By EuAsiaNews,
Brussels, : The well-known and widely-respected journalist, scholar and expert on EU-India relations, Malcolm Subhan, was laid to rest here Monday afternoon.
India’s ambassador to Belgium and the European Union, Dipak Chatterjee, speaking at the memorial ceremony said the demise of Subhan is a big loss to the Indian media and the Indian community in Belgium.
Chatterjee lauded Subhan as a gifted writer, particularly on economoc issues, and his valuable role in promoting understanding between the EU and India.
He noted that many ambassadors and diplomats at the Indian embassy in Belgium profited from Subhan’s wide knowledge of EU affairs.
Malcolm Subhan passed away last week at the age of 80 following a long battle with cancer . He was born in Bareilly, India, and attended Wodostock School in Mussoorie and on graduation went on to St. Stephens College in Delhi.
His brother, Stanley, told the mourners that Malcolm later left for the United States where he studied economy and journalism in Northwestern University and in the University of California in Berkeley.
Malcolm was a founder-member and vice-chairman of the European Institute for Asian Studies, a not-for-profit organization established in Brussels some 15 years ago in order to raise the profile of the European Union’s relations with Asia.
He wrote for a number of top Indian publications on EU-India affairs for over four decades and was the editor-in-chief of EuAsiaNews.
Nawab Khan, a Brussels-based Indian journalist, said “Subhan sahab was a real guru who guided me through the labyrinth of the EU and the complexities of EU-India ties.”
“He was an embodiment of what was good in the East and what was good in the West and he understood both the worlds very well,” said Khan.
The general secretary of the Brussels-based International Federation of Journalists, Aidan White, in his message said Malcolm Subhan was a vigorous supporter of efforts to establish a foothold for Indian journalism in Brussels.
“He was very much appreciated and respected by all of us at the International Federation of Journalists, both as a colleague and as a good friend to journalism and journalists the world over,” said White.
Meanwhile, condolence messages on Subhan’s demise kept pouring from India and Europe.
“I am very sad to learn about Malcolm’s passing away. I had known him for many years and benefitted a great deal from his deep and sensitive understanding of European affairs, said Mr. N.N.Vohra, the current Governor in Kashmir.
Until recently, Sobhan also lectured regularly on the economic problems of developing countries,in the framework of the training programme organized by the Belgian Ministry of Development Cooperation.
He was in the process of setting up an EU-India civil society Internet Forum on behalf of the EU-India Round Table.
Madi Sharma of the European Economic & Social Committee, said Malcolm was one of the greatest supporters and driving force in developing relations at civil society level between India and Europe.
“He was a well known personality in all the European Institutions and an expert on Indian relations in the Committee. Malcolm bought many valuable discussions to the fore, particularly relating to culture and multicultural pluralism in both Europe and India,” said Sharma.
Sunil Prasad, Secretary General of the Europe India Chamber of Commerce and President of the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO)on Belgium said Malcolm Subhan was a passionate and courageous advocate of free and independent media, an extraordinary writer, and above all a profoundly good and generous man.
“Some people knew Malcolm as one of Belgium’s most gifted writers and editors, particularly on Indian economy. He was one of a kind who will be sorely missed and never forgotten,” said Prasad.
K.N. Gupta, President of GOPIO in India said Malcolm’s death “is a great and irreparable loss for both our profession of journalism and GOPIO.”
Anil Patni, who worked for many years in the press section of the European Commission Delegation in New Delhi, said Malcolm Subhan played a solid role in bringing together EU and India through his journalism and writings.
“His enthusiasm was boundless, his energy was infectious and his knowledge of different aspects of EU-India relations was unmatched,” said Patni.
Mahesh Jha, Senior Editor, Hindi Programme of the German broadcaster Deutsche Welle said Malcolm Subhan’s “role and hard work in strengthening and enhancing Indo-European relations would not only be rememberd for long but it would also be a model for all of us and particularly the young generation.”
“We deeply mourn his loss to the journalistic community. Several of us had the opportunity to interact and work with him . We will miss him for long. May God give his soul peace and may his family bear his departure with fortitude,” said Shyam Khosla, Chairman of the Indian Media Centre in New Delhi.
A well-known Brussels-based journalist, Shada Islam, in a column which she wrote for the Pakistani paper Dawn in November 2007 said ” many years ago, as a young and inexperienced journalist covering European Union (EU) affairs in Brussels, I was given precious, friendly advice by a much-respected senior Indian colleague: “Dress well and conduct yourself with dignity,” Malcolm Subhan told me.
Subhan leaves behind his wife Helene, four children and five grandchildren.