Affectionate friend and prominent roving scribe n trekkar of Uttarakhand Dinesh Kandwal is no more

There is a shocking news about a loss of a prominent figure of Uttarakhand today. The hill state has lost an eminent personality, an editor of Hindi monthly magazine Dinesh Kandwal who was also an adventurous trekker, prolific writer  and a travelogue apart from being an outstanding photographer as well.

He breathed his last at the age of 66 today at the ONGC hospital, Dehradun where he was admitted two days ago with infection in his intestines. There is a shock wave in Uttarakhand especially in Uttarakhand’s journalistic  fraternity and social circles.

According to Manoj Istwal, senior journalist and a close friend of a roving veteran scribe, writer, trekker , travelogue and a gentleman to the hilt  late Dinesh Kandwal started his initial career as an enthusiastic journalist by contributing in the newspaper of legendary freedom fighter and reputed writer Bhairav Dutt Dhulia namely Tarun Hind from Rishikesh.

Thereafter dedicated journo Kandwal started a printing press in partnership and also edited a newspaper. However he later on joined service in Oil and Natural Gas Commission , Dehradun and retired as a geologist.

But during his prolonged stint in ONGC, Dinesh Kandwal primarily being a jurno with tremendous passion for writing  continued to scribe in the reputed vernacular and national dailies, periodicals and journals. He regularly wrote in Swagat magazine circulated in Air India n Indian Airlines, Dharamyugh, Kadambini, Hindustan, Navin Parag, Sunday Mail and dozens of other journals.

A high spirited roving journalist always full of energyand a trekker to the hilt with special interest in photography as well since beginning Dinesh Kandwal’s popular book titled ” Tripura ki Aadivaasi Lok Kathaayen” is still sold in various book stalls of Uttarakhand.

In addition to his incessant writing in various newspapers n journals, Dinesh Kandwal had been editing the  ONGC’s Tripura Magazine titled ” Tripuveshwari” for the last several years till his voluntary retirement in 2011.

Extremely passionate towards trekking n penning down articles on various facets of Uttarakhand and its inhabitants including on himalayan tourism n environment even after his retirement from ONGC, Kandwal is credited for writing good number of articles while adventurously trekking from North East to Uttarakhand himalayas and also penning down his trekking experiences and interesting journeys. Several adventurous trekking expeditions to his credit speak of his vast experience n interest in trekking  high altitude mountains n distant destinations with towering spirit, courage and valour.

His few most interesting trekking expeditions are the following: The 1985’s Sadak Fo ( Darjeeling) – Sangreela, ( 12000 Feet Sikkim) , “Thorang La Paas” ( 18500 feet) , Dizoku Valley Trek, Living Root Bridge trek in Meghalaya,  several journeys n treks in Garhwal n Kumaon including in famour flower valley, Madameheshwar, Dooni Bheetri trek, Monda- Balaawat Chaushil Base Camp trek, Dekjaani – Kedarkaantha base, Taaluka Harkidoon base trek etc dozens of other journeys and treks.

His special trek with his wife Sulochana Kandwal namely Sindhu Jaskaar River sangam’s ( amalgamation) Chadar Track is one of the main adventurous treks amongst all. He started his own monthly  magazine namely” Dehradoon Discover” before seeking voluntary retirement from ONGC on 10th October 2011and continued its publication till his sad demise. At the age of 66 popular trekker, journo and prolific himalayan photographer late Dinesh Kandwal’s last trekking/ journey was his historic 42 kilometre worth of walking research four days’ mission known as ” Himalayan Dighdarshan Dhakar Shodhyaatra ( research journey of Himalayas).

This research journey was in all of 174 kilometres with 42 kilometres as walk mission with heavy kits behind his shoulders. The eminent personalities prominent singer n Padmashree Pritam Bhartwan and the District Magistrate of Pauri Garhwal,  Uttarakhand  Mr. Garbyal paid their richest tributes to late Kandwalji. Good number of organisation of journalists,  Web channels of Uttarakhand n hundreds of journalists have condoled his sad demise. The social media is full of condolences with the veteran journo’s sad demise message going tremendously viral. 

Sunil Negi, President, Uttarakhand Journalists Forum