Rajkumar Keswani

Journalist, Writer, Film Historian, Film Distributor

Indian Sultaniya Zanana Hospital, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India

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Quick Info

ProfessionJournalist, Writer, Film Historian, Film Distributor
NationalityIndian
Date of Birth26/12/1949
Age71 years (died on 21, May, 2021)
BirthplaceSultaniya Zanana Hospital, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
Date of Death21/05/2021

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Educational Qualification(s)

College/University
  • Saifia College, Bhopal
  • Barkatullah University, Bhopal
Educational QualificationMA LLB at Barkatullah University, Bhopal

Personal Life

Marital StatusMarried

Family

SpouseSunita Keswani
Children
SonRaunaq Keswani (journalist, Chief Sub Editor at Dainik Bhaskar)
FatherDada Laxman Das Keswani (journalist, writer) (deceased)
MotherKrishnadevi Keswani (deceased)
Siblings
BrotherShashi Kumar Keswani (Editor at The Informative Observer)

Career

Awards
  • B. D. Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism (1985)
  • Prem Bhatia Award for Outstanding Environmental Reporting (2010)

Some Lesser Known Facts

1. Rajkumar Keswani was an Indian journalist, writer, film historian, and film distributor.
2. He is known as the whistleblower of the 1984 Bhopal disaster, wherein over 500,000 people were exposed to a toxic gas leak from the Union Carbide pesticide plant.
3. On 21 May 2021, Keswani passed away due to post Covid-19 complications.
4. He was born into a Sindhi family, and his father, Dada Laxman Das Keswani, was a journalist, writer, social reformer, and freedom fighter.
5. In 1964, he founded a Sindhi newspaper called Challenge.
6. Keswani began his career as a sub-editor at Sports Times during his college days.
7. He contributed to various publications such as The New York Times, India Today, and The Indian Express.
8. In 1981, concern for the Union Carbide factory arose when his friend warned him about the risk of a gas leak.
9. Keswani wrote articles warning about the dangers of the pesticide plant two years before the gas leak.
10. His report gained national attention when The Indian Express published it.
11. Keswani's final article on the Bhopal disaster was published five months before the tragedy.
12. He was considered eccentric for his obsession with the Union Carbide plant.
13. Keswani mentioned an Indian bureaucrat advising Union Carbide to relocate the plant due to the nearby residential expansion.
14. His predictions about the Bhopal tragedy came true in 1984.
15. He noted his 'journalistic failure' during an awards speech in 1985.
16. Keswani worked closely with survivor organizations in Bhopal.
17. He held notable editorial positions in various media outlets.
18. Keswani had a deep passion for cinema and authored several books on films and music.
19. He was involved in the film industry before pursuing journalism.
20. Keswani was working on a book about the film 'Mother India' before his passing.
21. He also authored books on Bollywood classics and journalism.
22. He was associated with the family-run Keswani Foundation.
23. In 2021, he tested positive for COVID-19 and received treatment at different hospitals.
24. Rajkumar Keswani inspired characters in Bollywood and a Netflix series.
25. He was an avid supporter of hockey players in Bhopal.
Information on this page is collected from public sources and may not be 100% accurate. Report an error
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