H K Dua: A gentleman journalist, diplomat & a parliamentarian of substance

Senior journalist Avinash Singh recalls his association with H K Dua and the contributions made by the veteran editor to the field of journalism

by e4m Staff
Published: Mar 5, 2026 1:37 PM | 2 min read

Getting to know the sad demise of two fatherly figures within a span of few hours was a tall order. First it was Prof J S Yadava, former Director IIMC and before you could assimilate his loss came the news of Padma Bhushan H K Dua, a journalist par excellence (without frills), a diplomat and a nominated member of Rajya Sabha being no more!

Mr Dua had a stroke sometime back but his will to live took him to IIC at least four days, if not more, even on a wheelchair!

I worked with Mr H K Dua for over nine years at HT. He was responsible for two major shifts in my life - my relocation from Sports to Political reporting and then my moving to Guru Nanak Dev University as Professor and Head of Mass Com.

He was the only journalist to have been Editor-in-Chief of four leading publications, Hindustan Times, The Times of India, The Indian Express and The Tribune. I knew him from his days when he was the Political Correspondent of The Indian Express. He joined HT as Executive Editor with Mr Prem Shankar Jha astheEditor-in-Chief. Within a year this thorough gentleman was our big boss.

He was also the Media Advisor to the Prime Minister of India, a Diplomat - he was India's Ambassador to Denmark - and RS member at different times.

He gave me a free hand to travel across the entire North East before my joining at Shillong. Amritsar, during the height of militancy, was a difficult yet dream posting between 1987-91. Again he gave me freedom to travel for my stories without prior approval. My entry into the Political Bureau of HT via Bangalore and several other short assignments were courtesy Dua sahib.

He made it a point to visit every institution I headed in Education thereafter and was there to bless my daughter Saravpriya Singh 's first solo exhibition of paintings alongside his artist wife.

A recent meeting with him was at India International Centre library! Never knew it was the last! Fare Thee well Dua Sahib! Your's was a life to be celebrated.