Sad Holi
Shantanu Guha Ray no more
Atanu das, Sr. Journalist , Ex-PTI
New Delhi, 27 March , “ Grief is the price we pay for love”. Sad, a gregarious person, always welcomed people and was a decent journalist. No time to go.
Few golden lines from a senior internationally famed journalist Vijay Lokapally
who recently wrote
autobiography of Virat Kohli “ Turning Point “
…wrote Shantanu Guha Ray was an accomplished journalist who could write on any subject. He loved exploring subjects. Sports was dear to him but he revelled in business and political stories. Nothing thrilled him more than a close finish in a sporting encounter because he could then become a story teller. And he was damn good at it. A raconteur with sharp memory, he was a delight in the Press Box. Most of his predictions were accurate. Not known to take notes I always marvelled at his ability to recall the flow of the game with amazing perfection. He loved laughing at himself and that made him such a lovable human being. He held no grudges. He lived life like there was no tomorrow and I know he was proud of his daughter (Oindrilla). Will miss his “Cariappa,” reference to a nondescript footballer at the Ambedkar Stadium. Shantanu left too soon. Travel well my friend.
Ex-PTI diplomatic journalist Pallab Bhatachary wrote about him… He ( Shantanu) broke the story of Sandeshkhali kilngpin Sahjahan Sheikh months before other media.
Another foreign based former PTI writer Samir Mahendru wrote about him …deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Shantanu Guha Ray, one of the finest journalists in India. His writings span a variety of worlds, from entertainment to cricket, and will continue to inspire us.
Our sympathies are with his friends and family.
Writer of this piece has so many memories about him covering Durand and DCM football tournaments together for many years. Santanu was an ardent East Bengal club fan.
Sanjay kishor known journalist wrote…Shantanu Guha Ray a Wharton-trained, award-winning journalist who has specialised in reporting on investigative news features, business features and human interest reports is no more.
In 2015, he won the Ramnath Goenka award for his writings in cricket and the Laadli award for his reporting on cervical cancer deaths in India. His reporting on water-related issues helped him won the Washington Press Club award.
You will be missed dada.
