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34 * "$'"5 "5 5 VRGR '%&((!1#VCEB R BP A"'!#$#1!$"$#$%T utqBVQWBuxy( ,.)/,01234 !"!"# *$ 9 *% /.%4 O %%&149&. 12& :&*%:1:% %. &.1 9&.1 4& .% .% *1. % /%. *% %9/% 4% .&/ 4% :%? =>= = 4 / .%1 ;.%:%< #%;%% !()*+ ,,- 677 8% " % "$ #%5 $& +6 + 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 students’ 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 paper from going bust. The also introduced the Hindi " # # mobilisation and the national- Thapars had sunk in a fortune Pioneer five years back despite ism movement in India — a in the newspaper and left the emergence of new chal- & served as a Member of Yadav said Mitra contributed study of eastern Uttar Pradesh behind a rudderless organisa- lenges for the print media. Parliament. His vast experience immensely to the field of pol- and Bihar, 1936-1942”. tion. Dr Mitra understood the Dr Mitra was gifted with a ributes poured in for Dr & insightful understanding of itics and journalism. “May his Mitra’s baptism in journal- enormity of his challenge and sharp political mind. He had TChandan Mitra, 66, who issues always gave readers a family find the strength to ism started as an Assistant convened a meeting of the his pulse on Indian politics. In passed away late last night new perspective. A huge loss deal with the loss,” he added. Editor with The Statesman in staff where he told them that the 1995 Bihar Assembly polls, after being ill for some time, for journalism,” he said. The Print Editor-in-Chief Kolkata. Then he shifted to the the future looked uncertain and when everyone was busy writ- with the President, the Prime Senior BJP leader Ram Shekhar Gupta tweeted “too Times of India in Delhi and people were free to stay on if ing off Lalu Prasad, Dr Mitra Minister, Union Ministers and Madhav described Mitra as soon to go dear Chandan then to Sunday Observer. He they were ready to go without predicted a landslide for him. senior party leaders recalling his good friend and expressed Mitra. You will be sharp, curi- was the Executive Editor of salary for months. It was a The poll outcome and his pro- his robust contribution to jour- his condolences saying “Very ous and large-hearted wherev- Hindustan Times before he frank admission by a man who jections matched nearly seat to nalism as his teary-eyed col- sorry to hear about the demise er you are. Among the finest joined The Pioneer in 1997. had little knowledge of man- seat. Even now, journalists and legemate and fellow journalists of former MP and senior jour- reporter-editors of our gener- Dr Mitra is one of the few aging a business enterprise. politicians in Bihar remember remembered him as a good nalist Sh Chandan Mitra. He ation. Never let political choic- journalists who accepted the In the years to come, Dr Dr Mitra for that bold “against- friend, mentor and for his was a good friend. Served on es come in the way of profes- challenges of running a news- Mitra presided over the turn- the-current swim.” “old-fashioned decency”. the India Foundation Board for sionalism, friendship or old- paper as owners, too. When around of The Pioneer and His passion for politics Prime Minister Narendra many years until his health fashioned decency…” Thapars handed him over The transformed it into a newspa- and his affable ways won him Modi took to Twitter to con- forced him to withdraw from Union Minister Piyush Pioneer in 1998, there was all- per which grew leaps and many friends and admirers dole Mitra’s demise. “Shri public activism. Condolences Goyal tweeted, “Deeply sad- around skepticism about Dr bounds, from two editions in across party lines. Chandan Mitra Ji will be to @kushanmitra and other dened at the passing away of Mitra’s ability to save the news- 1995 to eight editions now. He Continued on Page 2 remembered for his intellect near and dear. Om Shanti.” former Rajya Sabha MP and and insights. He distinguished Rajya Sabha MP Swapan senior journalist Shri Chandan himself in the world of media Dasgupta, an old college-time Mitra ji. His contributions to as well as politics. Anguished friend of Mitra, also took to the field of media and politics by his demise. Condolences to Twitter to express his grief. “I will be long remembered. May his family and admirers. Om lost my closest friend- Editor of God give his family the Shanti,” the PM tweeted. The Pioneer & former MP strength to overcome this loss. President Ram Nath Chandan Mitra-this morning. Om Shanti!”. Kovind said, “Chandan Mitra We were together as students of Many of the journalists was an outstanding journalist La Martiniere & went on to St who were mentored by Mitra at and his stint as a parliamen- Stephen’s & Oxford. We joined different publications recalled tarian added to his reputation. journalism at the same time & his approachable attitude His understanding of Hindi shared the excitement of towards greenhorns. heartland and its history was Ayodhya & the saffron wave,” Ashok Malik said, profound. His demise leaves a he tweeted. “Crushing to hear of Chandan void in Indian journalism. My He posted a nostalgic pho- Mitra’s passing. My first boss in heartfelt condolences to his tograph of Chandan Mitra and Delhi when I moved here in family and friends.” himself together during a ‘94, learnt so much from him. The distinguished Editor of school trip in 1972. “Be happy A very fine mind and trail- The Pioneer was penning his my dear friend wherever you blazer in Indian journalism, biography. “I am on to it but are. Om Shanti,” he said in with a passion for politics and there is no time to complete it..”, another tweet. a lifetime of ishq with Hindi he once said in his Congress leader Shashi film songs. God give him 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. His erudite writer. and initiating the feast. of India. I readily, and happily, great loss for the world of & succeeded me. We remained knowledge of @INCIndia was There were quite a few I still remember meeting agreed. The next day it journalism,” Mamata said in touch over the years, ironi- unparalleled. Farewell eeply saddened by the things about Chandan (he pre- him first in June 1988, when I appeared on the front page with in a message. cally till I returned to Delhi & Chandan. Travel well,” said Duntimely demise of my ferred being addressed to by his was a student and struggling as the news piece related to the Expressing his anguish over politics separated us. RIP.” journalist Sagarika Ghose in mentor and editor of The first name) that set him apart a freelancer for various nation- death of the great film legend. the untimely demise of The Another Congress leader her tribute. Pioneer, Dr Chandan Mitra. He from high-flying Editors of his al dailies. He was the editorial I still have a frail copy Pioneer Editor, BJP president JP Jairam Ramesh said, “Dr Senior journalist Kanchan was two-time Rajya Sabha times. After our daily editori- in-charge of Section 2 (Now of the edition. Nadda said Mitra would be Chandan Mitra had friends Gupta who for a long time Member of Parliament and a al meeting in office, he would Delhi Times) of Times of India. Later I also worked under remembered for his distin- across the political spectrum worked with the late Editor in gentleman journalist; not only often drive to Bengali Market I was carrying a sketch of Raj his editorship at the HT for a guished career in the field of and made very learned speech- The Pioneer said, “My dear a fine Editor but an excellent to have Gol-gappas... In office Kapoor, made for Navbharat few years and at The Pioneer for gave me complete freedom for media and service for people. es in the Rajya Sabha. Apart friend Chandan Mitra, editor of human being with an ability to get-together parties you could Times (TOI’s sister publica- more than two decades.