Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Oct 3: Thayil Jacob Sony George, the renowned journalist, editor and author popularly known as TJS George, passed away on Friday at the age of 97 at Manipal Hospital in Bengaluru.
A Padma Bhushan awardee and a towering figure in post-Independence Indian journalism, George was widely respected for his sharp intellect, unflinching commitment to free speech, and bold, lucid writing style that spanned over seven decades.
Born on May 7, 1928, in Kerala, George was the fourth child of Thayil Thomas Jacob, a magistrate, and Chachiamma Jacob. He graduated with honours in English Literature from Madras Christian College before beginning his journalism career in 1950 with The Free Press Journal in Bombay (now Mumbai).
His early assignments included roles at The Searchlight, the International Press Institute, and the Far Eastern Economic Review. However, it was his appointment as the founding editor of Asiaweek, published from Hong Kong, that brought him global prominence.
While at The Searchlight, George became the first Indian editor to be charged with sedition, following a series of critical columns against then Bihar Chief Minister K.B. Sahay. His arrest drew national attention, prompting then defence minister V K Krishna Menon to fly to Patna in his defence. The case cemented George’s reputation as a journalist who never backed down from challenging authority.
"Some of us feel that we should not criticise our own country. Some feel exactly the other way — that a big country like ours needs to be cautioned all the way about pitfalls… There is something not right if a country and its rulers start feeling that they should not be criticised at all — and especially by newspaperwallahs," George wrote in one of his final columns, encapsulating his journalistic ethos.
He was known for his fearless commentary, deep analysis, and Hemingwayesque clarity. His writing often unsettled political figures, both in India and abroad, and was admired for its elegant simplicity and satirical undertones.
For 25 years, George wrote the widely followed weekly column "Point of View" for The New Indian Express, where he also served as Editorial Advisor. He stepped away from regular writing in June 2022 with a farewell piece titled "Now is the time to say Goodbye", at the age of 94, after penning over 1,300 columns.
George was also a mentor and institution-builder. He was the visionary behind the establishment of the Asian College of Journalism, which initially operated out of The New Indian Express premises in Bengaluru before moving to Chennai, where it continues to train future generations of journalists.
An accomplished author, George wrote several critically acclaimed books including Krishna Menon: A Biography, The Life and Times of Nargis, The First Refuge of Scoundrels: Politics in Modern India, MS: A Life in Music (a biography of M.S. Subbulakshmi), Lessons in Journalism: The Story of Pothan Joseph, Askew: A Short Biography of Bangalore, and The Dismantling of India. In Malayalam, he authored Ghoshayatra, Ottayan, and Malayilude Swathu: Basheer Muthal Mohanlal Vare.
He was conferred the Padma Bhushan in 2011 by the Government of India in recognition of his exceptional contributions to literature and journalism.
Though he hailed from Kerala, George spent most of his later life in Bengaluru. He is survived by his daughter Sheba Thayil and son Jeet Thayil, the Booker-shortlisted poet and novelist. American TV journalist Raj Mathai is his nephew.
Condolences poured in from across the country. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah wrote on X: "Saddened by the passing of veteran journalist, editor & author TJS George. With his sharp pen and uncompromising voice, he enriched Indian journalism for over six decades. He was a true public intellectual who made readers think, question and engage. My heartfelt condolences to his family, colleagues and countless admirers."
As his late contemporary and friend B R P Bhaskar once noted, “Few media persons experienced the romance of journalism in as great a measure as TJS.”