Obituary of Krishnamoorthy Dasu

Krishnamoorthy Dasu, of New Vernon, New Jersey, passed away peacefully, with his family by his side on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, after a brief illness. He was 99 years old and six months short of turning 100.

Krishnamoorthy was a renowned journalist and academic in India for nearly seventy years, whose love for the arts, music, and the written word shaped a remarkable life. He was part of the first class of the journalism course at Osmania University (1954–55) and built a distinguished career spanning newsrooms and classrooms. He worked with leading publications, including The Indian Express, The Times of India, Patriot and Link, earning a reputation for professional integrity and for mentoring generations of journalists.

In academia, Krishnamoorthy served as an Associate Professor at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), New Delhi, and later contributed as a faculty member at Osmania University, Andhra Pradesh Open University, and the University of Hyderabad.

Krishnamoorthy moved to the United States in 2001 to live with his daughter, Tamraparni Dasu, and her family. He and Parni founded the non-profit 501(c)3 IndiaWrites Publishers to promote contemporary Telugu literature by translating short fiction into English. They published three anthologies—Santoshabad Passenger 1947 and Other Stories (2010), The Seaside Bride and Other Stories (2019), and The Greatest Telugu Stories Ever Told (2022).

He is remembered as a dedicated journalist, a committed teacher, and a guiding influence for many in the media fraternity. He was a uniquely gifted writer who was equally comfortable in traditional journalism and in fiction writing. In recognition of his lifelong contribution to journalism and education, the Osmania University Alumni Association honored him with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024.

Krishnamoorthy was a wonderful father, a grandfather who adored his grandson, and a proud great-grandfather. He was a devoted brother and cherished his many friends. He had a deep appreciation for Indian classical music, nature and flowers, finding peace in gardens both here and in India.

Krishnamoorthy leaves behind his daughter, Tamraparni Dasu and her husband Kumar Doraiswami of New Vernon; a grandson, Athrey Krishnakumar and his wife Olivia Chitkara; a great-granddaughter, Kaia Ann Krishnakumar; a younger brother, Dasu Kesava Rao and his wife Yamini; and a wide circle of relatives, friends, colleagues and students who will miss him deeply. 

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Madhura Bharathi, who passed away in 2001.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend the Hindu Funeral Rite for Krishnamoorthy on Friday, January 23, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Somerset Hills Memorial Park, 95 Mt. Airy Road, Basking Ridge, NJ. Cremation ceremony to follow.