For most mid-day readers, the name Thayil Jacob Sony George, or simply, ‘TJS’, as he was referred to by close friends and family, might not ring a bell instantly. But for many journalists who graduated from (then Bangalore’s) Asian College of Journalism — and I am guessing, there must be a few in our city too — the mention of his initials is bound to draw up an aura-tinted memory. A giant of India’s print journalism landscape breathed his last on October 3 in Bengaluru, at the age of 97.

Attending journalism school, and heading out for field reporting assignments in an alien city back in the day, was a very different ballgame, compared to today’s digi-supported ecosystem. No cellphones. No Google Maps. Pay-by-the-hour internet in cyber cafés. Those were tough times to crack a Page 1 for ACJ’s in-house newspaper. Even tougher was the steely demeanour that pervaded the classroom each time TJS would step in, unannounced, to share a few words of inspiration or advice, or when he would pass the hallways of ACJ en route to meet the Dean, or catch up with illustrious visiting faculty, most of whom were on a first-name basis with him. On other occasions, when we’d head to the Indian Express building, which was adjacent to our college, to visit the press, or the canteen, we’d notice how staff would react to his august presence. The impact on backbenchers like us would make for hilarious memes today: our posture would immediately move from slouching to straight up; the feet-dangling and chair swivelling would miraculously come to a halt; the ceiling-gazing was interrupted. Such was his personality. Those would be fleeting visits, but boy, he meant business!