Over his illustrious career, George had brought his journalistic prowess to institutions such as the International Press Institute, The Searchlight, and the Far Eastern Economic Review.
Published Oct 03, 2025 | 7:26 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 03, 2025 | 8:42 PM
In 2011, George received the Padma Bhushan in the field of literature and education. (TJS George/Facebook)
Synopsis:In 2022, the political columnist and biographer TJS George was conferred the RedInk Award for Lifetime Achievement in the field of Indian journalism. He is also the recipient of the prestigious Padma Bhushan (in 2011) and the Rajyotsava Prashasti (in 2008).
Legendary journalist Thayil Jacob Sony George popularly known as TJS, passed away at 97 years, on Friday, 3 October, in Bengaluru.
A sharp-minded social and political commentator, a mentor to many, and a fearless voice against power, his career stretched across the better part of a century — a journalistic life that began in the years of India’s independence and continued into the 21st century.
Born on May 7, 1928, in Kerala, TJS was the fourth of eight children of Thayil Thomas Jacob, a magistrate, and Chachiamma Jacob.
He read English literature at Madras Christian College, graduating with honours, and soon after set out on the path that would make him one of the subcontinent’s most respected journalists.
TJS’s professional life took root around the time of India’s independence and took a decisive step when he joined The Free Press Journal in Bombay in 1950.
Over his illustrious career, George had brought his journalistic prowess to institutions such as the International Press Institute, The Searchlight, and the Far Eastern Economic Review.
He was also instrumental in creating the Asian College of Journalism and has since trained generations of Indian journalists.
In 1975, he set up Asiaweek—an English-language news magazine focusing on Asia—in Hong Kong, as its founding editor.
Six years later, he returned to India where he settled in Bengaluru with his family. Thereafter, his popular weekly column in The New Indian Express, Point of View, became a space for him to continue to raise his voice against corruption, social injustice, and religious intolerance.
He remained a columnist for 25 years, till June 2022.
In his several-decades-long career, George has written a number of books, including Lee Kuan Yew’s Singapore, The Life and Times of Nargis, Krishna Menon: A Biography and his most recent opus The Dismantling of India: In 35 Portraits — an irreverent compilation of essays about politicians, movie stars, criminals, musicians, industrialists, and activists.
In 2022, the political columnist and biographer TJS George was conferred the RedInk Award for Lifetime Achievement in the field of Indian journalism. He is also the recipient of the prestigious Padma Bhushan (in 2011) and the Rajyotsava Prashasti (in 2008).
TJS’s commitment to speaking truth to power was not rhetorical — it cost him.
In 1965 he was charged and jailed after writing columns critical of Bihar’s then Chief Minister K. B. Sahay, becoming one of the first newspaper editors in independent India to face imprisonment for his journalism.
The case drew national attention, and figures such as Defence Minister V. K. Krishna Menon publicly came to his defence.
Colleagues remember him as someone who relished the “romance of journalism,” a mentor and exemplar for younger reporters.
In his final writings he argued for the necessity of criticism in public life — that a healthy nation must tolerate and even invite scrutiny rather than seeking to silence it.
He is survived by his children, Sheba Thayil and Jeet Thayil, and a large extended family.
He will be known for his lifelong devotion to the craft of journalism — a journalist who never flinched from the hard questions and who taught a nation how to hear them.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah took to X, to express his condolences.
He wrote: “Saddened by the passing of veteran journalist, editor & author T J S George. With his sharp pen and uncompromising voice, he enriched Indian journalism for over six decades. He was a true public intellectual who made readers think, question and engage. My heartfelt condolences to his family, colleagues and countless admirers.”
Saddened by the passing of veteran journalist, editor & author T J S George.
With his sharp pen and uncompromising voice, he enriched Indian journalism for over six decades.
He was a true public intellectual who made readers think, question and engage.
My heartfelt condolences… pic.twitter.com/OA8IWilqaJ
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) October 3, 2025
(Edited by Sumavarsha, with inputs from Dileep V Kumar)
