Gandhinagar, Jan 25 (IANS) Ramubhai Patel, the founder editor of Gujarat's first English daily The Western Times, died in Ahmedabad Monday. He was 83.

Patel had been ailing and was under hospitalisation. His cremation was attended by a large number of political leaders, journalists and well known figures from all walks of public life.

Born Jan 19, 1927, Patel began his journalistic career at the age of 18 and worked 22 years with The Times of India, the Press Trust of India and the Economic Times before launching Western Times in 1967.

The Gujarati edition of the daily was launched in 1986.

Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Assembly Speaker Ashok Bhatt and many others have condoled the death of the veteran journalist.