THE WEEK’s Senior Special Correspondent Tariq Ahmad Bhat, 54, passed away in Srinagar at around 8:30am. The family said that he suffered a cardiac attack.
A journalist of impeccable integrity, Tariq had been with THE WEEK for 24 years. He joined the Malayala Manorama Group as a senior correspondent on November 27, 2001. Before joining THE WEEK, he was with The Indian Express.
Kashmiri media stands united in its grief, with three words being repeated in every obit: fair, fearless, and humble. Many remembered him as a thoughtful and patient mentor. Journalists across the valley and beyond took to social media to mark their shock, and respect for Tariq.
Colleagues at THE WEEK remember him as unfailingly polite, kind and as a senior who was courteous right to the youngest trainee at the desk.
In 2014, in a hat-tip to his high standards of professionalism, the International Press Institute (India Chapter) awarded its annual award jointly to him and THE WEEK’s former chief photographer Arvind Jain. The duo won it for its report on the widow village of Dardpora.
His last article for THE WEEK was on November 3, about the annual shift of the state government to Jammu and how Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had said that it was one promise off his election manifesto.
Tariq is survived by his wife and three children. Family sources said that his funeral prayers were scheduled at around noon today in the Chota Bazar locality of Kani Kadal.
