Rustom Khurshedji Karanjia (15 September 1912 – 1 February 2008) was an Indian journalist and editor. He typically signed his reports as "R. K. Karanjia". He founded the Blitz, a weekly tabloid with focus on investigative journalism in 1941, and ran it for the next four decades. He also founded The Daily, a daily tabloid which was run by his daughter.[1]
Karanjia began writing while still in college,[3] and during the 1930s Karanjia was employed an assistant editor at The Times of India.[4][5] He left The Times of India in 1941 to launch Blitz (newspaper), a weekly tabloid with a focus on investigative journalism. It was one of the few Indian newspapers to have carried out interviews with the high and mighty, including the likes of Fidel Castro and Zhou Enlai. The Daily and The Blitz were also incubators for the likes of R.K. Laxman, P. Sainath and Teesta Setalvad, all of whom started their journalistic careers there.[4][5] Karanjia served as a war correspondent during the Japanese Burma offensive in World War II, reporting on the action in Burma and Assam.[3]Blitz folded during the mid-1990s and Karanjia retired from public life.[5]
Karanjia died at his home, a seafront flat along Marine Drive, in Mumbai at the age of 95 on 1 February 2008.[2][4] In a "departure from Parsi tradition, as per his wishes,"[3] his funeral was held in Chandanvadi crematorium, in south Mumbai.[4] Karanjia was survived by one daughter, Rita Mehta,[4] the founder and first Editor-in-chief of Cine Blitz magazine. His brother, Burjor, was also a journalist, albeit in the film industry, editor of Filmfare.[4]
Leanings as owner-editor of Blitzedit
Karanjia was the founder and the owner-editor of Blitz, a weekly tabloid published out of Mumbai. The columnist Sudheendra Kulkarni wrote about how the decision to launch Blitz was taken over a cup of tea between three patriotic journalists, ie, BV Nadkarni, Benjamin Horniman, and Karanjia, at the Wayside Inn, a restaurant near Kala Ghoda, Mumbai. The first issue of Blitz was published on 1 February 1941 (the same day that Karanjia died in 2008). Kulkarni calls his journalism "irreverent, investigative, courageous and a little titillating". Filmmaker Khwaja Ahmad Abbas and Magsaysay-award-winning journalist P. Sainath were associated with Blitz. Blitz was radical and idealist, left-leaning, and pro-Soviet.[citation needed]
Karanjia remained a staunch critic of the Congress party while continuing to remain friendly with Congress leaders Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.[citation needed] However, Karanjia later became disillusioned with communism and its anti-Hindusecularism. He became a strong sympathiser of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Ayodhya movement. Initially a fierce critic of the Indian guru Sathya Sai Baba, Karanjia later became his devotee in 1976.[2] According to Kulkarni, P. Sainath was replaced as the magazine's deputy editor by Karanjia, who appointed Kulkarni to the post instead of him.[2]
^"R.K. Karanjia: Living through the Blitz". The Hindu. 6 February 2008. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
^ abcdKulkarni, Sudheendra (2 February 2008). "He launched Blitz on Feb 1, died on Feb 1-it's no coincidence". indianexpress.com. The Indian Express Limited. Retrieved 24 July 2011.
^ abc"Veteran Journalist R.K. Karanjia Dead", News Post India, 1 February 2008, archived from the original on 29 January 2013, retrieved 29 February 2008.
^ abcdef"Veteran journalist Russi Karanjia passes away", Rediff India Abroad, 1 February 2008, retrieved 29 February 2008.
^ abc, The Hindu, 1 February 2008, archived from the original on 6 February 2008, retrieved 29 February 2008.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rustom Khurshedji Karanjia.
