Neelabh Mishra remembered by colleagues, friends and activists

A condolence meeting was held at Chinmaya Mission Auditorium, New Delhi on Wednesday evening to pay tributes to late senior journalist and Editor-in-Chief of National Herald, Neelabh Mishra—who passed away on February 24 at a Chennai Hospital.

The meeting was participated by a large number friends and colleagues of the late editor from media and social activists.

Apoorvanand, a long-time friend of Neelabh and professor at the Hindi Department of University of Delhi remembered Neelabh as a seasoned journalist who wrote in English and Hindi with equal felicity and remained a committed companion of social movements all through his active life. “Neelabh always believed and practised this principle that even if one supports someone (ideologically), one needs not defend their every step. That the critical mind must always remain conscious,” said Apoorvanand in his introductory remarks.

Zafar Agha, acting Editor-in-Chief, National Herald, Navjivan and Qaumi Awaz recalled Neelabh as a thorough gentleman who was soft spoken, gentle in his behaviour and writing…one who always bore a ready smile for everyone. There was another Neelabh who was very determined, upright and never willing to compromise….a Nehruvian to the core….always ready to fight for justice. He was as much a journalist as activist.”

P Sainath, senior journalist and founder-editor of the People’s Archive of Rural India remembered his 25 year-long association with the late editor when he was associated with Navbharat Times in Bihar. Appreciating his qualities of head and heart, Sainath narrating several anecdotes regarding their joint field assignments in Rajasthan. “He was a great interviewer, who would make people very comfortable. Besides all gentleness and softness, he had a great sense of humour. And he had a sense of mischief also,” Sainath said, adding that “he (Neelabh) understood brilliantly how different strata in a village occupy space vis a vis each other. How they come in conflict with each other.”

“Neelabh was closely associated with several people’s movements and actively supported the struggle for civil liberties and democratic rights in the country,” Harish Dhawan, a human rights activist said, adding, “It was not a particular ideology he was committed to but liberal values, equality and everything that we cherish in a democracy.”

Political and social activist Aruna Roy thus remembered the late editor as a guide, critique and a wonderful friend: “He would always tell us about the outcomes of our movements and how they are going to benefit democracy in the country.”

“He was a fearless and liberal person who would feel that morality, ideology and politics go hand in hand….He had a huge parabola of interests in literature, music, culture, religion, philosophy and politics,” Aruna added.

Prominent among others who were present on the occasion included former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress President Rahul Gandhi, veteran Congress leader Motilal Vora, editor The Wire Siddharth Varadarajan, senior journalist Rajdeep Sardesai social activist Nikhil Dey, former Rajya Sabha TV CEO Gurdeep Sappal and sociologist Shiv Visvanathan.