https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=T._J._S._GeorgeT. J. S. George - Revision history2026-08-18T14:34:54ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=T._J._S._George&diff=118260&oldid=prev>Ser Amantio di Nicolao: /* External links */add category2021-07-08T04:18:08Z<p><span class="autocomment">External links: </span>add category</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{short description|Indian writer and biographer (born 1928)}}<br />
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{{Infobox person<br />
| name = T. J. S. George<br />
| image = TJS Ammu 60th anniv Aug 2017.jpg<br />
| caption = T. J. S. George and wife Ammu at their 60th wedding anniversary, 2017<br />
| birth_name = Thayil Jacob Sony George<br />
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1928|05|07|df=y}}<br />
| death_date =<br />
| occupation = Journalist, author<br />
| religion =<br />
| spouse = Ammu George<br />
| children = [[Jeet Thayil]], Sheba<br />
| website = <br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Thayil Jacob Sony George''' (born 7 May 1928) is an Indian writer and biographer who received a [[Padma Bhushan]] award in 2011 in the field of literature and education.<ref name="padma">[http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=69364 Padma Awards Announced] Press Information Bureau, Government of India, 2011</ref> The fourth of eight siblings, TJS was born in [[Kerala]], India to Thayil Thomas Jacob, a magistrate, and Chachiamma Jacob, a homemaker. Although his roots are in [[Thumpamon]], Kerala, he lives in [[Bangalore]] and [[Coimbatore]] with his wife Ammu. He has a daughter, Sheba Thayil and a son, [[Jeet Thayil]]. American TV journalist [[Raj Mathai]] is his nephew.<br />
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== Career and writing style ==<br />
T. J. S. George has achieved distinction internationally as a professional [[author]], serious political columnist and biographer with a series of major books. After graduating from [[Madras Christian College]] in [[Chennai]] (then Madras), India, with an Honours degree in English Literature, he began his career in ''[[The Free Press Journal]]'' in [[Mumbai]] (then Bombay) in 1950. He moved through the [[International Press Institute]], ''The Searchlight'', and the ''[[Far Eastern Economic Review]]'' to become the founding editor of ''[[Asiaweek]]'' (Hong Kong).<ref name="Nayeem">Dr. K. Javeed Nayeem, [https://web.archive.org/web/20110629055943/http://www.ourkarnataka.com/Articles/starofmysore/diffident1.htm "By George!"]''Star of Mysore'', 2008</ref><br />
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He is currently the Editorial Advisor of ''[[The New Indian Express]]''.<ref>[http://www.kannadaprabha.com/AboutUs/tnie.asp ''Kannada Prabha'', 2008] part of The New Indian Express Group</ref> A veteran senior journalist and one of the best known columnists in India, he continues his fight against social injustice, corruption and political anarchies through his columns in Indian Express.<ref name="Basheer">[http://www.pravasidoha.org/basheerpuraskaram.htm Basheer Puraskaram Award, 2008]</ref><br />
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Besides being an editor, columnist, author and eternal wordsmith, he has also been a longtime China watcher. After a gap of 10 years, he went back to China in 2008 to witness the Olympic preparations and wrote a series of articles about modern China.<ref>[http://churumuri.wordpress.com/2008/06/16/40-km-in-8-minutes-36-km-without-a-traffic-light/ First of a six-part series on China] ''Churumuri Wordpress'', 2008</ref><br />
{{Quote|Few media persons have experienced the romance of journalism in as great a measure as T. J. S. George has. His journey from the newsroom of S. Sadanand's Free Press Journal to the top of the profession was eventful. While heading a Bihar daily, he earned the displeasure of the chief minister and became the first editor to be charged with sedition in free India. During a stint abroad, the highlight of which was the founding of [[Asiaweek]] in Hong Kong with himself as its Editor, he incurred the wrath of some of Southeast Asia's rulers.<ref>B. R. P. Bhaskar, [http://www.hindu.com/br/2008/12/23/stories/2008122350021303.htm "Ghoshayathra" Review], ''The Hindu'', 2008.</ref>|B. R. P. Bhaskar}}<br />
