Media Loses Veteran Journalist, Former Ambassador and PM’s Media Advisor
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ March 4,2026
Today Padma Bhushan awardee, veteran journalist, former Ambassador Hari Krishan Dua popularly known as HK Dua passes away at the age of 88.
Dua, a noted journalist had helmed editorial operations at the Hindustan Times, The Indian Express, The Times of India and The Tribune.
The former diplomat, who had the distinction of serving under both the NDA and UPA governments, edited four national dailies. Dua served as the editor of The Hindustan Times between 1987 and 94. He also served as the Editor-in-Chief of The Indian Express (1994-96), The Tribune (2003-09) and as the Editorial Advisor for The Times of India (1997-98).
He was also media advisor to two Prime Ministers, A B Vajpayee and H D Deve Gowda and served as India’s ambassador to Denmark between 2001 and 2003.As a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha, Dua was also part of the National Security Council under the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government. Dua was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1998.
The veteran journalist breathed, who was born in Sargoda (now in Pakistan on July 1,1937) his last at a private hospital where he had been undergoing treatment for the past three weeks. The cremation will take place at the Lodhi Road crematorium on Thursday. He is survived by wife Adity and son Prashant.
Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor expressed his condolences.“Saddened to learn that Shri H. K. Dua — Padma Bhushan, former Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), Editor, Media Advisor to the former Prime Minister of India, and India’s former Ambassador to Denmark — passed away peacefully this afternoon at 88. “He had the rare distinction of having been Editor of the Hindustan Times @httweets from 1987–94, the @IndianExpress from 1994–96, and @thetribunechd from 2003–09! A journalistic giant has left us. My sincere condolences to his widow Adity, his children and loved ones,” he wrote on X.
