Senior journalist Sankarshan Thakur passes away

Sankarshan Thakur, Editor of The Telegraph, passed away on Monday (September 8, 2025) in a Gurgaon hospital.

Mr. Thakur, 63, was ailing for sometime and had undergone a surgery recently.

Known for his incisive political analysis and ground reporting, Mr. Thakur was considered one of the finest writers in contemporary journalism.

A chronicler of Bihar’s politics, Mr. Thakur’s well known books include Making of Laloo Yadav, The Unmaking of Bihar, Single Man: The Life And Times of Nitish Kumar of Bihar and The Brothers Bihari.

Educated in St. Xavier High School of Patna, Mr. Thakur graduated in Political Science from Hindu college of Delhi University before joining the world of journalism.

The news of his death has led to an outpouring in the journalistic fraternity. “We’ve lost a fearless voice in journalism. His sharp political analysis and unwavering commitment to the truth will be deeply missed,” the Press Club of India said in a post on social media platform X.

“His incisive reporting, fearless political commentary and eloquent writing style leave an enduring legacy,” Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said in a post on X.

Starting his career as a journalist of Sunday magazine of the Ananda Bazar Patrika group, Mr. Thakur specialised in ground reporting, especially in Bihar and Kashmir.

Before assuming the role of the Editor of The Telegraph, Mr. Thakur had been the newspaper’s National Affairs Editor.

A recipient of the Prem Bhatia award in 2001 for excellence in political journalism, the senior journalist also worked with The Indian Express and Tehelka.

His ground reporting for The Indian Express on the political violence in Manipur in June 2001, after the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government had extended ceasefire talks with the Naga group, NSCN-IM, stood out.

Condoling his death on X, Congress communication chief Jairam Ramesh said, “Sankarshan Thakur, editor of The Telegraph who has just passed away at a relatively young age, was a delightfully brilliant writer”.

“He was a very incisive analyst of Indian politics and his numerous articles on Bihar as well as J&K [Jammu and Kashmir] established his reputation. Over the many years that he sparkled as a journalist, he consistently informed and educated. He belonged to a breed that is already endangered. Liberal, democratic, secular, and pluralistic India has lost one of its strongest defenders,” Mr. Ramesh added.

Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her condolence. “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,” Ms. Banerjee said in a post on X.

Taking to X, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said Mr. Thakur’s demise is “heartbreaking”. “His passing is an irreplaceable loss for the world of journalism. He has written books related to Bihar’s politics, among which Single Man and The Brothers Bihari are prominent,” Mr. Kumar said.