 |
| Late journalist Vinod Dua with daughter Mallika and wife Cheena. (Image via mallikadua/ Instagram) |
We lost the veteran journalist, Vinod Dua, known as the pioneer in Hindi broadcast journalism on Saturday, December 4, at the age of 67. Dua passed away due to a prolonged illness following a Covid infection at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Apollo Hospital in New Delhi. His daughter actor-comedian Mallika Dua had confirmed the news of her father’s death.
He was a pioneer in Hindi broadcast journalism. His shows like, Aap Ke liye, Zaika India ka, Yuv jan were big hits. Dua has been showered with many awards during his career, including in 1996 when he won the coveted Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism award and the Government of India awarded him with the Padmashri for journalism in 2008.
Mallika Dua shared the news on her Instagram account,
“He lived an inimitable life, rising from the refugee colonies of Delhi to the peak of journalistic excellence for over 42 years, always always speaking truth to power”.
Friends and colleagues paid tribute to veteran journalists. NDTV co-founder Prannoy Roy called him “The greatest of his time”, he also tweeted,
“An amazing talent I admired and respected and from whom I learnt a lot in the many years we worked closely together”.
Deeply mourning the loss of Vinod.He was not just one of the greatest,he was THE greatest of his time.I have always said that:THE greatest An amazing talent I admired and respected-and from whom I learnt a lot in the many years we worked closely together Rest in peace my friend
— Prannoy Roy (@PrannoyRoyNDTV) December 4, 2021
Arfa Khanum Sherwani an editor of the Wire, said-
“Dua was more than a colleague, he was friend, philosopher and guide to me, there was no one like him”.
Earlier this week,
“Mallika had requested people not to spread fake news about her father’s death”.
Mallika further added,
“My papaji is beyond critical in the ICU, his health deteriorating rapidly since April”.
The late journalist's wife Padmavati Dua (Chinna) had contracted COVID-19 during the second wave in April-May. She died in June, according to Mallika Dua the veteran journalist had not been keeping well since then.
Vinod Dua's daughter also said that,
“He is now with our mom, his beloved wife Chinna in heaven, where they will continue to sing, cook, travel and drive each other up the wall”.
Mallika also said in reference to the now-defunct case-
“Even at your weakest, you gave Indian journalism a landmark judgement. No journalist will be randomly slapped with a sedition case because Vinod Dua fought the fight for them as he always has”.
His last rites have been performed at the Lodhi crematorium in New Delhi on Sunday, December 5.
Author
Kayan Khatun
Post a Comment