He is a descendant of the well known Sahu Jain family of Najibabad (Bijnor District, Uttar Pradesh). He was born on 15 August 1925. His father, Rao Bahadur Jugmundar Das, was a leading businessman and landlord in the North Indian state of Uttar Pradesh and was even honoured by the British.
He had his earlier education in Najibabad from where he moved on to study Bachelor of Science (Industrial Chemistry) at Benaras Hindu University (now known as Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University) Varanasi
He went on to become the Executive Director of Bennett, Coleman & Company Limited. and was the only person to edit both The Times of India and Navbharat Times for many years.
He was also the Chairman of Press Trust of India and the Indian Newspaper Society.
He died on 22 September 2004. He was associated with various organisations in different capacities:
Chairman, Municipal Board, Najibabad, United Presbyterian(1952-1955)
Managing Trustee, Bharatiya Jnanpith
Chairman, Indian Institute of Mass Communications, New Delhi
President, International Chrysanthemum Council.
President, Chrysanthemum Society of India & Delhi Dahlia Society. Member, Board Of Governors of IIT, New Delhi
Member, Board of Governors Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal.
Kanya Vidyalaya Girls College, Moorti Devi Saraswati Inter College
President, Mahavir Vishwa Vidyapeeth, New Delhi.
Times Research Foundation, Times Eye Research Foundation, Jainology Research Institute, Lucknow. Kund Kund Bharati Prakrit Academy, Delhi. Times Centre for Media Studies and The Times of India Relief Fund.
