Veteran journalist VPR’s birth centenary celebrations begin

The birth centenary celebrations of the eminent journalist and former editor of Mathrubhumi, V.P. Ramachandran (VPR), kicked off with a poignant ceremony that reflected on his invaluable contributions to journalism. The event, held to honour VPR’s legacy, saw noted journalist Sasikumar addressing the gathering, where he highlighted the changing landscape of journalism.

Sasikumar remarked that modern journalism increasingly prioritises personal opinions over objective reporting, with some journalists prioritizing self-interest and corporate agendas. “Journalism today seems to chase attention for the wrong reasons, and some journalists are trying to impose their views rather than presenting facts,” he said. He lamented the current trend where media outlets often compromise their independence to appease corporate interests, deviating from the values VPR championed.

RS Babu, Chairman of the Kerala Media Academy, presided over the function and emphasized the importance of using this centenary as an opportunity to reflect on the values upheld by VPR and to inspire future generations of journalists. “This is a chance to celebrate the excellence of journalism that VPR stood for and ensure that such journalistic integrity is passed on to society,” he said, urging the media community to preserve and honour VPR’s legacy.

In a significant tribute, the Kerala Media Academy announced the establishment of an annual award in VPR’s memory. The award, with a cash prize of Rs. 1 lakh, will be presented every year in April, with the support of VPR’s family.

During the ceremony, senior journalists such as Thomas Jacob, P. Rajan, Dr. Sebastian Paul, and K.G. Jyotirghosh, along with R. Gopakumar, President of the Press Club, shared their memories of VPR. VPR’s daughter, Lekha Chandrasekhar, also joined in honouring her father’s legacy. To further commemorate his contributions, senior journalists and Lekha planted tree saplings as a symbolic gesture to remember the influential journalist.

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