Barun Sengupta

Calcutta, June 19: Barun Sengupta, the founder-editor of Bartaman newspaper, died in a south Calcutta nursing home today after a brief illness.

He was 74 and is survived by his two younger sisters and an elder brother.

Chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee expressed his condolences in a statement that said: “Barun Sengupta had acquired fame as a journalist and editor. As an able administrator of the newspaper, he had succeeded in earning praise and recognition from several quarters. His death is a loss to the world of journalism. I convey my condolences to the bereaved family.”

His body was taken to the Bartaman office on EM Bypass today. The last rites will be performed tomorrow morning.

Sengupta joined Anandabazar Patrika in 1960 and became a political correspondent with the daily five years later. He was arrested under the provisions of the Maintenance of Internal Security Act during the Emergency in 1975 and had to spend nine months behind bars.

Sengupta left Anandabazar Patrika in 1984 and launched Bartaman, the daily, on December 7 that year.

Before joining Anandabazar Patrika, he had published a journal called Bhabikal in 1957 that did not continue for long. He also brought out the Bartaman weekly with a loan of Rs 500 from Forward Bloc leader Hemanta Basu.

Last year, Sengupta completed 50 years in journa- lism. Bartaman would have stepped into its 25th year in December.

He authored several books on the country’s political situation — Pala Badaler Pala, Shob Charitra Kalponik, Indira Ekadashi, Bipak-i-stan, Andhakarer Antaraley and Netajir Antardhan Rahasya being some of them.

Born on January 23, 1934, in Barishal (now in Bangladesh), Sengupta came to Calcutta before Partition.

He went to school in Barishal and graduated from City College in Calcutta with a B Com.