Kolkata: Back in 2021, when the West Bengal Assembly election campaign was at its peak, Biswajit Roy and I had planned to leave early one morning for Nandigram to gauge the mood in the constituency where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was contesting. Around 4 a.m., the driver—whom we had arranged privately at a lower fare than a regular cab—called to cancel. I couldn’t find another ride at such an early hour, and the trip to Nandigram had to be shelved.
That day, I learned something lasting about Biswajit Da: how deeply committed he was to ground reporting. He was 61 at the time and not in the best of health, yet he was determined to be where the story was unfolding. After I began working closely with him, I often regretted not having enough resources to support his passion for fieldwork. Earlier in the same election season, we had travelled to Singur and Asansol to report from the ground. We also jointly covered many rallies and protests. He understood our shoestring setup and never complained.
Biswajit Roy had worked with The Telegraph, The Times of India, The Statesman, and Doordarshan. Over time, he also came to appreciate the importance of independent media. Not only did he help build a small network of online news outlets in Bengal, but he personally supported eNewsroom India financially on two occasions.
He seemed to value how independent platforms allowed him to write with depth, without the constraints of word counts or commercial agendas. His analytical reports during the Galwan Valley clash between Indian and Chinese soldiers were widely read and praised for their insight. He was always ahead of the curve, offering perspective rather than just the news.
Over the last four years, Roy had been living in Shantiniketan. There, he continued writing—on politics, culture, and international affairs. He explored Rabindranath Tagore’s views on Palestine, including the profound exchange between Tagore and Albert Einstein on the matter. Earlier this year, he published a book on Gaza in Bangla, launched at the Kolkata Book Fair. At the time of his passing, he was working on another book, focusing on how Indian leaders such as Tagore, Gandhi, and Nehru viewed the Palestine question.
Bengal has long served as a sanctuary for journalists. The state’s intellectual ecosystem has nurtured many who made their mark nationally and globally. But few remained as uncompromising—or as rebellious—as Biswajit Roy. The 65-year-old journalist breathed his last on the morning of May 15 at his Ballygunge residence.
He wrote fluently in both Bangla and English, and even turned to poetry on occasion. “Probably the last rebel in any newsroom in Bengal,” said Supratim Pal, a former colleague from The Telegraph. Fondly known as Madhu Da among his peers, Roy had a journalistic career spanning over four decades. Throughout it, he remained a practitioner of meaningful journalism.
“He was a born revolutionary, always passionate in his beliefs and work,” recalled Deepak Mishra, a senior journalist based in Patna. One of the books he edited, War and Peace in Junglemahal, stirred controversy when a Bombay High Court judge, during the bail plea of human rights defender Vernon Gonsalves, questioned why someone would possess War and Peace. The reference mistakenly associated the title with Roy’s edited volume, sparking outrage on social media over the judge’s ignorance—and the deeper fear of dissenting voices.
I had often heard tales of how Roy raised sharp and uncomfortable questions within newsrooms. I also read his powerful and fearless piece written after being retrenched by The Telegraph. Despite his strong views, he was known for his kindness and humility. “But for juniors, he was very kind and considerate,” recalled Sucheta Chakraborty, who had worked with him at both The Telegraph and eNewsroom.
Dipankar Bhattacharya, General Secretary of CPIML, said, “We lost an uncompromising activist-writer and journalist who always stood for the people and fought for a free press and civil liberties.”
“We worked together many times in fact-finding teams. Such tedious work can only be done by journalists who not only understand their journalistic responsibilities but also have deep social concerns,” said Samirul Islam, the activist-turned-TMC MP. Speaking to eNewsroom, his voice grew heavy as he recalled his bond with the veteran journalist.
Roy is survived by his two sons, Kabir and Kanishk, and his ailing mother. His wife, Debjani—also a journalist—had passed away just 16 months ago.
“Forever a restless mind,” is how senior journalist Sujan Dutta remembered him. Biswajit Da, you dedicated your life to building a better society through journalism. You raised the bar for what journalism could and should be. May your ideals be realised sooner rather than later.
