When former editor of The Times of India’s (ToI) Poona edition Sherna Gandhy passed away in Bombay on April 29, 2023 at age 70, having lost her battle with cancer, the newspaper noted that she was "a mentor to many journalists and her caring nature endeared her to ToI colleagues and others in the field.” The obituary stated that Gandhy helmed the Poona ToI edition when it was launched in 1999, "supervising the transition of its Pune Plus supplement into Pune Times.” A hardcore ToI newsperson, she had also worked earlier for the Deccan Chronicle and the Sunday Observer, among others.
To journalist-columnist-author Meher Marfatia, Gandhy was "godmother, guiding light, lode star,” she communicated to Parsiana on May 3. "Just what a 21-year-old rookie writer like me could do with when I joined the venerated The Illustrated Weekly of India (IW) in 1985… Subbing to perfection was hardly the only skill (in which) Gandhy groomed hundreds of team members... in a dozen publications over her five decades dedicated to print journalism.” She taught them to respect "rigor of work.” Marfatia called Gandhy "a quiet powerhouse, and understated, considering the professional star she was. Her intelligence, compassion, warmth and wit (often acerbic, always fair, never unkind) taught us much about life itself, how to conduct oneself with utmost honesty, practicality, courage and compassion.” Gandhy "raged against the dying of the light — combating cancer for eight years uncomplainingly, matter-of-factly, worrying only for her family… As I said to my grieving colleagues, she would have scolded us for moping, not carrying on joyfully with our lives. We need to recount the good times we’ve shared together, trying to honor her incredible legacy by writing and editing to the exacting standards she set.
Meher Marfatia (l) with Sherna Gandhy
"Ten years my senior, perceptive and sharp, the no-nonsense and sensible soul she was, made her just the best kind of confidante for every matter, personal and professional. And she loved my family as much as I do hers…Among all the abundance to offer gratitude for, I’m deeply thankful for the privilege of knowing this beautiful, brave friend now gone gently into the good night.”
Senior journalist and columnist Bachi Karkaria who had known Gandhy for four decades told Parsiana that Gandhy was a "non-nonsense journo, the sheet anchor at all the print media she worked at.” In her column "Erratica” in the ToI of May 4, Karkaria called Gandhy "a professional connect which had deepened into a personal bond.” Describing her as the autocrat of editing, Karkaria said, to Gandhy "copy was copy, regardless of its author’s exalted self-image… The flashiest editors she worked with got the same no-nonsense treatment; and she got their respect. They knew they were captain, but it was she who ran the tight ship.”
Bangalore based journalist Ammu Joseph who worked with Gandhy at Eve’s Weekly told Parsiana on May 3 that Gandhy was "a wonderful journalist who kept a low profile but was much loved and highly respected by all those lucky enough to have worked with her… A person who despite her no-nonsense personality was one of the most affectionate, caring, helpful, loyal and honest — also humorous and fun — individuals I’ve come across.” Kavitha Shanmugham, senior editor of The Federal News website who worked with Gandhy at IW called her "one of the best editors in Indian journalism and a fine human being… A warm, intelligent person, she was always quick to help anyone…Solid, warm and fun.”
Journalist Pratibha Chandran recalled her "warm and friendly nature” in the ToI obituary while yet another unnamed journalist commended her meticulousness at work. "One would often find her going through every copy,” she added. Her outspokenness came in for commendation in the newspaper. "Known to speak her mind, she once left Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray stumped after walking through his exhibition of caricatures in Poona. ‘Arré tum itna talented hai…toh yéh politics mé kya kar raha hai (You are so talented, what are you doing in politics?)’ she asked him.” The politician reportedly broke out in laughter.