Veteran journalist M V Kamath no more
October 09, 2014
Manipal, October 09: Former Chairman of Prasar Bharati and veteran journalist Madhav Vittal Kamath died at Kasturba Hospital, Manipal on Thursday morning. He was 93. Mr Kamath was the honorary director of School of Communication, Manipal Academy of Higher Education since its inception in 1997. In fact, he played a major role in starting the Communication institute in Manipal Academy of Higher Education.
“He died of cardiac arrest at 7.30 am. He was suffering from spondylosis for some time,” said Dr (Col) M Dayananda, Medical Superintendent and COO, Kasturba Hospital, Manipal. Manipal Academy of Higher Education held a condolence meeting in the morning in the Counseling Hall of Manipal Edu building.
The funeral was held later in the evening. Prior to that his body was kept at Nutana Ravindra Mandapa in MGM College for three hours and people from all walks of life poured in to pay their last respects. University officials, students, faculty members, friends and relatives Deputy Commissioner, Mr Pattanna Shetty and Superintendent of Police, Mr Rajendra Prasad were among the thousands who came to bid final farewell.
Urban Development Minister Mr Vinay Kumar Sorake who is also the Udupi district in charge minister paid his last respects at Mr Kamath’s ancestral house in Kadabettu, Udupi and also attended the funeral.
Mr Kamath, celebrated his 93 birthday in School of Communication with faculty and students in September. He was the oldest surviving journalist in the country. Mr Kamath’s contribution to the world of journalism is well known. He was awarded Padma Bhushan for his contributions to Indian journalism in 2004. He has scripted about 45 books. The last being one on Prime Minister Narendra Modi -- The Man of The Moment, Narendra Modi. He was, perhaps, the last surviving journalist who saw the Tricolour go up and the Union Jack come down when India got Independence.
He was a board member of Manipal Academy of Higher Education and a great source of inspiration for the students of the School of Communication. “In his death, Manipal Academy of Higher Education has lost a treasure,” said Dr Ramdas M Pai, Chancellor of the University. “He was greatly responsible for the growth of the institute, which is today among the best communication schools in the country. He will be missed by every single student and faculty alike,” Dr Pai said.
At every Independence and Republic Day parades, he would narrate stories of how India gotfreedom and recall scenes from those momentous times with emotion. He was dear to all in Manipal. He was a board member of the University and a great source of inspiration for the students of the School of Communication. “In his death, Manipal Academy of Higher Education has lost a treasure,” said Dr Ramdas M Pai, Chancellor of the University. “He was greatly responsible for the growth of the institute, which is today among the best communication schools in the country. He will be missed by every single student and faculty alike,” Dr Pai said.
Mr Kamath was the Washington Correspondent of the Times of India from 1969 to 1978 and was also the editor of Illustrated Weekly of India.
