. Joshi became the founder-editor of Jansatta in 1983. After retirement in 1995, he continued as its chief editorial advisor.

Adept at English journalism, Mr. Joshi was with Indian Express as its resident editor in Ahmedabad, Chandigarh and Delhi.

Mr. Joshi’s weekly column ‘Kagad Kare’ and his commentaries on the proceedings of Parliament and State legislatures were eagerly awaited by readers. Recently, he launched a weekly column ‘Aughat Ghat’ in Tehelka Hindi.

He was particularly known for championing the cause of freedom of the press and his work for perfecting professional standards. Originally from Indore, Mr. Joshi was a Gandhian and he redefined Hindi journalism bringing in new styles of writing.

He wrote on sports apart from politics, and had a special interest in cricket. He was also a lover of music and arts, in particular the folk music of the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh.

Describing Mr. Joshi as a man of extraordinary intellectual courage and professional integrity, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said his demise was a great loss to Indian journalism.

“He acquired an iconic status as the founder-editor of Jansatta. A whole generation of journalists drew inspiration from him, especially in questioning the current orthodoxy. In his later years, Shri Joshi worked tirelessly to give voice to the concerns and anxieties of the voiceless and marginalised. Indian journalism will be so much the poorer for his death.”

The former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said Mr. Joshi belonged to that generation of journalists, which was connected to the aam admi, and one could see the real India through his writings.

Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar said, “in Shri Joshi’s passing away, the country has lost a well-known journalist, writer and political analyst, who worked tirelessly for promoting and preserving the essential virtue of freedom of the press. His exemplary contribution in the field of journalism, especially Indian media, was instrumental in strengthening the edifice of our democracy. Shri Joshi will be remembered as an icon of Indian journalism in times to come.”

Congress general secretary and chairperson of the AICC media cell Janardhan Dwivedi said Mr. Joshi was a fearless thinker and forthright orator. He had a considered view on every subject. Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni said the journalistic fraternity lost a multifaceted personality.

The Editors Guild of India said Mr. Joshi was its active member and strove hard all through his career to uphold the freedom of the press and towards perfecting professional standards. Guild president Rajdeep Sardesai and secretary-general K.S. Sachidananda Murthy recalled that Mr. Joshi always believed that press freedom was not only for journalists and editors but was a right to be enjoyed by the common citizen.

Lok Jan Shakti Party president Ram Vilas Paswan said Mr. Joshi’s thought-provoking writings would be long remembered.

Mr. Joshi is survived by wife, Usha Joshi, two sons, Sandeep and Sopan, daughter Sonal and mother Leela Bai.

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu