May his imprint live on

TJS George passed away in Bengaluru. PIC/X/@churumuri

For most mid-day readers, the name Thayil Jacob Sony George, or simply, ‘TJS', as he was referred to by close friends and family, might not ring a bell instantly. But for many journalists who graduated from (then Bangalore's) Asian College of Journalism - and I am guessing, there must be a few in our city too - the mention of his initials is bound to draw up an aura-tinted memory. A giant of India's print journalism landscape breathed his last on October 3 in Bengaluru, at the age of 97.

Attending journalism school, and heading out for field reporting assignments in an alien city back in the day, was a very different ballgame, compared to today's digi-supported ecosystem. No cellphones. No Google Maps. Pay-by-the-hour internet in cyber cafés. Those were tough times to crack a Page 1 for ACJ's in-house newspaper. Even tougher was the steely demeanour that pervaded the classroom each time TJS would step in, unannounced, to share a few words of inspiration or advice, or when he would pass the hallways of ACJ en route to meet the Dean, or catch up with illustrious visiting faculty, most of whom were on a first-name basis with him. On other occasions, when we'd head to the Indian Express building, which was adjacent to our college, to visit the press, or the canteen, we'd notice how staff would react to his august presence. The impact on backbenchers like us would make for hilarious memes today: our posture would immediately move from slouching to straight up; the feet-dangling and chair swivelling would miraculously come to a halt; the ceiling-gazing was interrupted. Such was his personality. Those would be fleeting visits, but boy, he meant business!

Ethics was at the heart of print journalism taught at ACJ, and the TJS stamp was all over; it got ingrained in our DNA by the time we had graduated. You had to do the hard yards. Leg work was compulsory. Armchair journalism meant being seated on an armchair in the library, to transcribe your field notes. Distracted folks that most of us were, we didn't even realise how those commandments that were instilled in every lecture, and in the remarks of every submitted assignment, would go on to impact our lives and work to this day. Our professors and lecturers walked the talk, executing his ideals and vision. It worked like clockwork precision.
While we accepted constructive feedback, more grudgingly than otherwise, we subconsciously were being groomed to face all kinds of challenges that every journalist faces in their quest to tell the real story. Yours truly was also introduced to a handbook for journalists, written by TJS that is revered as the Holy Grail for reporters, across reputation and experience.

Yesterday, he was rightly given full state honours in Bengaluru by the Karnataka state government. Few might be aware that the Padma Bhushan awardee (2011) began his career at Mumbai's Free Press Journal, which was founded by another Malayali, S Sadanand. His thirst for new editorial adventures in print journalism took him to many cities from Patna, to Hong Kong, where his dream, the news magazine Asiaweek in 1987, took shape. I recall reading back editions of it in the library at ACJ, and being wowed by his grip on socio-political news across Asia; it was way ahead of its times.

Mid-way through our course at ACJ, apart from his accomplishments as a daring innovator of news ideas, his reputation as a no-nonsense, no-holds barred political commentator, emerged. His column Point of View ran for 25 years in the New Indian Express, the South Indian edition after the broadsheet had split. He also wrote prolifically for journals and other publications, and notably, had authored biographies of Carnatic music icon, MS Subbulakshmi, actress Nargis and political advisor VK Krishna Menon.

For us, what mattered the most was his setting up of the Asian College of Journalism in 1994 - an honest attempt to annually train a group of 20-odd journalists in print journalism after a tough (as hell!) test conducted in several Indian metros, and the interview round in Bengaluru. Among his long, illustrious list of accomplishments and contributions towards Indian journalism, this perhaps gets the least mileage. This institution was extremely close to his heart, and he put all his weight behind it, and also invited seasoned, respected journalists from across India to back the idea, nourish its syllabus, and invite internships for graduating students. He wanted to give back, and spread his vision of honest journalism far and wide.

It's apt to remind our readers that when he ended his Point of View column in June 2022, his farewell column was titled ‘Now is the time to say goodbye.' This was after writing 1300 columns over 25 years.

Go well, TJS Sir. May your ideals never go out of print.

mid-day's Features Editor Fiona Fernandez relishes the city's sights, sounds, smells and stones...wherever the ink and the inclination takes her.
She tweets @bombayana. Send your feedback to mailbag@mid-day.com