Veteran journalist T J S George dies at 97, condolences pour in

A fearless journalist with a wry sense of humor and an acerbic pen, which he used to speak his mind in his columns, George was also associated with The Free Press Journal in Mumbai and Hong Kong-based Far Eastern Economic Review. He authored biographies of Indian classical music maestro M S Subbulakshmi, actress Nargis and actor-turned-politician N T Rama Rao.

George was jailed in 1965 on charges of sedition for opposing the then Bihar chief minister K B Sahay. Hailing from Kerala, he spent most of his life in Bengaluru and Coimbatore.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said in a message on social media: “With his sharp pen and uncompromising voice, he (George) enriched Indian journalism for over six decades. He was a true public intellectual who made readers think, question and engage.”

“T J S George was a towering figure in Indian journalism whose fearless intellect and literary brilliance shaped public discourse over the last six decades. He was not just a journalist but a truth seeker, a conscience keeper and a chronicler of our times,” Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said in a statement on Friday. Shivakumar, along with Congress national general secretary K C Venugopal, visited George’s residence to pay homage to him.

Former Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai said in a statement: “For nearly 25 years, as a continuous columnist, he raised his voice against social inequality and corruption through his writings. His passing represents a significant loss to Indian journalism.”

George is survived by his son Jeet Thayil, a writer and novelist, and daughter Sheba, a journalist.