The mortal remains of Ajit Rai, a distinguished cultural journalist of international repute from Buxar, Bihar, will arrive in New Delhi on Sunday morning.
Rai, celebrated as a proud voice of India and the Hindi language, an eminent theatre and film critic, and the former editor of Rang Prasang, the official magazine of the National School of Drama (NSD) under the Ministry of Culture, passed away unexpectedly in London on July 23.
The remains will arrive at Delhi International Airport at 9:20 AM on Sunday.
From there, the organisers will take them to the NSD campus at Mandi House, where they will keep the body from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM for members of the public to pay their respects.
Prominent litterateurs, journalists, theatre personalities, filmmakers, directors, and actors will gather to honour Rai’s contribution to Indian arts and culture.
After the homage in Delhi, officials will transport the body by road to his ancestral village, Kasiya (Dumraon), in Bihar.
Residents will gather for a final viewing before conducting Rai’s cremation on Monday, August 11, at the cremation ground in Buxar. His younger brother, Rakesh Kumar Rai, who is accompanying the remains from London, will travel with the body from Delhi to the family’s village.
Sharing the family’s grief, Rakesh expressed heartfelt gratitude to all friends, well-wishers, and relatives for their condolences and support.
A Life of Cultural Excellence
Ajit Rai was a familiar figure in India’s cultural discourse. He was known for his incisive theatre and film criticism and for championing the Hindi language on global platforms.
He was an invited special film critic at the Cannes Film Festival each year. His final visit to London followed his attendance at this year’s event.
Over the years, Rai contributed extensively to India’s cultural journalism. He bridged the worlds of stage and screen with informed analysis and passionate advocacy.
His work as editor of Rang Prasang cemented his reputation as a leading voice in theatre criticism.
The family extended special thanks to UK-based industrialists Gopichand and Sunita Hinduja. They also thanked the entire Hinduja family for their assistance during this difficult time.
They also acknowledged Rai’s close friend and elder-brother-like renowned writer Tejendra Sharma, Zakia Zuberi, Entrepreneur Kalpesh Shah, Senior journalist and Bharat Express News Network Chairman Upendrra Rai, and Chittaranjan Tripathi (Director) and Pradeep Mohanty (Registrar) of NSD for their unwavering support.
His wife, son, and elderly father, Bholanath Rai, a respected citizen and former village head, survive Ajit Rai. He is also survived by four younger brothers and two sisters.
His passing marks the loss of a rare voice in Indian cultural journalism, one whose dedication to theatre, cinema, and literature earned him national admiration and international respect.
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