Veteran journalist, author, and Padma Bhushan awardee Thayil Jacob Sony George (TJS George) passed away in Bengaluru at the age of 97. His seven-decade career established him as an uncompromising voice who championed an independent, Asian style of journalism.
A Legacy of Courage and Vision
The Sedition Case: In 1965, while editor of The Searchlight in Patna, George became the first editor in independent India to be jailed for sedition after publishing critical columns against the then Bihar Chief Minister. His bail was famously argued in the High Court by former Defence Minister V.K. Krishna Menon.
Global Footprint: He was the Founding Editor of Asiaweek in Hong Kong, a magazine he created to cover the continent with an Asian soul, challenging Western-centric narratives.
Long-Running Column: For 25 years until 2022, he wrote the widely read weekly column “Point of View” for The New Indian Express, where he consistently fought against social injustice, corruption, and threats to democracy.
Literary Works: George authored numerous influential biographies, including works on V.K. Krishna Menon, Nargis, M.S. Subbulakshmi, and Pothan Joseph, alongside critical political analyses.
His philosophy of journalism was encapsulated by the mantra: “Disturb the comfortable, and comfort the disturbed.”
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