Kottayam:
Malayala Manorama Chief Editor K M Mathew was a visionary who left deep imprints on the media industry infusing professionalism and advanced technologies through his ceaseless efforts spanning over five decades.
As a veteran Editor who always kept himself abreast of even the minute developments in the media world, Mathew, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 93, deeply influenced Kerala's culture and politics as the helmsman of the highly successful daily boasting a circulation of over 18 lakh copies.
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.