Veteran Indian journalist and political observer N. Sathyamoorthy (73) passed away in Chennai on the day of Thai Pongal January 15 after a brief illness.
Sathiyamoorthy, who had a particular interest in contemporary socio-political history, wrote extensively on Indian and international political affairs for decades. It can be said that no other journalist or political observer from India has written on the political affairs of India’s neighbours, especially Sri Lanka, for as long as Sathiyamoorthy.
Until recently he headed the Chennai chapter of the Observer Research Foundation, a think tank headquartered in New Delhi. He also worked for some years as a consultant to a major media house in Sri Lanka. Until his illness a few weeks ago, he wrote political articles in some of Sri Lanka’s English newspapers and a Tamil newspaper published from Jaffna.
He maintained close relations with almost all the important political leaders of Sri Lanka and had the ability to write clear political analyses of Sri Lanka’s political affairs, no less than the important political analysts of Sri Lanka. He knew many Sri Lanan politicians closely enough to advise them.
During my tenure (2012-2015) as the Editor of Samakalam, a fortnightly magazine published by Express Newspapers, publishers of Sri Lanka’s leading national Tamil daily Virakesari, Sathiyamoorthy gave me valuable advice and regularly wrote political articles on domestic and international political affairs.
Sathiyamoorthy engaged a few political analysts from Tamil Nadu and New Delhi to write for us in an effort to promote the magazine, a new initiative in Tamil covering socio-political issues.
The relationship that started between us in the field of journalism turned into a close personal friendship over time. He never failed to meet me whenever he came to Colombo. His family also became very close to me.
Sathiyamoorthy used to call me at least once a fortnight. Each session would be not less than a half-an-hour duration. I finally spoke to him on 16 December 2025. He made it a point to enquire about my health with great concern before speaking about the political situation. We ended the conversation by saying, ‘will talk again.’ Unfortunately, it turned out to be the last conversation we had.
We have lost an eminent Indian journalists and political observer who maintained a close relationship with the Sri Lankan media. I extended my deep-felt condolences to his wife and only son.
