Veteran Journalist And Writer Anil Dharker Passes Away

In a career spanning over decades, Dharker wrote for several Indian and foreign publications.

Image: Anil Dharker's Twitter page

Well known journalist and author Anil Dharker passed away on Friday morning. He was the Writer and founder of Mumbai’s Tata Literature Live festival.

“Extremely saddened by the passing of the many talented Anil Dharker,” writer Bachi Karkaria wrote on Twitter. “I can safely say no other Indian Litfest curator had his deep, emotional commitment or drive. Knew him for well nigh 50 years. Flourish as much up there, dear Anil.”

As per a tweet update by writer Meenal Baghel, he had been hospitalised for a heart ailment.

He underwent a bypass procedure at a Mumbai hospital on Thursday and died there Friday morning, the colleague said. 

Over a five-decade-long illustrious career, Dharker had been a columnist and writer, an architect, a member of the advisory committee of the film censor board and more.

Dharker had been the editor of a variety of publications, starting with Debonair (a monthly), Mid-Day, and Sunday Mid-Day (evening papers); The Independent, a morning broad-sheet from the Times of India group and The Illustrated Weekly of India.

He was a columnist for The Indian Express newspaper and author The Romance Of Salt, a book on Mahatma Gandhis Dandi March. Dharker had also worked as a TV show producer and anchor, and head of a news television channel.

He was a member of the Advisory Boards of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Doordarshan, the Children`s Film Society of India and several film funds for the production of films in India. He was also a recipient of several awards for journalism.

Paying tributes to the late journalist, Shobhaa De tweeted: “Goodbye dearest Anil. An elegant mind, a stylish writer, and a loyal friend. You will be missed by all those whose lives you touched. RIP”.

Countless others from the media fraternity and beyond have echoed this sentiment. Journalist Barkha Dutt reacted to De's post with shock, even as Juggernaut Books founder Chiki Sarkar said that it was "very sad".

"Sad news coming in of Anil Dharker passing away. Was my editor at Mid-Day and The Independent. Man of delectable prose and varied interests. Sports buff. Compassionate and caring. Freethinker and fiercely democratic. RIP," recalled well-known sports commentator Ayaz Memon.