New Delhi/Guwahati, 23 April 2021: The Indian Journalists Union (IJU) deeply mourns the demise of veteran journalist and a fierce trade union leader Comrade Santosh Kumar. He was 93 and passed away this morning at his residence in New Delhi. Santosh Kumar was the one of the founder members of the Indian Journalists Union (IJU), the Vice President of All India Newspaper Employees Federation (AINEF) and Vice President of Confederation of Newspaper and News Agency Employees Unions. Besides, he also led many plant unions in several prominent national dailies in the National Capital. 

Santosh Kumar led the agitation against the infamous Bihar Press Bill which was forced to be withdrawn. Born in Lahore, West Pakistan he later migrated to Delhi. In his journalistic career of decades, he retired as News Editor of Pratap, an Urdu Daily. He also edited Trade Union Record, a magazine published by the AITUC.

Indian Journalists Union President and former member Press Council of India Geetartha Pathak and IJU Secretary General and Vice President, International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) Sabina Inderjit said he was a firebrand leader and an inspiration to the unions of journalists and other media employees. He authored several books including Lahornama, a book that captured his nostalgic attachment with the Pakistan’s vibrant city of Lahore.

The IJU said the journalists’ trade union movement will always cherish his yeoman service to the cause, which he tirelessly carried forward for decades. The union sends its heartfelt condolences to his daughter Vibha and his two grandsons.