IndiaPost.com - Ethnic Indian media pioneer Gopal Raju dead

NEW YORK: Gopal Raju, the pioneer of ethnic Indian media in the United States, and founder of the well known India Abroad newspaper as well as IANS, died here on April 9 after a brief illness. He was 80. A bachelor, Raju died of complications arising from a sudden bout of jaundice. The soft-spoken shy publisher, who became an institution in the South Asian community in the US, was conferred the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman for his contributions to India and its diasporas by then president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in 2007.

Till his death, he was editor and publisher of the New York-based News-India Times, Desi Talk and Gujarat Times. The Bangalore-born Raju was also the founder of the Indian American Centre for Political Awareness (IACPA), a well-known non-profit organization in Washington that sought to empower Indian Americans, especially the younger generation, and helped create a distinct Indian voice on Capitol Hill. Meanwhile, there has been an outpouring of grief and heartfelt words of sympathy at the passing away of Gopal Raju.

However, in keeping with Raju’s wishes of keeping his funeral purely private and minimalist, the Indian American Foundation, which he founded, has requested mourners to send a contribution in the name of "Indian American Foundation" instead of sending flowers.

The money would be utilized to fund the causes that Raju held dear. In a condolence message, Indian Ambassador to the United States, Ronen Sen said, "I am deeply distressed to learn of the sad demise of Gopal Raju. He had several accomplishments to his credit as a veteran journalist with impeccable credentials," Sen said in a statement. ‘In recognition of his multi-faceted and exemplary contributions, he had been conferred with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award in 2007. I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family and to his many friends, colleagues and admirers," the top Indian Envoy said.