G. K. Reddy
Gunupati Keshava Reddy (1923–1987), better known as G. K. Reddy, was an Indian journalist who attained national and international acclaim for his articles and news stories.[1][2] He was a major contributor to the newspaper The Hindu for more than two decades, becoming a household name with his front-page articles every day. Reddy was also involved in the nascent Kashmir conflict in the early years of his career, working for a Kashmiri newspaper in Srinagar and later the Azad Kashmir provisional government.
The G. K. Reddy National Memorial Award for Journalism is given in his memory.
Early life
Reddy was born in Nellore, Madras Presidency (now in Andhra Pradesh), in British India in 1923.[3] He was of Telugu origin.[4]
Career
Kashmir and Pakistan
Reddy's journalistic career began as the editor of the newspaper Kashmir Times in the then princely state of
By 7 October 1947, the Government of
Reddy went to
While in Lahore, on 21 October 1947, Reddy received a phone call from Lt. Col. Alavi, the Public Relations Officer of the
He was subsequently forced into the position of Director of Public Relations for the rebel forces in Kashmir and only managed to escape seven months later.
India
Reddy worked for the Blitz from 1948 to 1951, writing incisive articles that put him up against the Government authorities. His journalistic accreditation was cancelled twice by the authorities due to his irksome coverage.[3] While at Blitz, Reddy also wrote a "Delhi Daily" column with humorous coverage of Delhi's developments, which used to rock the capital into splits of laughter. B. K. Karanjia mentions that Reddy's output from Delhi was so prolific that they had to sometimes produce mid-week editions of Blitz.[15]
In 1951, Reddy became the foreign correspondent to The Times of India. He reported from various locations such as Korea, Beijing, Taipei, Bandung and London. His lively "Letter from London" was published in The Times of India every week. In 1962, he returned to Delhi to become the chief of the news bureau, and is said to have taken up political reporting with "panache".[16]
In 1969, Reddy moved to The Hindu as its chief of news bureau in Delhi, a position that he developed into one of "considerable power and prestige." He was widely read, and enjoyed the confidence of many in the corridors of power.[17] According to Inder Malhotra, "he made it his business to explain every complexity with clarity."[16] President Neelam Sanjiva Reddy summed up the nation's feelings in the words, "G.K. Reddy's rich experience mellowed his political reporting and analysis so much so that his byline meant authenticity, in depth reporting, an eye for detail and above all fairness and balance."[18]
Honours
- He was the recipient of a Fellowship from Nieman Foundation for Journalism in 1957.[19]
- He was awarded Honorary Doctorate by Andhra University and Sri Venkateswara University.
- He was awarded the Raja-Lakshmi Award in 1986 by Sri Raja-Lakshmi FoundationChennai.
Death and memorial
Reddy died of cancer in 1987 in New York City.
Memorial award
In his memory, the G.K. Reddy Memorial National Award for journalism was established by T. Subbarami Reddy, whose recipients over the years include:[2]
- New Indian Express,
- H. K. Dua, former Editor-in-Chief of the Hindustan Times,
- Aroon Purie, Editor-in-Chief of the India Today magazine,
- Indian Express,
- N. Ravi, Editor-in-Chief of The Hindu,
- Vinod Mehta, Editorial Chairman of the Outlook[20]
- Karan Thapar in 2018, Senior journalist and television presenter.
Notes
References
- ^ Rao 2000, p. 222.
- ^ a b "GK Reddy memorial award panel reconstituted". The Hindu. 26 June 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
- ^ a b "Remembering G. K. Reddy" in Bhagyalakshmi 1991, pp. 423–424, reprinted from Blitz, 29 August 1987.
- ISBN 978-0-7069-2404-6.
He was flanked by M. Chalapathi Rau, the former Editor of the National Herald who passed away a few weeks later, and GK Reddy, the New Delhi Bureau Chief of The Hindu. Occasionally, he exchanged a few words in Telugu with Rau, Reddy and another Telugu journalist among the invitees.
- ^ a b c d Mir Abdul Aziz, Good old days, Greater Kashmir, 3 January 2011.
- ^ Mitha is said to have been a native of Bombay, the son of its former mayor Suleman Qasim Mitha.
- ^ Snedden 2013, p. 40.
- ^ a b Defence Journal (Pakistan), Volume 11. 1985. p. 4.
- ^ Snedden 2013, p. 51.
- ^ De Mhaffe, A. (1948), Road to Kashmir, Lahore: Ripon Print. Press, p. 179: "Mr. G. K. Reddy, former Editor of the Kashmir Times who has been externed from Kashmir for advocating the State's accession to Pakistan, arrived in Lahore on Sunday."
- ^ Snedden 2013, pp. 51–52.
- ^
Singh, Brigadier Jasbir (2013). Roar of the Tiger: Illustrated History of Operations in Kashmir by 4th Battalion. Vij Books India. pp. 4–5. ISBN 978-9382652038.
- JSTOR 4322039.
- ISBN 978-1-4472-0936-2
- ^ a b B. K. Karanjia, "G. K. with Blitz" in Bhagyalakshmi 1991, pp. xxii–xxiv
- ^ a b Inder Malhotra, "Remembering G. K." in Bhagyalakshmi 1991, pp. xxv–xxvi
- ^ B. G. Verghese, "G. K. Reddy: A tribute" in Bhagyalakshmi 1991, p. xx
- ^ Foreword by Neelam Sanjiva Reddy in Bhagyalakshmi 1991, p. vii
- ^ Recipients of Nieman Fellowships.
- ^ "G. K. Reddy Award for Vinod Mehta". The Hindu. 3 September 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
Bibliography
- Bhagyalakshmi, J., ed. (1991), Capital Witness: Selected Writings of G. K. Reddy, New Delhi: Allied Publishers, ISBN 9788170233169– via archive.org
- Rao, R. Ananta Padmanabha (2000), G. K. Reddy, Dhilli Andhra Pramukhulu (in Telugu), Hyderabad: Potti Sriramulu Telugu University
- ISBN 978-9350298985