Eminent journalist B.G. Verghese passes away

December 31, 2014

Eminent journalist B.G. Verghese passed away in Gurgaon, Haryana. He was 87.
He was born on 21 June 1927.
Journalistic career: He started his journalistic career in The Times of India. He was former editor of leading Indian dailies Hindustan Times from 1969 to 1975 and Indian Express 1982 to 1986.
Information adviser to PM: He was also information adviser to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi from 1966 to 1969 but he was critical of her for imposing the Emergency in 1975.
Civil rights activist: He was a crusader for civil rights and was part of the Editors Guild of India Fact Finding Mission after the Gujarat riots in 2002.
Books: He has authored many books that focused extensively on developmental issues. It includes ‘Waters of hope’, ‘India’s North East’, ‘Fourth Estate’ (2005) and his autobiography ‘First Draft: Witness to Making of Modern India’.
His last book Post Haste: Quintessential India’, which delves on India’s ancient heritage and its diverse people, was released early in 2014.
Awards: He is recipient of Ramon Magsaysay Award (which is considered as Asia’s Nobel Prize) for outstanding contribution to journalism.