VETERAN journalist Praful Bidwai, 66, passed away on June 23 in Amsterdam where he was attending a conference. Praful, a friend of all Left wing causes and one of the most trenchant critics of the Hindutva agenda as also of neo-liberal policies authored several books and wrote a syndicated column carried by several newspapers. His articles which brought a Left wing analysis to critical subjects from foreign policy to political economy and social issues, were most well researched, providing valuable information and analysis to those in struggle.