Travel writer Hugh Gantzer, 95, dies in Mussoorie | India News – The Times of India

MUSSOORIE: Padma Shri award-successful journey writer Hugh Gantzer handed away at his Mussoorie dwelling late Monday night on the age of 95. Other than one of India’s highest civilian honours, Hugh, alongside along with his spouse Colleen Gantzer (who handed away in 2024 at age 90), was recognised with six nationwide awards, the Nationwide Tourism Lifetime Achievement Award, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the All India Anglo-Indian Affiliation, and two gold awards from Pacific Asia Travel Affiliation.In 2017, the couple additionally obtained commendation from the Prime Minister’s Workplace for his or her pioneering contributions to journey writing.The couple started their profession after being commissioned to write down a ebook on Kerala for the India Tourism Growth Company. Over the following 5 a long time, the Gantzers produced 52 documentaries for Doordarshan, authored greater than 30 books, and wrote journey columns for a number of main English newspapers.“My father was a passionate man, outlined by his love of writing and deep curiosity in regards to the world. He lived with nice satisfaction in what he had constructed and gratitude for the blessings he had obtained. He and my mom have been inseparable, spending their lives weaving collectively their love for each other with their zeal for journey. I can solely hope they’re collectively once more now, at peace,” stated Peter Gantzer, the writer’s son.The burial shall be held on Wednesday at Camel’s Again Cemetery in Mussoorie.Hugh Gantzer served in the Indian Navy as Commander and Choose Advocate of the Southern Naval Command. Since 1990, he had been a member of the monitoring committee constituted by the Supreme Courtroom to trace environmental points in Doon Valley and Mussoorie.Gantzer, who was born and introduced up in Mussoorie, hailed from an influential Danish household. His nice-nice-grandfather was an officer in the Danish court docket who got here to India in the early nineteenth century. His father, Joseph Francis Gantzer, served because the director of survey in Bihar and Orissa beneath the British govt and, after retirement, selected to settle in Mussoorie.In 1941, Joseph was elected chairman of Mussoorie Municipal Council (MMC) and later served as its administrator.As information of Hugh’s dying unfold, residents gathered to bid a tearful farewell to a writer who had chronicled India with uncommon heat and wit.