Famous on the television set and well-recognised off it, his was a life led in the career stream of mainstream media for no fewer than two decades, a passage of time during which he became one of the most recognisable faces of Indian journalism. Alas the dreadful COVID 19 has cut short yet another journey. It serves utter grief and sadness to note that Rohit Sardana, famed for his association with Aaj Tak is no more.
Sardana, the familiar face of the famous television-based debate show “Taal Thok Ke,” had been suffering from the Coronavirus and as of last Thursday, i.e., April 29, 2021 had been admitted in the Metro Hospital.
It is reported he succumbed to a heart attack a few hours back on Friday.
An accomplished journalist who began his journalism journey as a copy-editor, Rohit Sardana was skilled in myriad spheres in mainstream journalism, honing his craft in anchoring, copywriting, editing, production as well as post-production work. An experienced anchor at Zee News, his former employer, he would gain national fame and attention during his bold and uncompromising stint at Aaj Tak where he would form the centre of the frame in a widely-followed debate program on contemporary issues, “Taal Thok Ke!”
His stint at Zee wherein he served in the capacity of executive editor and anchor formed the key lynchpin to his successful transformation at Aaj Tak, where alongside revered names like Sweta Singh and Anjana Om Kashyap, Rohit Sardana became a headlining figure.
One of the precursors to his famed journalism journey was Rohit Sardana’s intimate association with a program by the name of “Karamkshetra,” a program he helped produce focused primarily at the Hindi-speaking vernacular of the Indian audience, aimed at capturing political accountability in India. During the days of its broadcast, it was one of the most well-known Hindi-language news programs of its time.
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One of the precious and memorable moments of the Haryana-born journalist came in 2018, at the height of his fame when he was decorated with the venerable Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Puruskar by the hono’ble Government of India.
In his passing, the world of television journalism has lost a brave and bold voice that cared little for audience’s whimper and the petulant cries by politicians, and one whose focus was to bring breaking news developments from an action packed country that knows not what a dull day is.
Shradhanjali! May his soul rest in peace.