Gurgaon: Eminent journalist B.G. Verghese, a Ramon Magsaysay award winner and former editor of leading dailies died on Tuesday at the age of 87 after brief illness.

Verghese was diagnosed for dengue a month ago and was suffering from low-grade fever and weakness for last couple of weeks. He is survived by his wife Jamila and sons Vijay and Rahul.

“The dengue had accelerated his weakness as his bodily resistance had come down,” his son Rahul said.

Verghese, who authored many books, was also information adviser to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi from 1966 to 1969 but was critical of her for imposing the Emergency in 1975.

Born on June 21, 1927, Verghese did his schooling at the Doon School. He had graduated in Economics from the St Stephen’s College, Delhi and did his Master’s degree from Trinity College, Cambridge.

His books include Waters of hope, India’s North East, Fourth Estate (2005) and his autobiography First Draft: Witness to Making of Modern India.