Anil Dharker, Mumbai’s literary godfather, no more

Anil Dharker | mid-day file pic

The city has lost one of its leading torchbearers when it comes to literature and the arts. Anil Dharker (70), former Mid-day and Sunday Mid-day editor, journalist, media adviser and the brain behind Tata Literature Live, passed away. He was in hospital for a heart ailment, and had breathed his last there. Mumbaikars will recall his unflinching dedication for giving literature its due in the city, as festival director of Tata Literature Live, apart from being a constant supporter for all things art and culture in the city.

Recalling his time while working with Dharker for LitLive for a decade, associate Antoine Lewis said, "It's a huge shock. I am at a loss for words. He was active in all his pursuits. I was just reading his piece for a magazine on how happy he was for Kitab Khana's return. Such was his passion for all things books." He added that his love for literature cannot be compared, and that the vacuum created by his loss would be irreplaceable.

Dharker had played a key role in film policy when he moved to join National Film Development Corporation of India (then known as Film Finance Corporation) and went on to head NFDC. He dabbled with television as a creative head, but returned to his old love - journalism and continued to be one of his most prominent voices for decades. With his demise, Mumbai and India have lost a literary ambassador whose love for the written word will be sorely missed.