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{{Quote|When The Searchlight editor T.J.S. George was arrested for his thunderous editorials against then Bihar Chief Minister K.B. Sahay, it was [Defence Minister V.K. Krishna] Menon who airdashed to Patna to defend him.<ref>A.J. Philip, [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20080424/edit.htm#7 "Menon deserved better"] ''The Tribune'', 2008.</ref>|A.J. Philip}}<br />
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{{Quote|He is a man who does not mince his words to please others and who does not believe in withholding the truth however unpleasant it may be.<ref name="Nayeem" />|Dr. K. Javeed Nayeem }}<br />
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{{Quote|Very few journalists are capable of expressing a subjective opinion as clearly and boldly, without prevarication or rigmarole, like T. J. S. George.<ref>K. B. Ganapathy, Chief Editor, [http://www.ourkarnataka.com/Articles/starofmysore/khanna.htm ''Star of Mysore'']</ref>|K. B. Ganapathy}}<br />
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== Books ==<br />
*''[[Krishna Menon]]'' (London: Jonathan Cape, 1964; OCLC 2882534 / New York: Taplinger, 1965; OCLC 409386) offers a remarkable insight into the baffling personality of the Indian statesman and freedom fighter who inspired a few, infuriated many and embarrassed all.<br />
*''[[Lee Kuan Yew]]'s Singapore'' (London: André Deutsch, 1973; {{ISBN|978-0-233-96517-8}}) is a penetrating analysis of the policies and predilections of this controversial leader.<br />
*''The Life and Times of [[Nargis]]'' (New Delhi: Megatechnics, 1994; {{ISBN|978-81-7223-149-1}}), an elegant and informative book about the eternal artiste who goes beyond the [[Bollywood|Hindi film industry]], is a throwback to a Golden Age of artistic talent untainted by technology or commercialism.<br />
*''The Enquire Dictionary: Ideas, Issues, Innovations'' (New Delhi: HarperCollins, 1998; {{ISBN|978-81-7223-377-8}}) includes Indian and East Asian terms that are conspicuously absent in Western dictionaries.<br />
*''The Enquire Dictionary of Quotations'' (New Delhi: HarperCollins, 2001; {{ISBN|978-81-7223-417-1}}) reflects Indian thought, ancient and modern.<br />
*''Lessons in Journalism&nbsp;– The Story of Pothan Joseph'' (New Delhi: Viva Books, 2007; {{ISBN|978-81-309-0788-8}}. See also ''Pothan Joseph's India'', New Delhi: Sanchar Pub. House, 1992; {{ISBN|978-81-7203-008-7}}) depicts the colourful life of the legendary editor and freedom fighter whose career highlights the importance of professionalism and values in journalism.<br />
*''The First Refuge of Scoundrels: Politics in Modern India'' (Chennai: Express Publications, 2003; {{ISBN|978-81-86013-05-2}}) is a collection of articles from TJS George's weekly column, "Point of View", that was a regular feature of The New Indian Express for 10 years.<br />
*''Revolt in Mindanao: The Rise of Islam in Philippine Politics'' (London: [[Oxford University Press]], 1980; {{ISBN|978-0-19-580460-7}})<br />
*''Revolt in Bihar: A study of the August 1965 uprising'' (New Delhi: Perspective Publications, 1965; OCLC 7368391)<br />
*''Moments'' (Patna: Searchlight Press, 1965; OCLC 2870547) is a collection of articles from "Sidelights," the author's editorial column of ''The Searchlight'' newspaper, Bihar, India, 1964–65.<br />
*''The Provincial Press in India'' (New Delhi: Press Institute of India, 1966; OCLC 133804) discusses several aspects of the growth of Indian language newspapers.<br />
*''Editing: A Handbook for Journalists'' (New Delhi: Indian Institute of Mass Communications, 1989; OCLC 65172561) foresees the threat of electronic competition and redefines the new role of the print media editor .<br />
*(ed.) ''India 1000 to 2000: the story of a 1000 years'' (Chennai: Express Publications, 2000; {{ISBN|978-81-86013-04-5}}) A Millennium Book of Reference.<br />
*(ed.) ''India at 50: Facts, Figures and Analyses 1947&nbsp;– 1997'' (Chennai: Express Publications, 1997; {{ISBN|978-81-86013-03-8}})<br />
*''MS&nbsp;– A Life in Music'', (New Delhi: HarperCollins, 2004; {{ISBN|978-81-7223-527-7}}) "unravels the saga of one of India's most revered musicians",<ref>[http://www.indiaclub.com/shop/searchresults.asp?ProdStock=12614 ''MS&nbsp;– A Life in Music''] Indiaclub book review</ref> [[M. S. Subbulakshmi]], "who broke through the barriers of class and caste to be accepted by the puritanical upper crust of South Indian society and applauded by the male-dominated bastion of [[Carnatic music]] in [[Madras]]".<ref>[http://www.museindia.com/showconnew2.asp?id=461 ''MS&nbsp;– A Life in Music''] Muse India book review</ref><br />
