By A Staff Reporter -
MUSCAT — Veteran journalist, historian and author Alfred D’Cruz passed away at his residence in Mumbai, India, recently at the age of 91, after a brief illness.
He was a stalwart of the Times of India and retired as the Chief Sub-Editor after nearly 40 years of dedicated and meritorious service.
Starting his journalistic career with the esteemed newspaper group way back in 1947, Alfred D’Cruz was the first Indian lad to be selected by the then British Editor, Sir Francis Low.
A multi-faceted personality, he edited India’s most comprehensive reference book: The Times of India Directory and Year Book 1984, including Who’s Who — which was listed among the best in the Directory of Directories, Michigan, USA and soon became a bestseller in India, US, UK and Europe.
Alfred D’Cruz was known for his forte for historical research and published the Times supplement Metamorphosis and Makers of Bombay.
He also brought out a special eight-page supplement of The Times of India entitled ‘Down the corridors of Times’ which was a research historical study of the making of the century–old newspaper from its inception.
He was a co-author with the late Prof Patrocino de Souza of the book on Saligao, Focus on a picturesque Goan village (The book mirrors the confrontation of two cultures, European and Indian, spanning four centuries.).
After his stint with the Times of India, he worked for some time with the Sunday Observer as its News Editor. Later he was invited to join the Kuwait Times as its Assistant Editor.
Writing under the pseudonym Afie, Alfred D’Cruz was the only scribe to write the Round & About column in the Evening News of India for some time when the late ‘Busybee’ was on leave.
Alfred D’Cruz always promoted Oman through newspaper articles in Indian publications and other forums for he always believed it is one of the most beautiful countries in the world.
He died as he always lived — hard-working, with a zest for life, till the very end.
Alfred D’Cruz will be fondly remembered by the newspaper fraternity as the “Eternal Newspaper Man”. He is survived by his wife, a son who works in Muscat and three daughters.
