AN END OF AN ERA. VETERAN JOURNALIST AND AUTHOR HARISH CHANDOLA WHO HELPED RESOLVING NAGA CRISIS NO MORE . Funeral at Green Park crematorium today at 4.30 PM
A leading veteran journalist having six decades of journalistic experience and authoring significant books like “The Naga Story – First Armed Struggle in India”, and a memoir, “At Large in the World”, having worked with Hindustan Times, Times of India, Indian Express, Statesman including contributing unaccounted number of articles in national , global periodicals and vernacular dailies and weeklies having played a pivotal role in Naga Accord, 94 year old Harish Chandola is no more who breathed his last yesterday sending shock wave in Journalistic and intellectual fraternity in particular. His last rights will be performed on Monday at 5.00 PM at Green Park crematorium.
I fondly remember Chandola Sir having accompanied the then union finance minister H. N. Bahuguna at Moti Lal Nehru College, Moti Bagh, under Delhi University in its annual function in 1980-81 on the writer’s invitation where he was president students union. H. N. Bahuguna, was the chief guest of this function. Bahuguna had then lauded Chandola Ji’s immense contribution in resolving Naga accord which was quite a complex issue those days in his address to students introducing him on stage as a leading journalist and prolific writer Bahuguna lauding him for his contribution in Naga Accord.
Bahuguna used to call him his dearest nephew and was always appreciative of him as a renowned journalist. Though veteran journalist Chandola devoted thirty years of his life in Joshimath having continued to write for Hindustan Times from the Himalayan state’s holy town – he also published a magazine during Uttarakhand movement to write on separate state issues and burning problems of the hills apart from contributing to national dailies. Harish Chandola joined prestigious newspaper Hindustan Times in 1950 as editorial assistant when there used to be very few journalists.
Just imagine how significant would have been for anyone joining HT just after three years of nation’s Independence from colonial rule about 72 years ago from now – reporting the independent India’s socio political developments.
A jovial smiling face always with affable nature having met him so many times with late H. N. Bahuguna in Delhi during eighties at his 5 Sunehri Bagh Road, Lodhi Estate, Shah Jahan Road and finally at Lodhi Colony house – veteran journalist Harish Chandola during sixties and seventies was among few reporters who would always prefer adventurous outing than being confined to editorial offices.
According to his eBook : He was driven by the sense of adventure and willingness to travel the world in search of developments / news. Not at all content with staying in the newsroom he used to take his annual leave and leave for journey for Tibet on foot at a time when expansionist China was establishing its strong foothold on Tibet beginning its incursion there and building a strong Army, revealed by non other but Chandola Ji in his news reporting in 1954 with the then prime minister Jawahar Lal Nehru terming it as a figment of imagination, finally discovering that expansionist China is building 1700 kilometres long highway from Lhasa to China main land vindicating his startling disclosures. Having covered several wars like conflicts in Kenya and Cambodia, Vietnam War from frontline and Algerian war of Independence including coverage from the middle of the coup in Indonesia back home this veteran journalist meticulously and with immense dexterity also played a pivotal role in sensitive negotiations with underground NAGA leaders on the personal request of the then PM Lal Bahadur Shastri.
He also covered the 1962 Indo China war. According to the details given in his book veteran journalist Harish Chandola was also significantly instrumental in resolving several key issues, mainly Naga imbroglio advising the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. His passing away is undoubtedly a huge loss to Indian journalistic fraternity and the people of Uttarakhand having a chequered journalistic career of more than six decades. Out heartfelt condolences and tributes. The Press Club of India while expressing its condolences wrote : The PCI expresses its deepest condolences on the sad demise of veteran journalist Harish Chandola. He reported several wars of the world on front lines and been the journalist of several leading newspapers of the country for six decades. Apart from covering Indo China war he is considered as the main contributor in resolving the Naga problem.
The PCI is with the aggrieved family at this anguished time and express their heartfelt tributes and condolences.
On Sunday at Press Club of India several journalists, social activists, writers, professors, entrepreneurs and colleagues of legendary journalist and prolific writer Dr. Ved Pratap Vaidik under the banner of Parvatiya Lok Vikas Samittee paid heartfelt tributes and condolences to two eminent scribes of the country Dr. Vaidik and Harish Chandola by standing in silence for two minutes as a mark of respect to the departed souls.
वरिष्ठ पत्रकार हरीश चंदोला (94) के निधन पर हम गहरा शोक प्रकट करते हैं। उन्होंने दुनिया के देशों में कई युद्धों की रिपोर्टिंग की और करीब छह दशक तक भारत के अग्रणी समाचार पत्रों के प्रतिनिधि रहे। भारत-चीन युद्ध की रिपोर्टिंग के अलावा उन्हें नगा समझौते का प्रमुख किरदार माना जाता है। असीम दुःख की इस घड़ी में उनके परिवार के प्रति गहरी संवेदनाएं हैं।
RIP
