MUMBAI: Gopal Saxena, a veteran media expert, passed away on 2 September in New Delhi after a brief illness. Saxena who was a veteran in media communication and management last served as Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA) director.

Saxena who had a 21-year long association with Doordarshan in various senior capacities introduced India's first primary school television service in 1975. He had also worked in the capacity of controller of video documentary in IGNOU. Saxena's documentary titled Voice of Sanity was part of a 26-nation UN consortium of TV programmes on disarmament.

Saxena contribution to the media industry also includes the popular book Television India: Changes and Challenges. Saxena was honoured with the Media India Western Electronics Award for 1988.