Press Statement

Indian journalists and the IFJ Mourn the Loss of Shri Madan Talwar

26 Sep, 2014

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its Indian affiliate the All India Newspaper Employees Federation (AINEF) in expressing its deepest sympathies to the family and colleagues of Shri Madan Talwar, general secretary of AINEF and former secretary of the Delhi Union of Journalists.

Mr Talwar passed away early on Tuesday, February 11 after a prolonged illness. He was 66.

AINEF Vice-President Ch.Purnachandra Rao said that Shri Madan Talwar’s death was a great loss to journalist unions in India and pointed to his lifetime of service.

“Mr Talwar visited more than 60 countries and addressed several international conferences on the problems and issues of Indian journalists. He worked as a journalist for the Indian Express for many years and was instrumental in the nationwide campaigning that lead to the recent historic Supreme Court victory on newspaper journalist wage structures,” Mr Rao said.

IFJ Asia Pacific director, Jacqui Park, said that the entire region had lost a lifelong advocate for the rights of media workers in India and across South Asia.

“Madan Talwar was a courageous journalist, an inspiring trade union leader and great friend to the IFJ,” she said. “His work with the IFJ, representing AINEF and the DUJ, has long been recognised as instrumental in developing union capacity in India and campaigning on crucial issues for the industry in South Asia. He played a crucial role in forming and strengthening the South Asia Media Solidarity Network (SAMSN) as a crucial network of journalists and media unions in South Asia. He was a role model to many and will be hugely missed. Our deepest sympathies go to his family at this time and his many colleagues and comrades in India.”

Shri Madan Talwar was remembered at a cremation service in NigambodhGhat on the afternoon Tuesday February 11.

Written By

IFJ Asia-Pacific IFJ Asia-Pacific

The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 140 countries.
For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +61 2 9333 0946
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