Hyderabad: Doyen of Telugu journalism no more

Hyderabad: Potturi...the very name stands for dignity, ethics, morals and principles in Indian journalism.

One of the most respected journalists and author and orator, Potturi Venkateswara Rao (86) is no more. The news trickled in on Thursday morning of the end of the stalwart who rendered yeomen service to journalism with unflinching commitment to independent and value-based approach to the Telugu journalism.

He was born on February 3, 1934 in Potturu village of Guntur district.

Potturi was a quintessence Telugu persona who never missed calling a spade a spade, but in his own dignified language. The old world charm and sweetness were the hallmark of his public life and it was always amazing to see him delivering his view point so convincingly that the opponents barely disagreed with him.

Potturi was a rare personage who straddled the Telugu journalism horizon for more than 50 years. The commoners loved his edits and the Chief Ministers' respected his view and writers valued his association and his contribution to the Telugu language and literature.

He was ever ready to help young writers too but always insisting on correctness of semantics, understanding of the soul of the language and value for its richness.

He entered the Telugu journalism with Andhra Janata (in 1957) and later moved on to Andhra Bhoomi and Andhra Prabha and Vaartha to become its editor.

He was with Eenadu too. While the print media progressed from the lead composing stage to the modern printing technology and composition, he gracefully manoeuvred his way through the modern maze and also allowed his 'shishyas' to switch over to the changing times effortlessly.

He continued to impact the journalists as the Chairman of the then AP Press Academy and strived to turn it into a much-respected institution.

His effort to digitise the Telugu papers and store them in Internet for the posterity would never be forgotten by any Telugu person.

Once he remarked on the fall in the standards of journalism: "Editors used to run the show in the olden days. But, now, in these changed times, it is the owners who do so.

Their only aim is to increase the circulation/ rating (of the channel). Values have become the collateral damage in the process."

Potturi was one of those very few who could effortlessly explain the changing character of the Telugu literature over the last 65 years.

His deep interest in literature and his love for the same made him a 'must' in literary meetings. His AIR trained voice never disappointed the audience with its insightful interpretations of the subject.

"You don't have to be hurtful or disrespectful in differing with others. After all, we are only differing with the view or the idea and not with the person.

Language should refine our character and hence we need to fine tune it and remove the bitterness from it," he told a young journalistic audience way back in the 80s at Vijayawada while explaining the nuances of good journalism.

He also authored and co-authored few books, including one on former Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao.

Potti Sriramulu Telugu University has honoured him with a Doctorate. His works include "Telugu Patrikalu, Naati Patrikalu, Meti Vilavalu, Chintana, Chirasmaraneeyulu and Kasinathuni Nageswara Rao Paramarthika Padaakosham".