Veteran journalist and author Arun Sadhu passed away at the BMC-run lTMG Hospital at Sion Hospital here in the early hours of Monday.
Sadhu breathed his last at 4.45 am at the Sion Hospital where he had been admitted on Sunday. The doctors attending on him attributed his death to ‘cardia myopathy’.
He was 76 and is survived by his wife Aruna, a social activist, and two daughters, Suvarna and Shefali.
As per his last wish, no funeral was held and his body was taken in a procession and donated to the Nair Hospital in the evening.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief on the demise of noted writer and journalist Arun Sadhu. He extends deepest condolences to his family and admirers,” the PMO tweeted.
Sadhu made carved a name himself in Marathi literature through his well-acclaimed and widely read novels “Sinhasan” and “Mumbai Dinank”. A cult Marathi film “Sinhasan”, a political movie, was made based on these two novels by filmmaker Jabbar Patel in 1979, for which renowned writer Vijay Tendulkar wrote the script. Noted actors like Nilu Phule, Dr Shriram lagoo, Nana Patekar and Mohan Agashe acted in it.
Sadhu began his career as a journalist in 1962 in the then leading Marathi newspaper “Kesri” in Pune. He went on to work for leading English newspapers like “Indian Express”, “The Times of India” and “The Statesman”. He worked as the Editor of “Free Press Journal” between 1987 and 1989. After quitting active journalism in 1989, he pursued writing in Marathi.
Among other things, he chronicled in depth the Dalit Panther movement in Times of India. He wrote the story of Chinese revolution in a year-long serial in Marathi weekly “Manoos” which won considerable acclaim.
Widely respected in journalistic circles, Sadhu worked as the head of the mass communications department of Pune University for six years.
A man of letters, Sadhu several books on various subjects, including fiction and leading personalities. While his widely read book “Maharashtra” provides all kinds of information about the State, his other works include Fidel Castro, Che Ani Kranti, Dragan Jaga Jhalyawar, Mukhawata, “The Pioneer”, life and Times of Vitthalrao Vikhe Patil (founder of the cooperative movement in the Indian sugar industry), Kakasaheb Gadgil, Shodyatra, Bahishkurt, Trishanku and Tisri Kranti.
Sadhu co-scripted the film on life and works of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar along with Daya Pawar and Sooni Taraporevala.
Directed by Dr Jabbar Patel, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar (2000) — an English feature film on late Dr Ambedkar brought accolades to actor Mammootty who played the protagonist’s role and won the National Film Award for Best Actor that year.
“Arun Sadhu’s novels Sinhasan and Mumbai Dinank will be remembered for ever in Maharashtra as being the fine pieces of literature. Sadhu wrote on contemporary issues, problems of metropolitan life very effectively. He guided generations of journalists. His demise is sad. I offer my deep condolences and share the sorrow of his family and friends,” Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said.