Shillong | January 25, 2025
Tarun Bhartiya, a distinguished filmmaker, poet, and social activist from Shillong, passed away at the age of 55 due to a heart attack. He was pronounced dead at Woodland Hospital in Shillong.
Bhartiya was renowned for his multifaceted contributions to the arts and activism. As a documentary imagemaker, he worked as an editor on several notable award-winning films.
His Hindi poetry resonated deeply with readers, reflecting his profound connection to social issues. His photography captured the intricate socio-cultural tapestry of Meghalaya, bringing the region's complexities to a broader audience.
Beyond his artistic endeavors, Bhartiya was a vocal advocate for social justice. He was the founding editor of Raiot, a bilingual webzine published from Shillong, and a founding member of alt-space, a platform for independent ideas and cultural discourse. He also served as a consultant on the British Library Endangered Archives Project and was a research consultant to the Northeast India Audio Visual Archive in Shillong. Recently, he initiated the formation of Shillong Humanists, a collective dedicated to critical thinking and intellectual engagement.
Bhartiya is survived by his wife, Angela Rangad, and three children. His passing is a profound loss to the artistic and activist communities, and his contributions will be deeply missed.