Veteran Journalist P. G. Baruah, Pillar of Northeast Indian Media, Passes Away at 93

The death of veteran journalist P. G. Baruah , Editor and Managing Director of The Assam Tribune Group , has been widely mourned across the country, with political leaders, media professionals and civil society remembering him as a towering figure in Indian journalism, particularly in the Northeast.

A Padma Shri awardee , Baruah was born in Dibrugarh in 1932 and devoted several decades to building and strengthening The Assam Tribune , the region’s most influential English-language daily. Founded in 1939 by his father Radha Gobinda Baruah , the newspaper emerged under his leadership as the most credible and widely read publication in Assam and neighbouring states.

Baruah was instrumental in upholding editorial independence, professional ethics and balanced reporting at a time when the Northeast faced insurgency, political upheaval and social transformation. His stewardship ensured sustained national attention to the region’s concerns, ranging from security and development to identity and culture, making The Assam Tribune a key reference point for policymakers, diplomats and researchers.

Beyond journalism, Baruah played an important role in promoting Assamese culture, literature and public discourse . He encouraged coverage of the state’s artistic and intellectual life, helping preserve Assam’s cultural heritage while connecting it with a wider national audience. In recognition of his contribution to media and society, he was conferred the Padma Shri .

In his later years, Baruah served as Chairman Emeritus of The Assam Tribune Group, continuing to guide the institution he had led for generations. The Assam Tribune remains the oldest English daily in the Northeast , with uninterrupted publication since 1939.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday expressed grief over Baruah’s passing, describing him as a respected media professional who was deeply passionate about Assam’s progress and the popularisation of its culture.

Baruah passed away in Guwahati on Sunday evening at the age of 93, leaving behind a legacy widely regarded as foundational to the growth of independent and credible journalism in the Northeast .