New Delhi, March 8: Vinod Mehta, one of India’s best known journalists, died here Sunday of multi-organ failure, doctors said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called him ‘‘a fine journalist.’’
The 73-year-old Mehta, who at one time worked as factory hand in Britain, died at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), its spokesperson Amit Gupta told the media. Mehta suffered from several neurological issues and had been bed-ridden for over three months.
Modi said in a tweet: ‘‘Frank and direct in his opinions, Vinod Mehta will be remembered as a fine journalist and writer. Condolences to his family on his demise.”
President Pranab Mukherjee also offered his condolences. Born in Rawalpindi, Mehta’s family moved to India when he was three years old. He studed in the La Martinere school and Lucknow University.
Mehta, at age of 32, took up editing ‘Debonair’, a men’s magazine which boasted of serious articles as well as centre-folds. He later went on to launch publications such as Sunday Observer, The Pioneer and Outlook. IANS