Veteran journalist editor-in chief and MD of The Pioneer and Rajya Sabha MP from 2003 to 2009 who in 2018 joined Trinamool Congress breathed his last yesterday night after a prolonged illness. A product of La Marteniere, prestigious St Stephens college and Oxford Chandan Mitra was a senior journalist who owned pioneer but resigned as its printer and publisher in 2020, because of his bad health and other compelling reasons.
Born in 1954 Chandan Mitra joined journalist as an assistant editor of statesman, then a popular, paper in Calcutta, there after moving to Times of India in Delhi, followed by Sunday Observar as it’s editor.
Afterwards he joined Hindustan Times as it’s executive editor, Delhi’s number one paper in terms of circulation. In 1998 he bought “The Pioneer” from prominent industrialist Thapar family and ran it till 2019 finally quitting as it’s MD and editor in chief due to losses n bad health.
A friend of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor while in prestigious St Stephens college, Delhi and also a close friend of his senior journalist and RS MP, Swapan Dass Gupta in La Maitenere school, Chandan Mitra helped and campaigned for Tharoor in his St Stephens Students union president’s election leading to his victory.
According to the deceased journalist’s son Kushan Mitra: My father has been suffering for quite a while, he has passed away yesterday night tweeted Kushan.
Chandan Mitra who joined BJP and was nominated as Rajya Sabha MP from Madhya Pradesh in 2003 was considered to be a close man of towering BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani as was also a prominent debater in English and hindi television debates representing BJP in his capacity of BJP MP n a senior journalist. However, he joined TMC in 2018.
The president Ram Nath Kovind, prime minister Modi, Defence minister Rajnath Singh, Ram Madho etc expressed their deepest condolences on the sad demise of BJP MP and a veteran journalist Chandan Mitra.
In a tweet President Kovind while expressing his tributes wrote : Chandan Mitra was an outstanding journalist and his stint as a parliamentarian added to his reputation. His understanding of Hindi heartland and it’s history was profound. His demise leaves a void in Indian journalism tweeted the President.
Prime minister Narendra Modi in his tweet while expressing his grief n condolences wrote : He will always 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.
The Defence minister Rajnath Singh, Ram Madhav and several other important personalities across spectrum paid their tributes to this veteran journalist.
Chandan Mitra’s school friend who is a senior journalist and Rajya Sabha MP Swapan Dad Gupta
posted their school picture wearing white uniform with neck ties with a tweet : I lost my closest friend editor of Pioneer and former MP Chandan Mitra, this morning. We were together as students of La Marteniere and went to St Stephens and Oxford. We joined journalism at the same time and shared the excitement of Ayodhya and a saffron wave tweeted Swapan Dass Gupta.
The West Bengal chief minister n TMC supremo Mamata Bannerje tweeted : Saddened by the demise of Shri Chandan Mitra. He will be remembered for his contribution to the world of journalism and politics. Heartfelt condolences to the family and lived ones tweeted Mamata Bannerjee.
featured pic: NDTV
