Dada Chakravartty

Dada Chakravartty belonged to a generation which valued both personal qualities and intellectual calibre. His times were also turbulent and tested the journalist’s moral fibre and intellectual integrity. Only those like him, who had firm convictions and clear insight and vision, could weather the storms. When he launched the Mainstream single-handedly, all his qualities were taxed beyond measure. Dauntlessly he stood like a rock never wavering for a moment. His upright, no-nonsense, gushing language was a part of his personality. Although he stood by his principles, he did not fail to make friends. People from all walks of life were attracted towards him, and he had time for all of them. As a person, he was sweet, frank and kind. Soft-spoken and never offensive, he made his point convincingly. His mature wit and wisdom reflected years of experience of public life and sufficient acquaintance with public figures. I remember with fondness my frequent tête-à-tête with him which were both pleasant and instructive. I wish I had come in contact with him much earlier in my life.

Given the cynical atmosphere of the time, the Mainstream which he left behind was not intended to be a financial success, since its readership was expected to be confined to a select thinking section of the society. It has always struggled to survive. However, it has achieved what it had set out to do. It has become an open forum for expression of free, fearless, serious and path-finding thoughts. The articles are adequately informative, enlightening and soul-searching. They induce you to think more on the subject under writing. There is no scope for flippancy or casualness. The present editor, none other than Dada’s son, has striven hard to maintain the standard and reputation of the journal. Today, we cannot think of the print-media without this journal. All those who crave for fair information and serious thinking, owe it to themselves to see that this journal subsists and thrives. That is the least they can do to serve the cause of the independent and free thinking.

The author, a former judge of the Supreme Court and an erstwhile Chairman of the Press Council of India, is currently based in Pune.