34 * "$'"5 "5 5 ,.)/,01234 ! !" *$ : *% /.%4 O %%&14:&. 12& ;&*%;1;% %. &.1 :&.1 4& .% .% *1. % /%. *% %:/% 4% .&/ 4% ;%@ >?> > 4 / .%1 <.%;%= #%<%% !()*+ ,,- 678 9% " % "$ % #5 $& 67 46 R or nearly two-and-half Fdecades, Dr Chandan Mitra’s name was synonymous with The Pioneer. On Wednesday night, the organi- sation’s helmsman left — left forever — leaving behind his devastated wife, Shobori Ganguli, two sons — Kushan Mitra and Shakya Mitra — and an extended family of col- leagues and loved ones. Dr Mitra, 66, passed away late on Wednesday. He has been keeping unwell for the last one year. Dr Mitra was a man of many seasons. A two-time member of the Rajya Sabha, an avid reader, a movie buff, a pas- sionate traveller, and, above all, an editor with a sharp political mind and ear to the ground. Dr Mitra was an alumnus of La Martiniere Calcutta. From there, he went to St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, where he was highly active in Left-wing stu- dents’ politics. Mitra received an MA and MPhil in History from Delhi University and briefly taught at Hansraj College. In 1984, Mitra received a doctorate at Oxford University, where he was a member of Magdalen College. The subject ! " of the thesis was “Political mobilisation and the national- the emergence of new chal- with him a long association " # # ism movement in India - a lenges for the print media. going into the late 1990s, he was study of eastern Uttar Pradesh Dr Mitra was gifted with a a friend, a mentor, and some- & served as a Member of Yadav said Mitra contributed and Bihar, 1936-1942”. sharp political mind. He had one you could sit down with Parliament. His vast experience immensely to the field of pol- Mitra’s baptism in journal- his pulse on Indian politics. In and share your most personal ributes poured in for Dr & insightful understanding of itics and journalism. “May his ism started as an Assistant the 1995 Bihar Assembly polls, thoughts and dilemma. TChandan Mitra, 66, who issues always gave readers a family find the strength to Editor with The Statesman in when everyone was busy writ- Dr Mitra loved driving. passed away late last night new perspective. A huge loss deal with the loss,” he added. Kolkata. Then he shifted to the ing off Lalu Prasad, Dr Mitra Once in a while when after he after being ill for some time, for journalism,” he said. The Print Editor-in-Chief Times of India in Delhi and predicted a landslide for him. had enough of politics and the with the President , the Prime Senior BJP leader Ram Shekhar Gupta tweeted “too then to Sunday Observer. He The poll outcome and his pro- newspaper, he would take to Minister, Union Ministers and Madhav described Mitra as soon to go dear Chandan was the Executive Editor of jections matched nearly seat to driving. For him, it was not like senior party leaders recalling his good friend and expressed Mitra. You will be sharp, curi- Hindustan Times before he seat. Even now, journalists and driving to Murthal and enjoy- his robust contribution to jour- his condolences saying “Very ous and large-hearted wherev- joined The Pioneer in 1997. politicians in Bihar remember ing paratahs there before nalism as his teary-eyed col- sorry to hear about the demise er you are. Among the finest Dr Mitra is one of the few Dr Mitra for that bold “against- returning to Delhi, but it would legemate and fellow journalists of former MP and senior jour- reporter-editors of our gener- journalists who accepted the the-current swim.” be weeks of adventure for him. remembered him as a good nalist Sh Chandan Mitra. He ation. Never let political choic- challenges of running a news- His passion for politics From north to south, and east friend, mentor and for his was a good friend. Served on es come in the way of profes- paper as owners, too. When and his affable ways won him to west, he would drive for “old-fashioned decency”. the India Foundation Board for sionalism, friendship or old- Thapars handed him over The many friends and admirers months together to discover Prime Minister Narendra many years until his health fashioned decency…” Pioneer in 1998, there was all- across party lines. In the BJP, himself, and the soul of India Modi took to Twitter to con- forced him to withdraw from Union Minister Piyush around skepticism about Dr both former Prime minister that always mesmerised him. dole Mitra’s demise. “Shri public activism. Condolences Goyal tweeted, “Deeply sad- Mitra’s ability to save the news- Atal Bihari Vajpayee and vet- The Pioneer office was the Chandan Mitra Ji will be to @kushanmitra and other dened at the