New Delhi: Remembering veteran journalist Avinash Chandra Saxena, popularly known as A C Saxena in short, and simply AC among his friends and colleagues, is of great value at a time when independent journalism is in peril, for remembering such professionals could serve as ray of hope and inspire liberal thinking among journalists. He is no more among us. He died on April 27, 2021 the age of 93 after two months of decline in health due to his heart ailments. Today, July 12, 2023 is his 95th birthday. Team CISREV asked his son Anoop Saxena, Correspondent and Producer South Asia, ARD German Radio & TV to let us know about a son’s perspective about him, which we are producing here along with some quotes about him.
Remembering Papa on his 95th birthday
It’s been more than two years since he left us, seldom told him how much he meant to me and how big an influence he was on shaping my career, my views about India and the world. He was a stern father but very open in his outlook, taught us to be grounded & respectful towards people irrespective of their caste, their status. Whoever came to our house was treated equally, no discrimination at all. We all are thankful that he brought us up this way. His nature of helping others was remarkable; sometimes he went out of his way to help others and was always punctual with appointments, even by using public transport.
He was a journalist and a self-made man, coming from Allahabad to a big city & struggled his way to be a part of Delhi’s elite group – popularly known as AC Saxena or simply AC.His passion for journalism was so much that in late 50s in Delhi, he quit a cushy job of a Manager in a well known printing press and struggled to get back to journalism. After joining a leading daily The Indian Express, he worked successfully and attai
ned a post of News Editor. His political views were quite liberal, you can say Nehruvian, had a practical approach to problem solving, always proud of his profession and worked till the age of 85. His career spanned more than six decades, during which he continued his passion for writing and journalism. He also worked with the German daily Suddeutsche Zeitung as India’s correspondent. He was accredited with PIB and was a Long & Distinguished member.
He was truly a cancerian and loved his home, he was a complete family man, his three brothers meant a lot to him. When we lost Harish Chacha in July 2020 , he was completely shattered and was down also due to Covid restrictions, in his last days whenever he felt down with old age ailments he used to call his youngest brother Satish chacha to find a solution to his problems. I was blessed & lucky to have spent 59 years together with him, eating, drinking, sharing jokes, discussing politics and sometimes gossipping, we were more like friends. After his death , it wasn’t easy for me to come back to a normal routine.
He was truly a cancerian and loved his home, he was a complete family man, his three brothers meant a lot to him. When we lost Harish Chacha in July 2020 , he was completely shattered and was down also due to Covid restrictions, in his last days whenever he felt down with old age ailments he used to call his youngest brother Satish chacha to find a solution to his problems. I was blessed & lucky to have spent 59 years together with him, eating, drinking, sharing jokes, discussing politics and sometimes gossipping, we were more like friends. After his death , it wasn’t easy for me to come back to a normal routine.
‘AC’ AS A FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT – I would like to share some of the quotes by his colleagues, after his retirement from the Indian Express he joined a leading German daily ‘ Suddeutsche Zeitung’ as a India Correspondent. In 1999 his Bureau Chief Mr Stefan Klein wrote a book ” The Holy Cow & Computer Chips”, dedicated Foreword to Papa – For AC.
Some quotes from the foreword
Obviously I was afraid of India. Obviously, I considered it impossible to ever understand this county. But yes, my friend A.C. I placed my complete insecurity before him in the hope that he, with a few eloquent sentences, could bring order in my confusion…
I told my Chief Editor “You can’t report accurately about India without having a reliable man in situ.” That made sense and so l happened to meet A.C. Saxena, The News Chief of the Indian Express for many years. From him, I would frequently hear explanations which could be understood in either way,and at the beginning I have to admit, it did irritate me quite often. But I didn’t know yet that it was A.C.’s way, to bring me away from grey theories and instead to open my eyes ….
Before Writing a report, the subject has to be researched and appointments made accordingly, Usually, one deals with people who have no time, no interest, or aversion to Journalists. One intends to be polite, subservient if necessary, but ends up receiving furiously screaming insults.
A.C. never insulted people. He presented his request so gently, as it was his nature and said at the end “it shall be much obliged” gently put down the receiver and had his appointment lists. He only has little bits of paper which comprehensible and catastrophic system-one has far as I know, A.C.owns no address or he retrieves from one or the other pocket. But that’s not the case AC always had the required numbers and retrieved from his private Archive exactly the information I needed at the time …..
Every Indian laughs, because obviously there are a thousand and one Indians where you are looking in vain for the truth. Because the truth is, almost always, also the opposite in this labyrinth one can easily lose orientation if one doesn’t have a knowledgeable & reliable guide. A.C. was this and much more. I don’t know where acquaintanceship ends and friendship begins. But I know that there is, in this moloch New Delhi, someone who waits for me when I arrive again, and instead of the usual self important and pedantic behavior of Journalists, is friendly and relaxed and asks first about my family. “And the political situation A.C.?” “Ah, the Usual” …..
We became friends. It was I, who now and then strained this friendship-for example in Kashmir, when I fell in love with a beautifully carved Houseboat on the Dal Lake and insisted on moving from the Hotel to that boat last night. I knew that occasionally, militants had kidnapped tourists from these very boats-but what could possibly happen in one single night?”In the worst case,” said lightheartedly to A.C., “we can always swim” it was as beautiful on that boat as I had walnut wood, imagined it would be: Handcraíted furniture made from antique carpets, fragrant Kashmiri tea and the next morning, a view of the snow capped mountains from the bed.A.C., I soon realised I didn’t find it quite as beautiful. He had spent the night nervously sitting on his bed case as a hon, thinking of how he could save himself in the worst swimmer Sory A.C. I was not always very considerate. I still have a little to make up for.. and that’s this collection of reportage to you. I hope that it will reflect something …
Selected Quotes about AC Saxena_
Remembering him, senior journalist H.K.Dua said that he felt very sad over a friend’s loss. “For years we worked together in the Indian Express as our friendship evolved. We couldn’t meet lately,” said Mr Dua while sharing a sense of loss with his family.
Vithusha Oberoi Senior Journalist remembered him and said, “I started my career as a trainee journalist at Indian Express under him as News Editor. Countless memories are associated with him. AC was my guru whose blessings I could always count on. I deeply mourn his loss.”
Prashant Saxena Jounalist said, “He was my guide and the first person to smile when I told him I wanted to be a journalist. He was my first acquaintance in the newspaper world. I met him face to face on a memorable day: Oct 31, 1984. He was in a hurry to finish off the single page that day. My deep condolences.”
“Remember him fondly, worked with him many years at the express as a sub when he was a chief sub. An absolute gentleman, with such a sharp sense of the world around him. Sharing the grief of his loss with family, friends and colleagues,” said Sanjay Suri Author & Journalist based in London
M.J.Anthony Indian Express Colleague stated while remembering him, “As his junior at Indian Express news desk since 1970 and later at bureau I have fond memories of those decades. Saxena saab was always pleasant, dropping a joke every five minutes, never angry, full of practical advice in journalism and life. A milestone in my life.”