Leading From The Front: Aveek Sarkar
In this edition, we shine the spotlight on Aveek Sarkar, the Vice Chairman and Editor Emeritus of ABP Group
“India’s most sophisticated media proprietor” is a title that’s hard to come by, considering the country’s competitive and robust media landscape.
In his book Paper Tigers, the former president of Conde Nast International Sir Nicholas Coleridge rightfully bestowed it on Aveek Sarkar, the Vice Chairman of the Anandabazar Patrika (ABP) Group of Publications and Editor Emeritus.
He was profiled by Coleridge and described as a man of unbeatable intellect and of fine tastes. The book also serves as the most authoritative source of information on the otherwise elusive newspaper proprietor.
In this edition of Leading From The Front, we deep dive into the life and times of Sarkar, one of the tallest figures in the Indian media.
Born in 1945, Sarkar is a third-generation media baron, the grandson of Prafula Kumar Sarkar, the founder of the Ananda Bazar Patrika newspaper and the son of Ashok Kumar Sarkar, the editor-in-chief and owner of Anandabazar Patrika and ABP Group.
Ranked among the most powerful Indians, Sarkar has played a crucial role in the formation of Penguin India and the acquisition of Star News.
He cut his teeth in journalism when he was just out of school. After graduating from the University of Calcutta, Sarkar went on to train under the legendary Sir Harold Evans, the editor of the Sunday Times.
There, he also received guidance from Edwin Taylor, the influential designer who transformed the Sunday Times and the famous reporter and writer Ian Jack.
He and his brother Arup began their long stint with the publishing company in 1963. While Arup handled the business side of things, Aveek was keen on the editorial role.
When he took over the reins of Ananda Bazar Group, Sarkar became a transformative force, personally editing the group’s publications Ananda Bazar Patrika and The Telegraph.
“In his instinct for journalism, Sarkar is the most discriminating Indian proprietor. Not only can he recognise a good front page or an interesting article but also explain to you why it works,” wrote Coleridge about Sarkar’s acumen for news.
A well-known Anglophile, Sarkar is believed to have modelled the group’s English-language daily The Telegraph after the British Daily Telegraph. The Kolkata-based newspaper is celebrated among literary circles for its unconventional tongue-in-cheek headlines.
Never the one to shy from voicing his political opinions, Sarkar has fired many a salvo against the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in the form of biting front-page headlines. His outspokenness also came at a professional cost with accusations of “partisanship” coming from Mamta Banerjee herself. When he stepped down as the Editor in Chief of ABP Pvt. Ltd, many believed it was to assuage the TMC chief.
Accounts of those who have known Sarkar describe him as a man of fine tastes, having a predilection for Davidoff cigars and Bolivian coffee.
His Dionysian interests notwithstanding, Sarkar was also adept at Apollonian pursuits. He understood business well despite being more inclined towards the editorial side of things. He played a crucial role in setting up Penguin India, which was then run by his daughter Chiki Sarkar.
Called the “original media deal maker” by Outlook, he also paved the path for ABP Group’s alliance with the London-based Financial Times. In September of 2003, James Murdoch was on the lookout for a partner who will have a 51% stake in Star News. While names like Ratan Tata and Nusli Wadia were in the fray, it was Sarkar and the ABP Group that made the cut.
Sarkar also understood that a thriving news business is not run on journalistic excellence alone. “Whatever business you do, whether you are selling hamburgers or newspapers, marketing is paramount. You can't run a successful business without good marketing,” he once told Outlook.
ABP Delhi editor Jayanta Ghosal once commented on Sarkar: “His biggest strength is his ability to constantly update himself and his organisation through changing times and advancements in technology.”
Sarkar retired as the Chief Editor of ABP Pvt. Ltd in 2016 and was replaced by his brother Arup. He was then designated as the Vice Chairman and Editor Emeritus, guiding news operations and leading digital initiatives of the paper. In 2020, the media baron was also elected as the Chairman of the Press Trust of India (PTI).
Sarkar has been an influential force in the business of news in India. Under him, ABP has been the training ground for many influential journalists like MJ Akbar, Vir Sanghvi and Uday Shankar.
