Udupi: Veteran journalist ninety-three-year-old M V Kamath no more

Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, Oct 09, 2014: The former chairman of Prasar Bharati and veteran journalist Madhav Vittal (MV) Kamath passed away at Kasturba Hospital, Manipal here on Thursday October 9 morning.

 

The ninety-three-year-old M V Kamath was the honorary director of School of Communication, Manipal University since its inception in 1997. He played a major role in starting the communication institute in Manipal University.

 

 

‘He died of cardiac arrest at 7.30am. He was suffering from spondylosis for some time,’ said Dr (Col) M Dayananda, medical superintendent and COO, Kasturba Hospital, Manipal.  

 

The funeral will be held on Thursday evening. His body will be placed for public viewing at Nutana Ravindra Mandapa in Mahatma Gandhi Memorial (MGM) College from 1.00pm to 4.00pm and then will be taken to his ancestral house in Kadabettu, here. It will be placed  there for an hour after which the last rites will be held.

 

M V Kamath, celebrated his ninety-third birthday in the institute with the faculty and students last month. Perhaps the oldest surviving journalist in the country, Kamath’s contribution to the world of journalism is well known. He was awarded Padma Bhushan for his contributions to Indian journalism in 2004 and he has written over 50 books. The latest being one on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He was perhaps also 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 University and a great source of inspiration for the students of the School of Communication. ‘In his death, Manipal University 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,’ said Dr Pai.

 

Kamath was the Washington correspondent of Times of India from 1969 to 1978 and was also the editor of Illustrated Weekly of India.