HK Dua, an eminent journalist and veteran of public life who led editorial operations at three of India’s major newspapers, died in New Delhi on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. He was 88. Dua passed away peacefully at a private hospital, a family member said. His cremation is scheduled for Thursday, March 5, 2026, at the Lodhi Road crematorium. He had been admitted to hospital around three weeks earlier and is survived by his wife, Adity, and son, Prashant.
Over a career spanning more than four decades, Dua moved between journalism, government service and diplomacy. He served as editor of The Hindustan Times from 1987 to 1994, editor‑in‑chief of The Indian Express from 1994 to 1996, and led The Tribune from 2003 to 2009. He was editorial advisor to The Times of India in 1997–98, served as India’s ambassador to Denmark from 2001 to 2003, and was a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha from 2009 to 2015.
Dua also acted as media adviser to two prime ministers, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and H.D. Deve Gowda, and took part in several high‑profile parliamentary committees, including the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Home Affairs. In Parliament he was noted for his contributions to debates on foreign affairs and national security.
A Padma Bhushan awardee, Dua was widely respected for his affable manner, sharp political insight and firm defence of editorial independence. He served two terms as president of the Editors’ Guild of India, was a member of the National Security Advisory Board, and received honorary doctorates from Punjab University and Kurukshetra University. His other honours included the Durga Ratan award and the Bal Gangadhar Tilak award for excellence in journalism.
Leaders across the political spectrum and colleagues in the media paid tribute. “My deepest condolences on the passing of HK Dua, a distinguished journalist, diplomat, and Padma Bhushan recipient whose commitment to truth, editorial independence, and public service enriched public discourse,” Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge wrote on social media. Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal said Dua “upheld editorial independence with unwavering integrity, sharp insight, and commitment to democratic values,” and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor wrote, “A journalistic giant has left us.”
PTI
Original Source: https://assamtribune.com/national/veteran-journalist-padma-bhusan-awardee-h-k-dua-passes-away-at-88-1609057
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Publish Date: 2026-03-04 19:16:00
