K M Mathew,a doyen of Indian media industry

Mathew had also served as Chairman of the Press Trust of India,president of Indian Newspaper Society,member of the Press Council,founder member of Indian Press Institute and consultant of International Press Institute.

A recipient of Padmabushan in 1998,B D Goenka Award and several other prestigious honours,Mathew with his energy,dynamism and unflinching commitment to the society steered Manorama to become one of the country’s few media houses which has print,visual,online and audio media under its roof.

Mathew was born to K C Mammen Mappillai,then Editor of Malayala Manorama,and Kunjandamma on January 2,1917.

Malayala Manorma,started in 1888 by his great uncle Kandathil Varughese Mapillai,was passing through hard times during Mathew’s adolescent days after incurring the wrath of the then rulers of erstwhile princely state of Travancore.

His father was keen to provide good education to his children and Mathew was sent to the Madras Christian College to graduate in Economics.

On his return from Madras,young Mathew started working for the family publications and became Managing Editor and General Manager in 1954,when his elder brother K M Cheriyan was the Editor. In 1973,he took over as the Editor of Malayala Manorama following the death of Cheriyan.

Under his leadership,the group became highly successful with its flagship daily widening its reach from 30,000 copies to a multi-edition newspaper boasting a circulation of over 18 lakh copies.

It was during Mathew’s time that Manorama started a number of other publications in Malayalam and other Indian languages and English,including ‘The Week’.

A far-sighted leader,he was instrumental in the group launching its television channel Manorama News,FM channel Radio Mango and online news and digital publications.

While being the leader of the media group and crucial decision-maker,Mathew always chose to keep himself largely away from limelight but was a man of personal charm and warmth for those who knew and interacted with him closely.

Among the journalists and staff in the newspaper,he was known as “Mathukuttichayan” on account of his personal touch.

Though he held his ideological and political convictions firm,on account of which he often faced criticism from the Left in Kerala,he was keen to maintain high principles of journalism like fair play and accommodation of opposing views.

It was during his editorship that the newspaper started giving due focus on real-life stories rather than confining to news of day-to-day politics and goings on in the higher echelons of power.

Mathew also took care in moulding a new generation of professionals to take the group forward. His sons Mammen Mathew (Editor),Philip Mathew (Managing Editor) and Jacob Mathew (Executive Editor) came up under his tutelage.

His autobiography,”Ettamathe Mothiram” (eigth ring – referring to him being the eighth child),published a few years ago,was highly appreciated for its literary value and as a chronicle of life in 20th century since its earlier decades in the Central Travancore region.

He being a gifted writer himself,Manorama and its publications under his editorship always extended unstinted support to Malayalam language and literature,especially prose.

His moving memoir of his pre-deceased wife Annamaa Mathew is also considered a masterpiece. Annamma,popularly known as “Mrs K M Mathew”,was a great emotional support to Mathew besides being a writer herself who brought out a large number of cookery books.

As editor of Manorama’s women’s magazine Vanitha,she was instrumental in popularising the delicious Travancore cuisine to the outside world.