New Delhi: H K Dua, a distinguished journalist and a veteran of Indian public life who held the rare distinction of helming editorial operations at four of India’s leading newspapers, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 88.
He breathed his last peacefully this afternoon at a private hospital, a member of his family said. His cremation will take place at Lodhi Road crematorium on Thursday.
Dua was admitted to the hospital around three weeks ago. He was survived by his wife Adity and son Prashant.
Apart from the distinction of serving as the Editor of The Hindustan Times (1987-94), the Editor-in-Chief of The Indian Express (1994-96) as well as The Tribune (2003-09), he also worked as the media adviser to two former Prime Ministers, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and H.D. Deve Gowda. He was also Editorial Adviser for The Times of India from 1997 to 1998.
A recipient of the Padma Bhushan, Mr. Dua also served as India’s Ambassador to Denmark from 2001 to 2003. In 2009, he was nominated to the Rajya Sabha, where he served until 2015.
Tributes and condolence messages poured in from across the political spectrum.
“My deepest condolences on the passing of H. K. Dua, a distinguished journalist, diplomat, and Padma Bhushan recipient whose commitment to truth, editorial independence, and public service enriched public discourse,” Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said in a post on X.
Former Information and Broadcasting Minister and senior Congress leader Manish Tewari said Mr. Dua “chose to live by his convictions rather than become a lackey of the owners and kowtow to politicians for advertisements”. “A very warm human being and totally unpretentious, he knew how to call a spade a spade,” Mr. Tewari said in a post on X.
Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal said Mr. Dua upheld editorial independence with integrity and insight, while Congress MP Shashi Tharoor described him as “a journalistic giant”.
Born on July 1, 1937, Mr. Dua’s career spanned more than four decades. He was known as the “gentleman editor” for his affable nature and sharp political insights.
Mr. Dua was twice elected president of the Editors’ Guild of India and was regarded as a steadfast advocate of editorial independence and democratic values.
During his tenure in the Rajya Sabha, he participated in debates on foreign policy and national security, and was a member of the Standing Committee on External Affairs and the Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Home Affairs. He also served on the National Security Advisory Board.
He also received honorary doctorates from Punjab and Kurukshetra Universities, besides several awards for excellence in journalism.
