PUNE, Nov 25:
Noted journalist Dileep Padgaonkar, who was a part of the three-member interlocutors group for Jammu and Kashmir in 2008, passed away here today after brief illness.
72-year-old Padgaonkar, a former editor of The Times of India, was unwell for past several weeks and died at a hospital in Pune, family sources said.
He passed away at a private hospital here where he was brought in a critical condition last week.
“Padgaonkar was brought to Ruby Hall Clinic here from Prayag Hospital in a critical condition on November 18. When he was brought here, he was on ventilator support and there was multi-organ failure. From the day of admission, he was on dialysis and ventilator support,” Sanjay Pathare, Director, medical services, Ruby Hall Clinic said.
Pathare said a team of doctors tried to revive Padgaonkar, but he breathed his last today.
Born in Pune in 1944, Padgaonkar did his schooling from St Vincent’s High School and later graduated from Fergusson College in political science.
He began his career in journalism at an early age and joined the Times of India as its Paris correspondent after receiving a doctorate in Humanities in 1968.
He served the paper in various capacities before he was appointed its editor in 1988, a post he held for six years. In between, from 1978 to 1986, he also worked with UNESCO in Bangkok and Paris.
Padgaonkar was appointed as one of the members of the three-member interlocutors group on Jammu and Kashmir, set up by the Government after continuous unrest in the Valley in 2008. The veteran journalist had once said that he held the second most important job in the country after the Prime Minister.
Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu tweeted, “Very saddened by passing away of dear friend, veteran journalist Dileep Padgaonkar. Condolences to the family.”
Saddened by demise of Dileep Padgaonkar. Always respected his classic erudition though “diagreed” interlocutor report on Jammu and Kashmir,” Union MoS in PMO Dr Jitendra singh tweeted.
Governor N N Vohra has also expressed grief over the sad demise of Padgaonkar.
In a message of condolence, the Governor has prayed for the peace to the departed soul and conveyed his sympathy to the bereaved family.
Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, has also deeply mourned the demise of renowned journalist Dileep Padgaonkar.
In her condolence message, the Chief Minister described Padgaonkar as a journalist par excellence whose death has resulted in a terrible loss to the country. She also vividly remembered his interest in the affairs of the J&K State, especially as a part of the Interlocutors group framed on Jammu and Kashmir.
“I am deeply saddened by the passing away of the veteran journalist and editor who made a huge contribution in the field of journalism,” she said.
Mehbooba extended her sympathies to the bereaved family members of the Padgaonkar family in their hour of grief and prayed for peace to the departed soul. (PTI)
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