Ahmedabad: Veteran journalist and political analyst Vidyut Thaker passed away today here. He was 93. He died of a prolonged illness. Prime Minister Narendrabhai Modi in a tweet condoled his passing away.

One of the earliest journalists of Gujarat, Thaker was active for last over fifty years in this domain. He was one of the rare journalists living in Gujarat who had covered the first assembly session of Gujarat State way back in 1960 when the State assembly would function in the Ambawadi area of Ahmedabad in the present Government Polytechnic building. Thaker started his journalism career as early as in 1956 as a Deputy Editor of NavGujarat Daily which was run by Praja Samajwadi Paksha.

Thaker was also politically active during his career. He was the Ahmedabad city unit secretary of Praja Samajwadi Paksh and later the Congress party. He had left the Congress party after he decided to participate in the movement against an emergency imposed by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. During the emergency movement, legendary Bihar leader Karpuri Thakur had stayed in his house in Navrangpura with the fake identity of Professor Gautam.

Thaker was also active in the MahaGujarat movement which resulted in the formation of the Gujarat State in the year 1960. He was jailed for a month in the course of the MahaGujarat agitation with Indulal Yagnik, Devendra Oza, Brahmkumar Bhatt, Harihar Khambholja, and others.

જાણીતા રાજકીય સમીક્ષક વિદ્યુત ઠાકરના નિધનના સમાચાર દુઃખદ છે.

સદ્ગતના આત્માની શાંતિ માટે પ્રાર્થના તથા શોકગ્રસ્ત પરિવારને સાંત્વના…!

ૐ શાંતિ…!!

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 6, 2023

Thaker had been the Chairman of Gujarat Small Scale Industries Corporation for a brief period.  He had been a Trustee of Sadra-based TB hospital. He was also visiting faculty at Gujarat University run UPSC coaching classes and at SPIPA in the past.

Thaker was close to a number of political leaders such as Indulal Yagnik, Ratubhai Adani, Sanat Mehta, George Fernandes, Chandrashekhar, and Chimanbhai Patel among others.

Vidyutbhai Thaker had authored four books namely; China Russ Sangharsh anne Bharat no Samyavadi Paksh, Tank ni Kahani, Kutch na Akraman nu Rajkaran and Kashmir: Samasya Islamic Kattartani. He had also started a daily named Parivartak. His book on Kashmir was launched by present Prime Minister Narendrabhai Modi in the year 1988.

He was a columnist in publications including Gujarat Samachar, Divya Bhaskar, Sandesh, Sambhav, Abhiyan, and NavGujarat Samay. His column names were Ukel Mangto Koydo and Samprat. Even during his illness, he was writing a column for Gujarati daily NavGujarat Samay. He was conferred with Ramanbhai Shah Sadhna Patrakarita Puraskar.

He is survived by his wife Naliniben and only daughter Dr. Rajal Thaker. DeshGujarat