The Editor Who Had His Finger on the Pulse of News: Remembering Dhawan Sir
Rare picture: Though Dhawan Sir was camera-shy, I managed to get this one clicked. He is seen in a red T-shirt, chatting with the late Prof. S. Parasuraman, former Director of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), during a press conference at the Mumbai Press Club on 19th July 2017.
Dhawan Sir introduced me to the vast, unpredictable world of international news. Sitting in his seaside cabin in Mumbai, he could sense global shifts with uncanny precision.
When North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was threatening the world with nuclear weapons, most newspapers were splashing it across their front pages. But Dhawan Sir, calm as ever and smiling, simply said, “He’s not to be taken seriously.” His composure was contagious — and, as always, he was right.
His news sense was razor-sharp. When Israeli hostages were taken, Dhawan Sir walked into the office on his day off and declared, “This is going to be major news with serious global consequences.” Immediately, the World page's layout was reshaped — the routine entertainment column was dropped. The next morning, our coverage stood apart; no other newspaper came close to what Dhawan Sir had envisioned.
When I called Dhawan Sir after our former team member, Priti Pandya, passed away following a prolonged illness, he sounded deeply moved. By then, both of us had left The Free Press Journal. In a quiet voice, he said, “I always wanted to apologise to her. Once, I had scolded her harshly over a page, and sadly, I never got the chance to say sorry.” That was Dhawan Sir — deeply human beneath his stern editor’s exterior. He had a rare grasp of politics, sports, entertainment, and crime — guiding his team with the precision of someone who could feel the world’s pulse.
And then there were his headlines — sharp, unforgettable, perfectly balanced between creativity and reportage.
Once, while I was on a train home, I called him in excitement: “Sir, there’s important news involving a diplomat!”
He paused and replied in that calm, steady voice, “Go home. Take rest. I’ll manage.”
My last call to him was simple: “Sir, you promised you’d come to Mumbai to meet us.”
He replied softly, “Yes, I will come to meet all of you.”
He passed away on what used to be his weekly day off.
Some people guide you for a while; others stay with you forever — through a rhythm that never fades.
Dhawan Sir belonged to that rare, latter kind.
Rest in peace, Sir.
This blog is headlined with care by my dearest former colleague, Shoaib.
(I had the privilege of working under Mr. Shailender Dhawan when he was the Editor of The Free Press Journal. Those days shaped me deeply. He taught me to look beyond headlines, to find meaning in the chaos, and to connect every story to the larger world — lessons that continue to guide me even today.)
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