MY MENTOR COLUMNIST T J S GEORGE
By P.T. Bopanna
I had the privilege of being mentored by veteran journalist T.J.S. George, who is celebrating his 97th birthday today.
Though I worked with him for only six months, my career as a journalist was shaped by him. George, never hesitated to call a spade a spade.
I rate him as the best columnist in the country. He is known for his fine prose, superb analytical skill and encyclopedic knowledge.
I had the distinction of being the first journalist hired by him in 1981 when ‘The Times of Deccan’ newspaper was started in Bengaluru. Later, he moved to The New Indian Express as editorial advisor and used to write a column for the paper.
After I left Times of Deccan, I used to meet him at the Bangalore Press Club during the Club elections. Sharing a photo taken a few years ago at the Club which was captured by my old colleague Ajay Ghatage. George is sporting his trade mark goatee. Also in the frame is Ranganath of Public TV.
George who has written biographies of M.S. Subblakshmi, Nargis and Krishna Menon, was conferred the Padma Bhushan in 2011 for literature. His son Jeet Thayil is a famous poet.
