The veteran journalist TJS George ended the stellar 25-year-old run of his popular column “View” in the new Indian Express Daily in 2022: “But there is something right if the country and its rulers begin to feel that journalists should not be criticized at all.”
For colleagues and readers of newspapers that last for decades and nations, Thayil Jacob Sony George – better known as TJs George or simply TJs, was such a note typical of a man who considers many embodiment to what journalists should strive. We could say that during a busy career, Mr. George, who died on Friday at the age of 97, straddled many lives – journalists, writers, sharp and funny social commentator and a global citizen who was quite at home with a big picture.
For readers in Kerala, there were also other, ie, who were just as cool with Malayalam, his mother tongue as he was with his English. In this category, perhaps the first episode that immediately comes to mind is Ghoshayatra (parade), sparkling bright journalistic memories that Malayal readers gave another reading experience.
The writer of the NS Madhavan notes that Mr. George also filled the “gap” in Malaysian literature. “He wrote in the original idiom that was not much visible in Malayalam. One of the weaknesses of Malaysian literature is the absence of writing essays. After a great essay, writers such as MP Sankunni Nair and Bhaskara Panicker, revenge that this tradition was contributed to this tradition,” Madhavan said.
“Although he spent a large part of his life and career outside Kera, he never lost contact with Malayalam and his literature,” recalls writer Paul Zachariah. “He had a real interest in language and his literature. And his own use of Malayalam can be described as pure and in fact, as well as his English,” Zachariah said.
“He watched the changes in Malaysian literature closely, which was also the reason why he took the initiative to launch Samakalik Malayalam Weekly,” he said. Mr. Zachariah also points to the next characteristic of Mr. George, who was quite “unmalayali” in a way. “He never boasted by Malayali, for one. He knew Malayalis could also be very great bunglers!”
Writing X Mr George, Writer and Thiruvananthapuram, deputy Shashi Tharoor, described him as “real giant journalism”, whose sharp joke and the powerful column of “view” will be deeply missing. “His contributions to literature and fearless commentary leave an indelible mark. His books, including unforgettable Ministry of Indian citations, will live for a long time,” Tharoor said.
In June 2019 he presented the Swadeshabhimani-Kesari Media Award Swadeshabhimani-Kesari in June 2019, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan this observation of Mr. George. “TJs was a journalist who was never limited to” parentheses “of media houses he worked with.”
As a journalist, TJs transformed his journalistic career into an important chapter of Indian journalism, Mr. Vijayan said in a condolence report. The TJ, who in his profession embodied fearlessness and impartiality, was a proud benefit of Keraly to Indian and international journalism, he added.
In the report, the head of VD Satheesan described Mr. George as a journalist who held a firm belief that the pen in his hand was a sharp weapon. “TJ was someone who still wrote because he couldn’t stop writing. His conclusions and observations influenced people with the depth of his writing and the essence of his thoughts,” Satheesan said.
Published – 3 October 2025 9:15
