Media Release
Panaji, Feb 25: The prestigious Laxmidas Borkar Memorial Award for Journalism was bestowed on eminent journalist, historian and author late Alfred D'Cruz, a stalwart of The Times of India for 40 years from 1947 to 1987.
His son, Sunil D'Cruz, received the award on his late father's behalf from Prof Prajal Sakhardande of the Dhempe College of Arts & Science, Miramar during the annual Bori Utsav celebrations in Ponda, Goa, recently.
Late Alfred D’Cruz, the first Indian sub-editor of The Times of India, Mumbai in 1947 and a stalwart of The Times Group for 40 years, was honoured posthumously with the Laxmidas Borkar Memorial Award for Journalism by the Bori Development Trust, Goa.
The award, instituted in memory of eminent journalist late Laxmidas Borkar, was presented during the well attended Bori Utsav celebrations, at the Narayan Temple Hall, Ponda in Goa, recently. Sunil, son of late Alfred D'Cruz, received the award on his father's behalf.
Besides editing countless newspaper reports and bringing out the daily edition of The Times of India, Mumbai, Alfred D’Cruz, who passed away on June 1 2012, co-authored the book 'Saligao: Focus on a Picturesque Goan Village', brought out during the centenary celebrations of Mae de Deus church in 1973, the only church with Gothic architecture in Goa. The book, illustrated by Late Mario Miranda, is in the Library of Congress in Washington and 20 major universities in the USA.
He was also the Editor of India’s best comprehensive reference book: ‘The Times of India Directory and Year Book 1984', including Who’s Who in India, featuring prominent personalities. The book was listed among the best in the Directory of Directories, Michigan, U.S.A. and soon became a best seller in India, US, UK and Europe.
Moreover, when The Times of India completed 147 years in 1985, Alfred D'Cruz brought out a special eight-page supplement titled `Down the Corridors of the Times’ which was a research historical study of the making of the century-old newspaper from its inception.
Alfred D'Cruz was earlier honoured posthumously with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Journalist Association of India.
Alfred D'Cruz was also the News Editor of The Sunday Observer, Mumbai and the Assistant Editor of The Kuwait Times.