*''The [[Ramnath Goenka|Goenka]] Letters: Behind the scenes in The Indian Express'' (Chennai: East West Books, 2006; {{ISBN|978-81-88661-50-3}}) provides an insight into the hidden and often selfish and petty side of some of the mightiest icons of Indian politics,<ref name="Nayeem" /> as well as "vignettes of a period when journalism [in India] underwent a metamorphosis."<ref>A.J. Philip, [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20061210/spectrum/book7.htm "Press and pressures"] ''The Tribune, 2006''</ref><br />
*''Nātōtikkappalil nālumāsam'' ([[Kottayam]]: DC Books, 2006; {{ISBN|978-81-264-1383-6}}. This is a Malayalam translation by [[Malayatoor Ramakrishnan]], illustrations by [[Bal Thackeray]]. Original title: ''Journalist at sea'') describes the author's travels to Africa, England and Europe in a merchant ship.<br />
*''Ghōshayāthra'' (Kottayam: DC Books, 2008; {{ISBN|978-81-264-1956-2}}), memoirs written in his native language, [[Malayalam]], is an egoless "procession", a journey set off from Bombay to New York through Hong Kong and includes a historical account of modern Indian English journalism.<br />
*''Askew: A Short Biography of Bangalore'' (Aleph Book Company, 2016; {{ISBN|978-9384067212}}) brings alive the history and culture of the erstwhile Garden City turned IT hub, with colorful anecdotes about people, places, and eateries narrated by a longtime resident.<br />
*''Jaya: An Incredible Story'' (Pinnacle Books, 2018; {{ISBN|978-8193656907}}) is a compilation of photographs capturing the life and times of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister [[Jayalalithaa]] with interesting captions and annotations.<br />
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== Awards ==<br />
*Kesari Media Award (2017))<ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/police-intervention-in-media-freedom-a-cause-for-concern-tjs/article19489059.ece Kesari Media Award, 2017]</ref><br />
*Kamala Surayya Award (2017)<ref>[http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/2017/jul/21/kamala-surayya-awards-presented-1631462.html Kamala Surayya Award, 2017]</ref><br />
*Azeekodu Award (2013){{citation needed|date=October 2019}}<br />
*Padma Bhushan (2011)<ref name="padma" /><br />
*Basheer Puraskaram Award (2008)<ref name="Basheer" /><br />
*Rajyotsava Award (2007)<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121011175153/http://www.mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=broadcast&broadcastid=56762 Rajyotsava Award, 2007]</ref><br />
*[[C. H. Mohammed Koya|Mohammed Koya]] Journalism Award (2005)<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121108190523/http://www.hindu.com/2005/07/10/stories/2005071006440400.htm Mohammed Koya Award, 2005]</ref><br />
*Patrika Academy Award (2001).<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121104130207/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2002-02-18/bangalore/27143387_1_sharada-prasad-andolana-award-mysore Patrika Academy Award, 2001]</ref><br />
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== References ==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
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== External links ==<br />
*[http://tjsgeorge.blogspot.com/ Blogspot] TJS George – Point of View<br />
*[http://churumuri.wordpress.com/what-is-churumuri/tjs-george/ Q&A]: TJS on journalism<br />
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{{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 2010–19}}<br />
{{Padma Award winners of Kerala}}<br />
{{Authority control}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:George, T. J. S.}}<br />
[[Category:1928 births]]<br />
[[Category:Living people]]<br />
[[Category:Malayalam-language writers]]<br />
[[Category:Malayali people]]<br />
[[Category:Writers from Bangalore]]<br />
[[Category:People from Pathanamthitta district]]<br />
[[Category:Journalists from Kerala]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian biographers]]<br />
[[Category:Indian political writers]]<br />
[[Category:Indian newspaper editors]]<br />
[[Category:Indian columnists]]<br />
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in literature & education]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian journalists]]<br />
[[Category:Indian male journalists]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian male writers]]<br />
[[Category:Recipients of the Rajyotsava Award 2007]]<br />
[[Category:Male biographers]]</div>>Ser Amantio di Nicolao