January 01, 1970
russi, karanjia, rustom, khurshedji, karanjia, september, 1912, february, 2008, indian, journalist, editor, typically, signed, reports, karanjia, founded, blitz, weekly, tabloid, with, focus, investigative, journalism, 1941, next, four, decades, also, founded,. Rustom Khurshedji Karanjia 15 September 1912 1 February 2008 was an Indian journalist and editor He typically signed his reports as R K Karanjia He founded the Blitz a weekly tabloid with focus on investigative journalism in 1941 and ran it for the next four decades He also founded The Daily a daily tabloid which was run by his daughter 1 Russi KaranjiaBorn15 September 1912 Died1 February 2008 aged 95 RelativesB K Karanjia brother Contents 1 Early life and background 2 Career 3 Leanings as owner editor of Blitz 4 Books 5 ReferencesEarly life and background editKaranjia was born to a Parsi family in Quetta now in Balochistan in the Northern part of Pakistan 2 Career editKaranjia began writing while still in college 3 and during the 1930s Karanjia was employed an assistant editor at The Times of India 4 5 He left The Times of India in 1941 to launch Blitz newspaper a weekly tabloid with a focus on investigative journalism It was one of the few Indian newspapers to have carried out interviews with the high and mighty including the likes of Fidel Castro and Zhou Enlai The Daily and The Blitz were also incubators for the likes of R K Laxman P Sainath and Teesta Setalvad all of whom started their journalistic careers there 4 5 Karanjia served as a war correspondent during the Japanese Burma offensive in World War II reporting on the action in Burma and Assam 3 Blitz folded during the mid 1990s and Karanjia retired from public life 5 Karanjia died at his home a seafront flat along Marine Drive in Mumbai at the age of 95 on 1 February 2008 2 4 In a departure from Parsi tradition as per his wishes 3 his funeral was held in Chandanvadi crematorium in south Mumbai 4 Karanjia was survived by one daughter Rita Mehta 4 the founder and first Editor in chief of Cine Blitz magazine His brother Burjor was also a journalist albeit in the film industry editor of Filmfare 4 Leanings as owner editor of Blitz editKaranjia was the founder and the owner editor of Blitz a weekly tabloid published out of Mumbai The columnist Sudheendra Kulkarni wrote about how the decision to launch Blitz was taken over a cup of tea between three patriotic journalists ie BV Nadkarni Benjamin Horniman and Karanjia at the Wayside Inn a restaurant near Kala Ghoda Mumbai The first issue of Blitz was published on 1 February 1941 the same day that Karanjia died in 2008 Kulkarni calls his journalism irreverent investigative courageous and a little titillating Filmmaker Khwaja Ahmad Abbas and Magsaysay award winning journalist P Sainath were associated with Blitz Blitz was radical and idealist left leaning and pro Soviet citation needed Karanjia remained a staunch critic of the Congress party while continuing to remain friendly with Congress leaders Nehru Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi citation needed However Karanjia later became disillusioned with communism and its anti Hindu secularism He became a strong sympathiser of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Ayodhya movement Initially a fierce critic of the Indian guru Sathya Sai Baba Karanjia later became his devotee in 1976 2 According to Kulkarni P Sainath was replaced as the magazine s deputy editor by Karanjia who appointed Kulkarni to the post instead of him 2 Books edit1952 China stands up and wolves of the Wild West 1956 SEATO Security or Menace 1958 Arab Dawn 1960 The Mind of Mr Nehru 1961 Castro Storm Over Latin America 1966 The Philosophy Of Mr Nehru 1970 Round Germany with Hitler 1977 Kundalini Yoga 1977 Mind of a Monarch Biography of the Shah of Iran ISBN 978 0 04 923069 9 1997 God Lives In India ISBN 978 81 86822 27 2References edit R K Karanjia Living through the Blitz The Hindu 6 February 2008 Retrieved 4 July 2017 a b c d Kulkarni Sudheendra 2 February 2008 He launched Blitz on Feb 1 died on Feb 1 it s no coincidence indianexpress com The Indian Express Limited Retrieved 24 July 2011 a b c Veteran Journalist R K Karanjia Dead News Post India 1 February 2008 archived from the original on 29 January 2013 retrieved 29 February 2008 a b c d e f Veteran journalist Russi Karanjia passes away Rediff India Abroad 1 February 2008 retrieved 29 February 2008 a b c R K Karanjia passes away The Hindu 1 February 2008 archived from the original on 6 February 2008 retrieved 29 February 2008 nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rustom Khurshedji Karanjia Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Russi Karanjia amp oldid 1168948801, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