passing away of paper from going bust. The eran LK Advani were very second home to Dr Mitra, who remembered for his intellect near and dear. Om Shanti.” former Rajya Sabha MP and Thapars had sunk in a fortune fond of him. That proximity would always be there if he was and insights. He distinguished Rajya Sabha MP Swapan senior journalist Shri Chandan in the newspaper and left saw him being drawn to active in Delhi. Over cups of coffee himself in the world of media Dasgupta, and old college-time Mitra ji. His contributions to behind a rudderless organisa- politics. He was nominated as and cigarettes, he would have as well as politics. Anguished friend of Mitra, also took to the field of media and politics tion. Dr Mitra understood the a member of the Rajya Sabha engrossing discussions and by his demise. Condolences to Twitter to express his grief. “I will be long remembered. May enormity of his challenge and in August 2003 when Vajpayee debates with colleagues during his family and admirers. Om lost my closest friend- Editor of God give his family the convened a meeting of the was the PM. He was elected to the evening meetings. Even Shanti,” the PM tweeted. The Pioneer & former MP strength to overcome this loss. staff where he told them that another term in the Rajya when he went home, the news- President Ram Nath Chandan Mitra-this morning. Om Shanti!”. the future looked uncertain and Sabha as a BJP MP from paper and day headlines occu- Moving said, “Chandan Mitra We were together as students of Many of the journalists people were free to stay on if Madhya Pradesh in June 2010. pied his mind. Whether in was an outstanding journalist La Martiniere & went on to St who were mentored by Mitra at they were ready to go without He did join the Trinamool India or abroad, he would and his stint as a parliamen- Stephen’s & Oxford. We joined different publications recalled salary for months. It was a Congress in 2018, but that inevitably call the News Editor tarian added to his reputation. journalism at the same time & his approachable attitude frank admission by a man who association never went beyond late at night and suggest or keep His understanding of Hindi shared the excitement of towards greenhorns. had little knowledge of man- a mere formality. track of the headlines for the heartland and its history was Ayodhya & the saffron wave,” Ashok Malik said, aging a business enterprise. Despite the enormous chal- page one stories. When profound. His demise leaves a he tweeted. “Crushing to hear of Chandan In the years to come, Dr lenges of running an organisa- his illness confined him to his void in Indian journalism. My He posted a nostalgic pho- Mitra’s passing. My first boss in Mitra presided over the turn- tion with falling revenue, and home, the office never heartfelt condolences to his tograph of Chandan Mitra and Delhi when I moved here in around of The Pioneer and keeping himself afloat in the remained the same. family and friends.” himself together during a ‘94, learnt so much from him. transformed it into a newspa- cut-throat world of politics, Someone with an enor- The distinguished Editor of school trip in 1972. “Be happy A very fine mind and trail- per which grew leaps and Dr Mitra remained a “soft and mous lust for life, Dr Mitra will The Pioneer was penning his my dear friend wherever you blazer in Indian journalism, bounds, from two editions in sensitive” gentleman, who be remembered as a man with biography. “I am on to it but are. Om Shanti,” he said in with a passion for politics and 1995 to eight editions now. He would never give the impres- an incisive mind, a loving soul, there is no time to complete it..”, another tweet. a lifetime of ishq with Hindi also introduced the Hindi sion that he was “your boss.” In and someone who never gave he once said in his Congress leader Shashi film songs. God give him Pioneer five years back despite fact, to many of us, who shared up dreaming. office while detailing his love Tharoor, a collegemate of Mitra peace. Om Shanti “. L for dogs, here, there and at St Stephens, said, “Deeply “Very saddened to hear of elsewhere. saddened by this news. the passing of senior colleague West Bengal Chief Minister Chandan was my campaign #ChandanMitra. Worked with Mamata Banerjee said she was manager in my successful race him when I first joined @time- sad to hear about Mitra’s death. to be President of the St sofindia, Chandan was brilliant “Mitra was a commentator on Stephen’s College Union and always encouraging, and life and society. His death is a Society, served in my Cabinet always up for a joust.