Tribute | T.J.S. George: A Fearless Voice Who Redefined Indian Journalism
Celebrated Indian journalist, author, and biographer Thayil Jacob Sony George, widely known as TJS George, passed away on Thursday, October 3, at the age of 97.
George was a towering figure in Indian journalism, known for his fearless editorials, incisive political commentary, and a prolific career that spanned over seven decades.
He was the founding editor of Asiaweek in Hong Kong and later served as Editorial Advisor to The New Indian Express, where his column “Point of View” ran for 25 years until June 2022.
Born on May 7, 1928, in Kerala, he was the fourth of eight children of magistrate Thayil Thomas Jacob and homemaker Chachiamma Jacob. Though rooted in Thumpamon, Kerala, George made his home in Bangalore and Coimbatore with his wife, Ammu. He is survived by his daughter Sheba Thayil, son Jeet Thayil—a noted poet and novelist—and nephew Raj Mathai, a U.S.-based television journalist.
After graduating in English Literature from Madras Christian College, George began his journalism career in 1950 at The Free Press Journal, Mumbai.
Also, read| Veteran Journalist-Writer TJS George Dies At 97
He went on to work with the International Press Institute, The Searchlight, and Far Eastern Economic Review. He became the first editor in independent India to be charged with sedition for his editorials against the Bihar government in the 1960s.
George authored several acclaimed books, including biographies of Krishna Menon, M.S. Subbulakshmi, and Lee Kuan Yew, as well as The Goenka Letters, Askew: A Short Biography of Bangalore, and The Dismantling of India. He wrote in both English and Malayalam and was respected for his clarity, boldness, and integrity in public discourse.
He was also a keen observer of China, reporting on its transformation during the 2008 Olympics. Recognised with the Padma Bhushan in 2011 for his contributions to literature and education, he also received numerous other accolades, including the Rajyotsava Award, the Mohammed Koya Journalism Award, and the Vakkom Moulavi Memorial Award in 2024.
T.J.S. George remained a committed critic of authoritarianism and a staunch defender of press freedom throughout his life.
In his final column published in June 2022, T.J.S. George signed off after 25 years of unbroken weekly commentary, a rare feat in Indian journalism.
Also, read| Veteran Novelist & Padma Bhushan Awardee SL Bhyrappa Dies At 94
Titled “Now is the time to say goodbye”, the piece was not just a farewell, but a reflection on the changing sphere of media, his own long journey, and the increasing threats to press freedom in the country.
George recalled the discipline and sense of duty that journalism demanded, deadlines, edits, and the constant pressure to speak truth without fear.
He mentioned key moments from his past, such as his international experiences and editorial challenges, but focused more on what it meant to write freely in a time when freedom was becoming fragile.
The last column by TJS George. Go well, sir! pic.twitter.com/hAwumi36B6
— RadhakrishnanRK, PhD. (@RKRadhakrishn) October 3, 2025
A core message in his final words was a warning: that in today’s India, the space for criticism is shrinking. While he acknowledged that journalists could still write freely to an extent, he expressed concern that criticism was slowly being viewed as disloyalty and that challenging authority could be mistaken for being anti-national.
He also touched on the attempts to redefine culture and national identity from the top, cautioning against centralised narratives that ignore India’s diversity. For George, journalism wasn’t just about news — it was about defending the right to question, to doubt, and to disagree.
Though he stepped away from his regular column, George made it clear he wasn’t finished. He ended with the quiet conviction that while he may no longer write every week, the values he stood for, courage, clarity, and conviction, would continue. His final line echoed the spirit of his entire career: the struggle for truth must go on.
