A veteran Express journalist, has passed away

“Raikar always respected ethics, which is a fundamental component of journalism,” Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said in expressing his sympathies on the loss.

Dinkar Raikar, a senior journalist who worked for The Indian Express Group and then the Lokmat Group, died on Friday morning. He was 79 years old at the time.

Raikar, who had been sick for a few days, was being treated for dengue and Covid at Nanavati Hospital. He was no longer suffering from dengue fever. His RT-PCR test came back negative on Thursday night as well. However, he was having problems breathing owing to a lung infection. On Friday at 3 a.m., he exhaled his final breath.

“Raikar always respected ethics, which is a fundamental component of journalism,” Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said in expressing his sympathies on the loss. He consistently maintained a modern vision despite his 50 years of field expertise. He was an excellent mentor to the younger generation.

Raikar began his career as a correspondent for The Indian Express and rose through the ranks to become the Mumbai bureau head. Soon after, he moved to Marathi journalism as Deputy Editor of the daily Loksatta (Indian Express Group). He joined the Lokmat group after retiring from Loksatta and served as its Aurangabad Editor before becoming the organization’s Editor.

Raikar has directly experienced significant events that moulded Maharashtra’s politics and culture throughout the course of his five-decade journalism career. His acute memory not only allowed him to recall past political events with amazing accuracy, but it also allowed him to regale friends in the media and political circles with entertaining anecdotes about notable figures. The senior journalist was also noted for his unique appearance and kind demeanor.

“He was an eyewitness of 50 years of advancements throughout the political, social, and cultural sectors,” Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar remarked. Young people looked up to him for guidance, and he was an inspiration to them.”

Raikar, a former president of the Mumbai Press Club and the Maharashtra State Legislative Journalists’ Association, had received numerous accolades, including one from the Maharashtra government for lifetime achievement.

His wife, son, and daughter survive him.