Introduction : Kanyakumari district has produced some outstanding journalists of national and global stature like Comrade P. Jeevanandam , T.V.Ramasubbaiyar, David Davidar, and the present Chairman of the Board Directors of Press Trust of India R. Lakshmipathy and some others ..As conscience keepers of the people , these journalists by their shrewd and effective writings have enlightened the general public on all vital issues and served as the voice of the people on all important occasions.
P. Jeevanandam [1907-1963] He was a great socialist thinker, writer and journalist and he was born on 21 august 1907 in a beautiful idyllic village called Boothapandi in Thovalai Taluk of Kanyakumari district in an orthodox family and his original name was Sorimuthu Pillai and later he changed his name as Jeevanandam. . Jeevanandam was affectionately called as Jeeva by the people. As a born social and political activist Jeeva used journalism as a powerful weapon to express his views and fight against social political and economic injustices.
P. Jeevanandam
Jeeva was the founder editor of the news paper called Janasakthi , which means the power of the people and also a literary magazine called Thamarai.. As a fire brand writer, without any fear or compromise Jeeva wrote many articles for the cause the working class people . He also encouraged many young budding writers to write in journals including Janasakthi and Thamarai. and many of those young people later flourished as great writers and journalists of national stature, like Sundra Ramasamy , Ponneelan and others. The political contribution of Jeeva will be dealt in another Post.. He died on 18 January, 1963.
T.V. Ramasubbaiyar [1908--1984]: Ramasubbaiyar was born on 2 October , 1908 , at Thazhuvic Mahadevar Koil Village , Nagercoil , Kanyakumari District . As a tryst with destiny , he was fortunate to share his birthday with Mahatma Gandhi. He was affectionately called by the people as TVR.
T.V. Ramasubbaiyar
He was a great patriot and so spontaneously he loved his country men by rising above all petty narrow domestic walls . As a born thinker and journalist TVR started the famous Tamil daily news paper Dinamalar , in1951 in Trivandrum, to voice for the legitimate cause of the people of Kanyakumari district and the general public; and the historical first copy of Dinamalar was released by the great Tamil historian and scholar Prof. Vaiyapuri Pillai.
TVR's powerful writings in Dinamalar, caused and facilitated to a great extent , the merger of Kanyakumari district with Tamil Nadu.. Since 1951 without any turning back , Dinamalar has been growing in a spectacular way and now it is one the most popular Tamil news papers in India, read by lacks of people daily through out the world. . Dinamalar is known for it's fair political criticism .
TVR and his famous children : The journalistic mission of Ramasubbaiyar is being continued with the same spirit and new scope by his sons and grand-sons.
TVR's son Shri. R. Lakshmipathy , is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Press Trust of India and he was the President of the Indian News Papers Association[INS] and Indian Languages News Paper Association [ILNA]and also he is a member of the Press Council of India. He is doing his best for the cause of free and fair journalism in India
Likewise TVR' other sons R.Venkitapathy ,R. Krishnapathy, R. Raghavan and R. Sathyamoorthy have made lasting contribution for the cause fearless and fair journalism . TVR's grand-sons L. Ramasubbu and K.Ramasubbu have been showing great promises in the field of journalism following the foot-steps of their grandfather TVR. Definitely TVR and his children have become shining milestones in the journalistic and general history of Kanyakumari and India.
David Davidar: David Davidar was born on 27 September 1958 at Nagercoil, Kanyakumari district . In the field of journalism and book publishing he is an international figure today . He studied in Harvard university and Madras Christian College. He is a great novelist , editor , columnist and publisher .
David Davidar
Davidar as a journalist worked in some important magazines like Himmat [founded by Rajmohan Gandhi, the grandson of Gandhiji and Rajaji], Keynote [ edited by the famous writer Dom Moraes and his actress wife Leela Naidu] in various capacity and has published many articles written by him in those magazines. He also worked in Gentleman as the executive editor, moreover Davidar has contributed many articles in the Hindu, and apart from these he has written numerous articles both in the Indian national magazines and international journals.. He served as the first editor of the famous Penguin India and later as it's publisher. He has also written three internationally acclaimed novels in English : "The House of Blue Mangoes"; "The Solitude of Emperors " and "Ithaca ". He is the co-founder of the famous Alep Book Company. Kanyakumari district can be really proud of David Davidar.
D.C. Joseph: D.C .Joseph was one of the tallest social thinkers and journalists of Kanyakumari district and he was the founder and editor of the English news paper , "Travancore Times" , and that was the first English news paper in the then Travancore state. He also served as the editor of the Tamil news paper "Thiruvithancore Abimani ", and due to some reason later he changed it's name as " Thiyahanadu.". He wrote many articles both in English and Tamil in the respective News Papers for the cause of the poor people and social justice. He was a many faceted personality. He a was the son-in-law of the famous Head-Master of Scott Christian High School , Sri . Paul Daniel , M.A . D.C. Joseph even served as a member of Travancore Legislative Assembly. Really he was a great journalist and a noble man in all sense of the term He passed away in 1959. .
The profiles of the remaining journalists will be continued in the next Post.
P .BABU MANOHARAN,M.A,.[Rights reserved. This Article will be altered or modified later if needed].
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