NEW DELHI: No sooner the news of the death of Former Chairman of Prasar Bharati and veteran journalist MV Kamath,93 broke condolatory messages started pouring in. Even AIR in their message sent their condolences.
AIR in its message said: “Kamath has been one of the outstanding media persons having contributed creditably to the social transformation of India. He has worked in multifarious capacities and his demise is a loss to the nation, especially its media escape. He headed the Prasar Bharati Board from January 2003 to February 2008.”
Kamath passed away on Thursday morning after a brief illness and was admitted to Kasturba Hospital in Manipal after a brief illness. “He died of cardiac arrest at 7.30 am,” said M. Dayananda, Medical Superintendent and COO of Kasturba Hospital.
A Padma Bhushan awardee, Kamath was also former Editor of The Illustrated Weekly of India. He served as Washington Correspondent of The Times of India and as Editor of The Sunday Times. He was serving as the Honorary Director at Manipal School of Communication. He also worked for the Press Trust of India.
After beginning his career as a chemist, Kamath joined journalism as a reporter in the Free Press Journal in Mumbai. He was the President of Bombay Union of Journalists in 1953. Born in Udupi on 7 September 1921, Kamath completed his early education in Manipal. He graduated in B.Sc.
A prolific writer, he wrote several books including Narendra Modi – The Architect of a Modern State (2009) with co-author Kalindi Randeri, andReporter at Large (2002). Other books included one on the ‘Pursuit of Excellence’.
Mr Kamath was honorary director of the Manipal School of Communications since its inception in 1997. He was a board member of Manipal University.