President of India Condoles the Passing Away of Eminent Journalist Shri Amitabha Chowdhury

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee has condoled the passing away ofShri Amitabha Chowdhury, eminent journalist, writer and scholar.

In a condolence message tohis son,Shri Anirban Chowdhury, the President has said, "I was sad to learn about the passing away of your father,Shri Amitabha Chowdhury who was well known to both my father, Shri Kamada Kinkar Mukherjee as well as me.

Shri Chowdhury was a distinguished journalist, writer and scholar. Starting his journalistic career immediately after independence, Shri Chowdhury worked for around 27 years with many leading newspapers of West Bengal such as Jugantar, Anandabazar Patrika and Aajkaal. He won the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1961 for his reportage on individual rights and community interests in India.

Shri Chowdhury was not only a student and teacher in Visva Bharati but also a highly regarded scholar of the life and works of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, having authored over 60 books and articles on the subject. He attained widespread popularity for his limericks on political and cultural issues. Shri Chowdhury was honoured with a Padma Shri in 1983 for his many services to the nation.

I owe him a personal debt of gratitude for his service as Trustee of the Kamada Kinkar Mukherjee Memorial Society from it’s inception in 1995 till date. In his sad demise, I have lost a good friend and associate of long years.

Please convey my heartfelt condolences to all members of your family. I pray to the Almighty to give you and other members of your family the strength and courage to bear this irreparable loss”.

This release issued at 1030 hrs.