Headlines
Vinod Mehta dead, Modi calls him 'fine journalist'
New Delhi, March 8
Vinod Mehta, one of India's
best known journalists, died here on Sunday of multi-organ failure,
doctors said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called him "a fine
journalist".
The 73-year-old Mehta, who at one time worked as
factory hand in Britain, passed away at the All India Institute of
Medical Sciences (AIIMS), its spokesperson Amit Gupta told IANS.
AIIMS
said Mehta suffered from several neurological issues and had been
bed-ridden for three to four months. He was admitted to AIIMS in
critical state last week.
Outlook group, which was the last major
media group Mehta founded, announced the death of its
founder-editor-in-chief "with deep sadness". Even after ceasing to be
its editor, he was its editorial chairman.
Modi said in a tweet:
"Frank and direct in his opinions, Vinod Mehta will be remembered as a
fine journalist and writer. Condolences to his family on his demise."
President
Pranab Mukherjee also offered his condolences and tweeted that "the
eminent journalist made immense contribution to journalism".
Born
in Rawalpindi before India's partition, Mehta's family moved to India
when he was only three years old. He grew up in Lucknow, studying in the
La Martinere school and Lucknow University.
His big moment came
in 1974 when Mehta, at age 32, took up editing "Debonair", a men's
magazine in India which boasted of serious articles as well as
centre-folds.
He later went on to launch other successful
publications such as Sunday Observer, The Pioneer and Outlook. He also
founded the Indian Post and The Independent newspapers.
A gifted
writer, Mehta authored a biography of Bollywood actress Meena Kumari and
Sanjay Gandhi, the younger son of slain prime minister Indira Gandhi.
His much acclaimed memoir, "Lucknow Boy", came out in 2011.
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Minister Rajnath Singh, the Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Lucknow,
said: "I express my heartfelt condolences... His demise has left a big
void in the field of journalism."