Dr Chandan Mitra, Eminent Journalist-writer, Is No More

Chandan Mitra, born on 12 December 1955  in Howrah, who was Editor-in-Chief and Managing Director of The Pioneer group of newspapers headquartered in Delhi,  passed away on Wednesday night. He was a 2-time Member of the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh. His son Kushan Mitra said that he had been suffering for a while. Mitra debuted in journalism as Assistant Editor with The Statesman in Kolkata before he moved to the Times of India in Delhi and then The Sunday Observer where he later became the Editor. He had moved to The Hindustan Times as Executive Editor. Mitra left to join The Pioneer as Editor and later bought control of the newspaper from the Thapar family in 1998 when industrialist L. M. Thapar decided to quit. Condoling his demise, PM Narendra Modi said, “Shri Chandan Mitra Ji will be remembered for his intellect and insights. He distinguished himself in the world of media as well as politics. Anguished by his demise. Condolences to his family and admirers”. A doctorate from Oxford  University, he had joined the All India Trinamool Congress in 2018. Dr Mitra was educated at La Martiniere in Calcutta where he was awarded the Founder’s Gold Medal in 1971. He was a batchmate of eminent journalists Swapan Dasgupta and Paranjoy Guha Thakurta at La Martiniere. He later joined St. Stephen’s College in Delhi University where Mitra and Shashi Tharoor, now Congress MP from Kerala, became pals. Mitra was campaign manager for Tharoor’s successful campaign to become President of the college’s student union. He is survived by his wife Shobori Ganguly and two sons. Edited by PKC