Journalists across India expressed shock and grief on Monday at the death of Sankarshan Thakur, editor of The Telegraph, acclaimed political author, and one of the country’s most respected ground reporters.
Thakur died at the age of 63 after prolonged illness.
Journalist Saba Naqvi recalled her last meeting with Thakur during the 2024 general election campaign in Varanasi. “We had both been in the field in excruciating heat. I had fainted on the ghats and he would tell me he just nearly collapsed in the room,” she wrote. “The point is this was an Editor who was sweating it out in the field. That’s what makes a great journalist.”
The wonderful Sankarshan Thakur has passed away. Editor of Telegraph, he wrote beautifully but was such a superb ground reporter. Indeed I last met him in Varanasi at the end of the 2024 election campaign. We had both been in the field in excruciating heat. I had fainted on the…
— Saba Naqvi (@_sabanaqvi) September 8, 2025
Independent journalist Mandeep Punia described him as “among the first in the league of editors with a spine in India”.
पत्रकार और संपादक संकर्षण ठाकुर अब हमारे बीच नहीं रहे. यकीन नहीं हो रहा.
— Mandeep Punia (@mandeeppunia1) September 8, 2025
वह अभी द टेलीग्राफ के संपादक थे. और भारत में रीढ़ वाले संपादकों की पहली क़तार में शामिल थे.
Narendra Nath Mishra, political editor at Navbharat Times, noted Thakur’s deep knowledge of Bihar. “I used to take knowledge from him in every election. The country has lost a great journalist, person and Bihari.”
देश के बड़े पत्रकार,टेलीग्राफ के संपादक,बिहार से आने वाले संकर्षण ठाकुर जी का आज निधन हो गया । वह कुछ दिनों से बीमार थे । बिहार के बारे में अद्भुत ज्ञान था । हर चुनाव में उनसे ज्ञान लेता था ।
— Narendra Nath Mishra (@iamnarendranath) September 8, 2025
देश ने एक शानदार पत्रकार,व्यक्ति और बिहारी को खो दिया । pic.twitter.com/IkE6sWLVi6
Deeply mourn the loss of Sankarshan Thakur, whose journalism brought Bihar’s complex politics and people to the national stage.
— Marya Shakil (@maryashakil) September 8, 2025
His acclaimed books on Lalu Prasad Yadav, Nitish Kumar, and ‘The Brothers Bihari’ captured the very essence of the state. https://t.co/gUKW9XbiSC
India Today anchor Marya Shakil highlighted his contribution to bringing Bihar’s politics to the national stage. “His acclaimed books on Lalu Prasad Yadav, Nitish Kumar, and The Brothers Bihari captured the very essence of the state,” she said.
Damn, really sad news. On might not have agreed with him, but Sankarshan Thakur was a terrific writer. Om Shanti. https://t.co/DIh1Eh1GXr
— Kushan Mitra (@kushanmitra) September 8, 2025
A journalist of rare depth
Born in Patna in 1962, Thakur was the son of senior journalist Janardhan Thakur. Educated at St Xavier’s in Patna and Delhi before completing his political science degree at Hindu College, Delhi University, he chose journalism.
Thakur began his career at Sunday magazine in 1984 and went on to hold senior editorial positions at The Telegraph, Indian Express, and Tehelka. He became known for his fearless ground reporting, whether from the warfront in Kargil, the troubled valleys of Kashmir, or the political battlegrounds of Bihar. His reportage also spanned historic events such as the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, the 1984 riots, Indira Gandhi’s assassination, the Sri Lankan war, and the Maldives coup.
He received the Prem Bhatia Award in 2001 and the Appan Menon Fellowship in 2003.
Thakur’s books carved a lasting space in Indian political literature. Subaltern Saheb, Single Man: The Life and Times of Nitish Kumar of Bihar, and The Brothers Bihari stand as definitive biographies of the state’s key political figures.
His works combined narrative flair with deep field insights, making him a reference point for anyone seeking to understand Bihar. He now leaves behind a legacy of nearly four decades in journalism.
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