Name K. Mathew Children Mammen Mathew | Spouse Annamma Mathew Died August 1, 2010, Kottayam | |
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Born 2 January 1917 ( 1917-01-02 ) Alappuzha, Kerala Known for Chief Editor – Malayala Manorama Books Manorama Yearbook, Annamma: Mrs. K.M. Mathew : a Book of Memories, Flavours of the Spice Coast | ||
Education Madras Christian College | ||
Madras Mutton Biriyani | Mrs K M Mathew's Recipes | Manorama Online
K. M. Mathew (Malayalam: കെ.എം.മാത്യു) (2 January 1917 – 1 August 2010) was a former Chief Editor of leading Malayalam daily Malayala Manorama.
Contents
- Madras Mutton Biriyani Mrs K M Mathews Recipes Manorama Online
- Early life
- Career
- Awards
- Family
- Autobiography
- Death
- References
He joined the newspaper as Managing Editor and general manager in 1954 and took office as the Chief Editor in 1973. Under his leadership, Malayala Manorama launched many publications such as the women's magazine Vanitha in Malayalam and Hindi, the weekly English magazine The Week, the farmer's magazine Karshakasree, the children's magazines Balarama, Kalikudukka in Malayalam and Magic Pot in English and the encyclopaedic Manorama Yearbook in Malayalam, English, Hindi, Tamil and Bengali.
Early life
He was born as the 8th among the nine children of K. C. Mammen Mappillai and Mammi (Kunjandamma of Modisseril family) at Kuppappuram in Alappuzha district. After completing his schooling from many schools including M.D.Seminary School, Kottayam and Leo XIII School, Alappuzha he joined CMS College Kottayam for learning history. Later, he completed his B.A Economics from the prestigious Madras Christian College. He married Annamma Mathew on 7 September 1942 at his house in Kuppapuram.
Career
K.M.Mathew started his career in 1940 as a planter in Chikmagalur where he joined his brother K.M.Jacob to take care of the family owned Bhadra Estate. He spent seven years in Chikmagalur estate. During this period, he opened a balloon manufacturing facility named Mysore Rubber Factory in the estate premises but the factory was soon closed due to the pollution it caused. The machinery at this factory was later transferred to Madras when his younger brother K. M. Mammen Mappillai started MRF Limited. In 1947, K. M. Mathew shifted to Bombay to start Allied Agencies.
After spending seven years in Bombay, K.M.Mathew moved to Kottayam and joined Malayala Manorama as the Managing Editor and general manager on 15 May 1954. Following the death of his elder brother and the then Chief-Editor K.M.Cherian on 14 March 1973, K.M.Mathew took office as the Chief Editor of Malayala Manorama, a position he held until his death on 1 August 2010. K.M.Mathew infused professionalism into Malayala Manorama's management with the help of world's leading consultants. Under K.M.Mathew's leadership, Malayala Manorama grew into 17 editions and crossed a circulation of more than 1.6 million copies.
K.M.Mathew has served in the following capabilities:
Awards
In 1998, the nation honoured K.M.Mathew with Padma Bhushan. He has received many other awards including Foundation of Freedom of Information Award (1991), National Citizen's award (1992), Ramakrishna Jay Dayal award (1995), Durga Prasad Chaudhary award (1996), Press Academy Award (1997) and B D Goenka Award (1996).
On his first death anniversary, India Post issued a commemorative postage stamp. At the Parliament House, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh received an album containing the stamp from Kapil Sibal, Union minister for communications and information technology. The five-rupee stamp had a print run of 300,000. The stamp, first day cover and cancellation were designed by Nenu Gupta.
Family
His wife Annamma Mathew (1922–2003) was a culinary expert and Chief Editor of Vanitha, who wrote under the name Mrs. K.M. Mathew. His book of memoirs, "Annamma" (based on his wife), was published by Penguin in Malayalam (2004) and in English (2005).
K.M.Mathew and Annamma Mathew have four children, Mammen Mathew, Philip Mathew, Jacob Mathew and Thankom Mammen.
Autobiography
His autobiography titled "Ettamathe Mothiram" (The Eighth Ring) was published in 2008.
Death
Though suffering from age-related ailments, Mathew continued to work and was socially active until a few months before his death. Even after he stopped going to office, he continued to work as Chief Editor. He died at his home in Kottayam at 7:30 AM on 1 August 2010, aged 93. He was buried the next day at the New Orthodox Church near his home. His wife Annamma had predeceased him in 2003. He was survived by his children, daughters-in-law and grandchildren.