Senior Journalist AJ Philip Remembers Sankarshan Thakur: “A Career Built On Curiosity, Integrity, And Craft”
In a heartfelt eulogy, senior journalist AJ Philip has paid tribute to Sankarshan Thakur, the esteemed editor and reporter who passed away at the age of 63 after a valiant battle with lung cancer. Thakur, who died at Medanta Hospital in Gurgaon, was remembered by Philip as a masterful storyteller whose work blended the precision of journalism with the artistry of literature. Drawing from decades of personal acquaintance and professional admiration, Philip’s remembrance paints a vivid portrait of a man whose passion for the craft defined Indian journalism.
Thakur’s journey began humbly as a trainee at the Free Press Journal, but his innate talent quickly propelled him forward. Born into a family steeped in the profession – his father, Janardan Thakur, was a formidable journalist – Sankarshan inherited not just the instincts but the literary flair that would become his hallmark. Philip recalls their first meeting in Patna during the mid-1980s, when Thakur was a young, enthusiastic reporter for Sunday magazine, edited by none other than MJ Akbar, a famous editor-turned-politician whose name was later mentioned in some metoo allegations. Priced at just one rupee, the weekly was renowned for its quality, and Thakur’s contributions stood out for their evocative style, according to Philip.
“What drew me most to Sankarshan was his flair for writing,” Philip writes. “He was not the conventional reporter who filled his copy with dull phrases like ‘he said, he observed, he concluded.’ He wrote instead with the heart of a storyteller and the brush of a painter.” Thakur’s reports often opened with novelistic detail, such as descriptions of sunsets and fishermen’s daily struggles, infusing politics and human conflict with rhythm, cadence, and colour. This approach made his work not merely informative but profoundly engaging, humanising complex issues for readers across India.
Thakur’s career trajectory took him through prominent publications, including The Telegraph and The Indian Express. At The Telegraph, where he served as national affairs editor before becoming editor in 2023, his long features and dispatches were celebrated for their richness. Philip highlights Thakur’s eagerness to report from the ground: “Within two hours, he would board a car or train or plane to reach the spot.” This commitment was evident during the Kargil War in 1999, when Thakur, holidaying in Goa, rushed to the front lines. His nuanced reports captured the war’s complexities with a depth that rivalled television coverage, though without the instant fame.
Tragedy struck during that assignment when Thakur learned of his father’s death. Two decades later, he reflected on it in a tweet: “It has been 20 years, and we lost him while I was reporting the war over Kargil. Nothing fades, or it fades and colours up again and again, like shades on olden photographs. A tribute to the man who made me. He was also my father.” Philip describes this as revealing “the tenderness beneath his journalistic toughness,” underscoring Thakur’s ability to weave personal emotion into his public voice.
Beyond reporting, Thakur authored notable books, including The Brothers Bihari, which delved into Bihar’s politics through the lives of Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad Yadav. His earlier work, The Making of Laloo and the Unmaking of Bihar, drew mixed reactions; Philip once critiqued it for mocking Yadav’s mannerisms, such as scratching his groin, deeming it unbecoming. Yet, he praised its overall narrative depth. Meeting Yadav later, Philip glimpsed the book in the politician’s collection, accompanied by candid remarks about Thakur that hinted at the book’s impact.
Philip and Thakur briefly worked together at The Indian Express, where Thakur served as associate editor. Though reluctant to write anonymous editorials, Thakur was generous in acknowledging sub-editors’ contributions, a rarity in the field. Known for his warmth, he hosted friends with home-cooked meals, favouring slow-cooked mutton and litti – Bihari delicacies dripping with ghee. “His table, like his prose, had flavour and richness,” Philip notes.
Thakur’s death has elicited widespread grief. Fellow journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta announced it on X: “Senior journalist and editor Sankarshan Thakur is no more. RIP.” Academic Amitabh Mattoo hailed him as “one of India’s finest reporters,” praising his brilliance, craft, and courage. Saba Naqvi recalled meeting him in Varanasi during the 2024 elections, both enduring extreme heat: “The point is this was an Editor who was sweating it out in the field. That’s what makes a great journalist.” Narendra Nath Mishra lamented the loss of Thakur’s deep knowledge of Bihar, while the Press Club of India mourned a “fearless voice” whose sharp analysis would be deeply missed.
Diagnosed with lung cancer Thakur initially responded to treatment, raising hopes among family and friends. However, the disease proved relentless, leading to his placement on a ventilator. He leaves behind his wife, daughter (a conservationist with INTACH), and son (a law graduate from Jindal University), along with a vast network of admirers.
In Philip’s words, Thakur’s career was “built on curiosity, integrity, and craft,” rising to the zenith as editor of The Telegraph.
