New Delhi, Feb 2: Veteran Urdu journalist Mohan Chiragi passed away after a massive heart attack in Kolkata last night. He was 71.
 Editor of ‘Qaumi Awaz’, Chiragi is survived by his wife and two daughters. For the last one year, he was under treatment for kidney ailments.
 Member of National Integration Council during the tenure of former Prime Minister P V Narsimha Rao, Chiragi had authored book a “Barf Mein Aag” (fire in the ice) on Kashmiri politics which was well-received.
 Chiragi who won the Communal Harmony Award had started the trend of editorial pages in Urdu newspapers.
 The Governor, N N Vohra, has expressed grief over his demise.
 In a condolence message, the Governor recalled the contribution of Chiragi to the development of Urdu journalism in the State and the country.
 He conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family and prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul.
 Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condoled the death of veteran journalist and described him a vocal guardian of freedom of expression.
 Omar recalled the contribution of Chiragi in the field of Urdu media and said that he had set a trend of healthy journalism which will continue to guide the budding journalists. In his death, Omar said, the media in general and the State in particular has lost a thoughtful journalist whose writings will inspire the people for long.
 A condolence meeting of the officers and staffers of the Department of Information and Public Relations was held in Srinagar, in which the contribution of Chiragi was recalled.
 Expressing deep shock and grief, Director Information Khwaja Farooq Renzu recalled his long association with the department and said that he was always like a family member and an esteemed colleague.
 Renzu described Chiragi a great son of the soil in whose writings the essence of the Kashmir’s composite culture was always discernible.
 Tributes were paid to Chiragi at the condolence meeting and sympathies expressed with the bereaved family.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 2 Feb 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 2 Feb 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 3 Feb 2010 00:00:00 IST