
Sankarshan Thakur, the editor of The Telegraph and a political author, died on Monday. He was 63.
In 1984, Thakur began his career at the Sunday magazine after completing his political science degree at Delhi University’s Hindu College. He went on to hold several editorial positions at The Telegraph, The Indian Express and Tehelka.
Thakur reported on several events such as the Bhopal gas tragedy, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s assassination and the Sri Lankan civil war.
He was conferred with the Prem Bhatia Award in 2001 and the Appan Menon Fellowship in 2003.
Thakur also wrote several political biographies such as Subaltern Saheb about Bihar’s former Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and Single Man: The Life and Times of Nitish Kumar of Bihar.
He also wrote The Brothers Bihari about Yadav and Kumar.
The Press Club of India expressed its condolences, adding that Thakur’s “sharp political analysis and unwavering commitment to the truth” will be missed.
“We’ve lost a fearless voice in journalism,” the news association said on social media.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Monday said that a “liberal, democratic, secular and pluralistic India” had lost one of its strongest defenders with the death of Thakur.
“He was a very incisive analyst of Indian politics and his numerous articles on Bihar as well as J&K established his reputation,” the Rajya Sabha MP said on social media, adding that Thakur was a “delightfully brilliant writer”.
“He belonged to a breed that is already endangered,” the Congress leader added.
Senior journalist and editor of The Telegraph newspaper, Sankarshan Thakur passed away today. He was 63.
We’ve lost a fearless voice in journalism.
His sharp political analysis and unwavering commitment to the truth will be deeply missed.
In this time of sorrow, the Press… pic.twitter.com/HzmrpXYlrQ
— Press Club of India (@PCITweets) September 8, 2025
Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Manoj Kumar Jha said that with Thakur’s death, the country has lost one of its “finest chroniclers of truth, courage and complexity”.
“A quiet lamp has gone out, and yet its glow will not fade,” Jha said on social media. “Sankarshan Thakur an eminent journalist and author whose words became both mirror and compass for a changing nation, passed away today morning.”
Jha added that Thakur “walked the thin line between reportage and resistance with rare integrity” for decades.
“Sankarshan always held the ground steady, reminding people that journalism is not about proximity to authority but about fidelity to people’s struggles and aspirations,” he said.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said that Thakur’s death was a huge loss to Indian journalism.
“He was one of the greats – a reporter who truly understood India’s political landscape and brought it to life with incredible clarity and empathy,” Tharoor said. “His legendary political reportage and masterful books were a testament to his sharp intellect and unwavering integrity.”
Raj Kamal Jha, the chief editor of The Indian Express, described Thakur as a friend and “conscience”.
This article first appeared on Scroll.in
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