Eminent journalist and founder-director of the Press Institute of India (PII), Chanchal Sarkar, passed away in New Delhi on October 10. Sarkar, 79, had been ailing for some time. He is survived by his wife Lotika Sarkar, a noted women's rights activist and former professor of law at Delhi University.
Former Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral, Rajya Sabha member Brinda Karat, and a large number of members of the Press attended his cremation at the Lodi Road crematorium. Floral tributes were paid on behalf of the PII and the Editors Guild of India.
Sarkar had formed the Press Institute of India after working for The Statesman as assistant editor under GE Powell and AE "Evan" Charlton. A member of the Akash Bharti Committee, Sarkar made notable contribution in the autonomy for Doordarshan and All India Radio.
Union minister for information and broadcasting S Jaipal Reddy condoled his death, describing Sarkar as "a development journalist par excellence" who passionately worked for people-oriented communication. "In his demise, the nation has lost a conscience-keeper and doyen of Indian journalism," Reddy said in his condolence message.
An avowed champion of media freedom, he had held that "the right to freedom of information is limited and restricted by the governments even in the countries where democracy functions. Media personnel have to keep fighting, have to keep investigating and have to go into the grassroots."
Reddy said Chanchal Sarkar's original insights into the development issues were widely acknowledged. "His columns, which appeared in almost all newspapers, were appreciated for their in-depth and incisive treatment of the issues."
A member of the Editors Guild of India, Sarkar was of the considered opinion that India needed special newspapers covering on human rights. He was also recipent of the Nieman Fellowship of Harvard University. Known for his mastery over the English language, Sarkar wrote prolifically in leading national dailies including the Hindu, the Indian Express, Hindustan Times and the Tribune, apart from the Guardian and Sunday Mail.
He was the editor of current affairs journal Vidura and had been running a similar publication called Facets at the time of his death. Sarkar was chairman of the Asian Federation of Economic Journalists and a consultant to United National Environment Programme (UNEP) and UNICEF.
