Noted journalist and author Anil Dharker passes away at 74

Noted journalist and author Anil Dharker passed away in Mumbai today. He was 74. He was undergoing treatment for a heart ailment. Anil Dharker was the founder and director of the Mumbai International Literary Festival.

In his five-decade-long illustrious career, Dharker had been a columnist and writer, an architect, a member of the advisory committee of the film certification board and more. Dharker had been the editor of a variety of publications, starting with ‘Debonair’, ‘Mid-Day’; ‘The Independent’ and ‘The Illustrated Weekly of India’.

He was a columnist for The Indian Express newspaper and has authored ‘The Romance Of Salt’, a book on Mahatma Gandhi’s Dandi March.

Dharker had also worked as a TV show producer and anchor. He was also a member of the Advisory Boards of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and the Children’s Film Society of India.

Following the news of his demise, columnist Bachi Karkaria tweeted that no other Indian Litfest curator had such deep, emotional commitment or drive as Dharker. Fellow author and columnist Shobhaa De recalled Dharker as an elegant mind, a stylish writer, and a loyal friend who will be sorely missed.

Lyricist and Chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification Prasoon Joshi tweeted that Dharker was a stimulating mind, nurturer of literature and art who thrived on ideas adding that he will miss and cherish the discussions they had about life.

Producer and former Rajya Sabha member, Pritish Nandy, who was associated with Dharker since his journalism years, described him as being committed to liberal causes and found him a man of great science and knowledge.