Pradeep Chandra
Sprouts News
Today, we remember the extraordinary life and legacy of Pritish Nandy, who would have turned 74. Tragically, he passed away a week ago on January 8, leaving a void in the world of art, literature, journalism, and beyond. His sudden departure has shocked and saddened everyone who knew him. Just 28 days ago, he sent me a message: “Pradeep, you have enough pictures to write a book; now write it.” Such was his passion and drive—a mentor, a guide, and an irreplaceable soul.
Born in Bhagalpur and raised in Calcutta, Pritish Nandy moved to Mumbai in 1982 as the Editorial Director of the Times of India Group. His career spanned poetry, journalism, filmmaking, painting, photography, and public service as a Member of Parliament. Nandy’s first book of poetry, Of Gods and Olives, was published when he was just 16. He went on to author 36 books, earning accolades such as the Padma Shri in 1977, the poet laureate title at the World Congress of Poets in San Francisco, and the prestigious E. M. Forster Literary Award.
As Editor of The Illustrated Weekly of India, Nandy revitalized the publication, achieving its highest circulation ever and championing art, music, and literature. His influence extended to Filmfare, The Evening News of India, and The Independent. Later, he joined the Observer Group as Editor-in-Chief. Among his many achievements was his foray into television journalism with The Pritish Nandy Show on Doordarshan, India’s first signature TV show.
Nandy’s personal anecdotes were as fascinating as his professional milestones. He once recounted meeting Ashok Jain, the owner of the Times of India, on a flight. Jain invited him for breakfast, offering him the position of Editorial Director—a pivotal moment that brought him to Mumbai.
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Throughout his life, Pritish Nandy nurtured young talent. Many journalists he mentored have since become renowned figures. A creative powerhouse, he continually explored new projects, from books of poetry to exhibitions of his artwork. His close friends included luminaries like Satyajit Ray, Pandit Ravi Shankar, and M. F. Husain, while politicians, actors, and directors were frequent visitors to his office. His circle of close friends included Rakhi Gulzar, Dimple Kapadia, Mahesh Bhatt, and Roopa Ganguly.
In one of my last conversations with him, I asked if he missed being a journalist. He replied, “No. I left it at the right time. The standard of journalism has gone down, but sometimes, when I see a good story, I do miss it.”
Anupam Kher, his close friend, described him as a “Sher-dil insaan” (a lionhearted person) and a loyal friend. Kher’s sentiment encapsulates the essence of Nandy’s larger-than-life personality.
Pritish Nandy was more than a mentor to me; he was like a guru. He played a pivotal role in my career, introducing me to Rupa Publishers, which led to my first book, AB: The Legend, a Photographer’s Tribute. He always supported my endeavors, attending exhibitions and book launches. Recently, an artist, Kirti Sarkar, created an artwork based on one of my photographs of him. When we presented it to Nandy, he graciously said, “I will create space for this.”
Goodbye, Mr. Pritish Nandy. Your warmth, wisdom, and unparalleled contributions will be deeply missed. I promise to honor your legacy by completing your book.
(Pradeep Chandra is a photojournalist and working on a book on Pritish Nandy)
