Shreepad Wagh no more

Shreepad Wagh (77), the former editor of the Maharashtra Herald, died in his hometown Malvan following a heart attack on January 24.

According to his younger daughter, Ujwwala Gokarn, her father, a very fit man, had even taken part in a cross country run in Malvan two days before his death. Poignantly, Wagh passed away while reading a newspaper at home.

“My father was respected for his simplicity, upright nature and straightforwardness. Self-discipline and punctuality were his hallmarks,” Ujwwala said.

Wagh, who edited the Maharashtra Herald newspaper between 1977-1994, was fondly remembered by his erstwhile colleagues.

Speaking to DNA on Saturday, Joseph M Pinto, former assistant editor of the newspaper said, “Wagh always believed in encouraging young journalists. This is the reason why so many senior journalists in Pune newspapers are all former Herald journalists.”

Pinto complimented Wagh’s emphasis on city-centric news. “Every evening, he used to be looking for a city story that could be used prominently on page one,” Pinto said.

Taher Shaikh, former editor of Maharashtra Herald, said, “We used to publish a local editorial every day and Wagh even gave senior reporters a chance to write the editorials. He was a very fine leader of men.”

Likewise, YV Krishnamurthy, also a former editor of the newspaper, recalled how Wagh encouraged reporters to be objective and fearless in their reporting. “He personally had a  very hard-hitting style and never hesitated in calling a spade a spade,” Krishnamurthy recollected.

Harry David, former chief reporter of Maharashtra Herald, said, “He used to read every single newspaper cover to cover, before sitting down to write his editorials. He used to make two drafts, before finalising one editorial.”

A special condolence meeting to pay tributes to the late SD Wagh is being held at 11 am on Monday at the Pune Union of Working Journalists (PUWJ). Wagh is survived by his two daughters, Sumedha and Ujwwala.