There were few journalists or editors of his erudition: Dilip Cherian
Noted Communications Consultant Dilip Cherian's heartfelt tribute to Ajay Upadhyay
Losing a dear friend, as warm, wise and just all-round wonderful like Ajay Upadhyay, is a deep shock. Suddenly with no known ailment, he succumbed silently to a heart attack this evening at his home in Benares. This evening when his son Vartik messaged me, a part of the ground quietly slipped away from under my feet. He said, you’re one of Papa’s oldest friends, a badge I’ll wear with pride.
There were few journalists or editors of his erudition, a quality he yet wore lightly. No one had his multiplicity of sources Ajay-bhai could summon up on any issue. Economics,politics , geo-security, technology he could access fountains of wisdom on all. He wrote on many, edited with conviction and courage. Owners quailed, sources sighed, readers understood and journalists and journalism stood taller, each time.
Whether it was the odd Principal Secretary to a PM, a Defence Mantri, the random CM or the lowly CBI or Tax officer, they all told him everything. He knew things most editors and owners could only aspire to. He saw through their hype and spotted the news point easily, daily, every time.
Few countries where an Indian PM had gone, were left unvisited by Ajay, who’d been on countless trips. Unlike birds of passage, he’d immerse himself in the country and most impressively he’d keep abreast, years after. He was an encyclopaedia on more subjects than many knew.
There’s so much to say about a dear friend, who’d almost lost his eyesight in recent years but as if by osmosis, was insistently up to date, to the end. Yet his constant positivity and warmth never flagged. He was always ahead of the news cycle, but wouldn’t ever brag about it.
Most sadly, he leaves a hole that’ll be difficult to fill for so so many. Some are unsung, many are young and too many will have to be unnamed today. For all of them, he was their tireless crusader, a willing conspirator and a friend in need.
This one thing should give those of us left behind some solace. To the very last week, he radiated positivity, never complained and always conveyed confidence that tomorrow was going to be radiant. There will be few like him ever. He straddled centuries, countries and concepts with comforting ease.
Travel safe, travel now without that new white walking stick, Ajay bhai. RIP. We’ll miss you, a lot. Where will we turn to, with that impossible query only you would patiently unravel?
