Sankarshan Thakur, editor of ‘The Telegraph’, dies at 63

Sankarshan Thakur, the editor of The Telegraph and a political author, died on Monday. He was 63.

In 1984, Thakur began his career at the Sunday magazine after completing his political science degree at Delhi University’s Hindu College. He went on to hold several editorial positions at The Telegraph, The Indian Express and Tehelka.

Thakur reported on several events such as the Bhopal gas tragedy, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s assassination and the Sri Lankan civil war.

He was conferred with the Prem Bhatia Award in 2001 and the Appan Menon Fellowship in 2003.

Thakur also wrote several political biographies such as Subaltern Saheb about Bihar’s former Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and Single Man: The Life and Times of Nitish Kumar of Bihar.

He also wrote The Brothers Bihari about Yadav and Kumar.

The Press Club of India expressed its condolences, adding that Thakur’s “sharp political analysis and unwavering commitment to the truth” will be missed.

“We’ve lost a fearless voice in journalism,” the news association said on social media.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Monday said that a “liberal, democratic, secular and pluralistic India” had lost one of its strongest defenders with the death of Thakur.

“He was a very incisive analyst of Indian politics and his numerous articles on Bihar as well as J&K established his reputation,” the Rajya Sabha MP said on social media, adding that Thakur was a “delightfully brilliant...

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