Veteran journalist Arun Chacko dead

Veteran journalist Arun Chacko, who reported momentous events from around the world and held key positions in prominent Indian media outlets, died here Tuesday morning after a long battle with cancer.

He was 66 and is survived by his wife and a son.

Educated at Nainital's Sherwood College and the St. Stephen's College here, Chacko quickly rose to become the chief reporter of the Indian Express here.

Thereafter, he assisted another veteran journalist, Saeed Naqvi in establishing the World Report news syndicate, the first such out of India to bring global events to the country at a time when communication was a tedious process.

Perhaps two of his most memorable stories came out of Peru and Iceland - the first about Khalistanis setting up an embassy in the country and the second the riveting World Chess Championship in Reykjavic between challenger Bobby Fischer and title holder Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union.

Chacko also served as the director of the Press Institute of India as president (Special Projects) at IANS.

"He was a gentleman to the core, soft spoken and employing a style of conversation that has gone out of fashion. He was a fine and sensitive journalist; my right-hand man and a good administrator - all in a very low-key manner," Naqvi told IANS.

The funeral was held Tuesday evening.