Journalists pay tribute to U Narasimha Rao

Mangalore, July 14: A condolence meet for veteran journalist U Narasimha Rao, who passed away on Friday, was held at the Press Club in Mangalore on Saturday.

Speaking on the occasion Malar Jayaram Rai, senior journalist, shared his experiences and times spent with Mr. Rao as a colleague. “In stature he was short, but as a mediaman, he possessed a great personality. He was a second generation journalist as his father was also a journalist. He would walk his way to report his stories unlike journalists of today who use vehicles because of the inevitableness of modern times. Perhaps that is the reason why our generation of journalists is reasonably healthy even today. We were like a family and Mr. Rao would take my suggestions, reports, and pranks in good spirit”, Mr. Rai recalled.

Lending a piece of advice for young journalists of today, Mr. Rai said that the journalist community must not allow politicians to make use of them.

Govind Belgaunkar, Bureau Chief, The Hindu, said that he had heard from Mr. Rao's colleagues in the newspaper that although he used to work full time as a bank employee carrying out journalism as a part time job, he had become the face of Mangalore in terms of representing the coastal region. With his reports, he brought national attention towards Mangalore, Mr. Belgaunkar said.

Raghuram Rao, Senior Assistant Editor, DNA Newspaper, Mangalore, sharing his thoughts with the gathering said that Mr. Rao encouraged younger journalists and even assisted them in making their reports. He inspired people with his ideals and articles written by him serve as reference material for journalists of today, he said.

B Ravindra Shetty of Vijaya Karnataka, also spoke.

U Narasimha Rao was born in 1925 and pursued his education in Mangalore. He had worked for newspapers such as 'The Times of India', 'The Mail', 'Matrubhoomi', 'The Hindu', 'Kannada Vani', 'Kannada Sahakaari', and 'Rashtramatha'. He had even worked for the All India Radio as a correspondent.

Mr. Rao had served as the Secretary of South Kanara District Journalists' Association and President of DK Working Journalists' Union too.

He had received the prestigious Karnataka Rajyotsava Award in 1993 by the then Chief Minister M Veerappa Moily, besides many other awards and laurels.