Sankarshan Thakur, fearless journalist, author, chronicler of Bihar politics, passes away at 63

Veteran journalist Sankarshan Thakur, editor of The Telegraph newspaper and author of many books on Bihar politics including “Subaltern Saheb”, a political biography of former chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, “Single Man: The Life and Times of Nitish Kumar of Bihar”, and “The Brothers Bihari”, a highly acclaimed political diptych on Yadav and Kumar, died on September 8, after prolonged illness. He was 63.

Born in Patna in 1962, Thakur was the son of senior journalist Janardhan Thakur. He received his early education at St Xavier’s in Patna and later in Delhi, before earning a degree in political science from Hindu College, Delhi University.

Thakur, who began his journalism career in 1984 with SUNDAY magazine, is survived by his wife Sona, daughter Jahan and son Ayushman.

He worked in several places, including The Indian Express, Tehelka and The Telegraph in two stints.

Known for his sharp political commentary, empathetic pen and distinctive personal style — often seen with his trademark upturned shirt collar — Thakur was a keen chronicler of Indian politics, particularly Bihar.

His home state was the focus of not just his journalism but also served as the foundation of his credentials as an author.

His fiery prose and insights have enriched Indian journalism for decades. He wrote several books, including the definitive political biographies of Lalu Prasad Yadav and Nitish Kumar, and a collection of essays from the Kargil War.

In January this year, Thakur wrote a condolence message for a friend on X and bemoaned the “brutal uncertainties of life”.

“Irredeemably sad to learn that Tarun Bhartiya @LudditeNed is no more. What a fine mind, what a multifaceted person. What a loss. Such are the brutal uncertainties of life,” he said.

It was among his last posts on X.

Tributes have been pouring in.

“A fearless ground reporter, he brought to life some of India’s most defining events — from the Kargil war front, Bhopal tragedy, 1984 anti-Sikh riots and Indira Gandhi’s assassination, to the complexities of Kashmir, the Sri Lankan civil war, and socio-political currents in Bihar and Pakistan,” the Editors Guild of India said in a statement.

“His distinguished contributions earned him the Prem Bhatia Award for excellence in political journalism (2001) and the Appan Menon Fellowship (2003),” it added.

“Mourning the passing of senior journalist and author Sankarshan Thakur. He was one of the greats—a reporter who truly understood India’s political landscape and brought it to life with incredible clarity and empathy,” wrote Shashi Tharoor, Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram.

“His legendary political reportage and masterful books were a testament to his sharp intellect and unwavering integrity. He will be sorely missed. A huge loss to Indian journalism. Om Shanti,” he added.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge posted: “Deeply saddened by the passing of brilliant journalist, author and the roving editor of the Telegraph, Shri Sankarshan Thakur. His incisive reporting, fearless political commentary and eloquent writing style leave an enduring legacy. My deepest condolences and thoughts are with his family, friends, colleagues and readers.”

Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee wrote: “Saddened by the demise of Sankarshan Thakur, editor of ‘The Telegraph’ newspaper. He was a brilliant and distinguished journalist, with significant writings on contemporary political history. I convey my condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.”

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said Thakur was one of the few journalists who “made an effort to travel extensively around J&K and, while travelling, actually listened without judgment”.

“Very sorry to hear about the tragic death of @SankarshanT. He was an excellent journalist, objective & well informed… He put up a brave fight but ultimately the illness prevailed. May his soul rest in peace. My heartfelt condolences to his family,” Abdullah posted on X.

Congress Party Leader Jairam Ramesh described Thakur as a “delightfully brilliant writer”.

“He was a very incisive analyst of Indian politics and his numerous articles on Bihar as well as J&K established his reputation. Over the many years that he sparkled as a journalist, he was consistently informed and educated. He belonged to a breed that is already endangered,” the Rajya Sabha MP said in his post.

One might agree or disagree with his views on Bihar and Jammu and Kashmir but he shall always be remembered for his insight into the ground, said Jha in a lengthy post while pointing out that Thakur loved “swimming against the current”.

His colleagues and many readers agreed.

“Thakur was deeply objective in his writings, never allowing his personal likes or dislikes to influence his reportage. In fact, I had a word with him 10-15 days ago and as usual, he was full of life – telling stories, laughing. He was not someone who would make his illness a big deal,” senior journalist and author Rasheed Kidwai told PTI.

Struggling to speak about his long-time associate who had drafted him into The Telegraph in 1995-96, Kidwai remembered him as a “lively figure” and a journalist with impeccable integrity.

“He was eagerly looking forward to covering the upcoming Bihar elections. But his knowledge wasn’t confined to Bihar alone – it was encyclopaedic. He wrote on a wide range of issues. Kashmir, in particular, was very close to his heart; it was his idea of happiness,” he added.

In addition to his in-depth reporting on Bihar, Thakur published monographs on a range of critical issues, including the Kargil War, Pakistan and caste-based honour killings in Uttar Pradesh.

Thakur’s contributions earned him the Prem Bhatia Award for excellence in political journalism (2001) and the Appan Menon Fellowship (2003).

Readers, fellow journalists and friends wrote in with their tributes and personal memories of the journalist, flooding social media platforms.

Senior journalist AJ Philip, in his tribute titled “Sankarshan Thakur: A Reporter Who Wrote with a Poet’s Pen”, recalled Thakur’s “nuanced and riveting” dispatches from the 1999 Kargil War.

“He was holidaying in Goa when he heard about the ‘war’ in Kargil. Without hesitation, he rushed there… Television reporters like Barkha Dutt became household names with their ground-zero coverage, but Sankarshan’s words captured the complexity of the war with a depth that only print could provide,” Philip wrote.

Author Nilanjana Roy termed him the “lighthouse of an editor”.

“A great and saddening loss. Sankarshan Thakur held on to courage and his conscience when so many sold theirs,” she said on X.