(Published on mangalorean.com March 2010
Link: http://www.mangalorean.com/browsearticles.php?arttype=mom&momid=92)
Padma Bhushan Dr Madhav Vittal Kamath, the former chairman of Prasar Bharti and the contemporary honorary director of Manipal Institute of Communication, Manipal, is among the very few living people from the Press who have closely witnessed the freedom struggle for Independent India. He has devoted more than four decades of his life for Journalism and is also the author of more than 45 books including his autobiography 'A Reporter at large'.
Dr. Kamath was born in Udupi on September 7th, 1921 in the family of M Vittal Kamath, an Udupi based lawyer. He had two siblings comprising of one elder brother and one elder sister. His ancestors were basically from Goa who left Goa around 1760 at the height of inquisition. His mother tongue used to be Konkani. He did his primary and secondary education in Udupi itself, but went to Government College, Mangalore for his intermediate studies.
After this he joined the St. Xavier's College, Mumbai, for graduation although he wanted to become a doctor initially. He started his career as a chemist but later he came into the world of journalism and finally made it as a lifelong career. He says, "I was born in Udupi and Udupi has stayed in my blood. No matter where I go and have traveled far and wide many years, it is to Udupi that I have always wished to return because that is where I was born and brought up, where I learnt my ABC, made friends and tasted the life."
Mr. Kamath has worked as the Editor of Sunday Times for two years (1967 - 69) and then rejoined Times as the Washington Correspondent for nearly 10 years (1969- 78). He has also served as editor of The Illustrated Weekly of India. Kamath was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2004.
In the contemporary days one can meet him writing columns and books in his cabin with the very old typewriter or interacting with the younger generation.
Dr. M V. Kamath talks to Manish Kumar, Team Mangalorean.com in Manipal and shares his experiences of the last 88 years and four decades in journalism:
You are among the very few people from pre-Independent India who has seen the struggle for Independence closely. What memories can you recollect from that era?
I have a number of memories with me of the pre-Independent era. According to me the movements that had a massive effect on the struggle were non-cooperation movement, Satyagraha and lastly the quit India movement. Soon after Gandhiji came from South Africa in 1919, the first thing that he emphasized was non-violence and non-corporation movement against the British. He also led the Salt Satyagraha movement and the famous Dandi March, which compelled the British to ponder over the power of freedom fighters.
In your autobiography 'A Reporter at large' you have mentioned about some of the unsung heroes who fought for independence. Do you remember any such incidence that is related to any such unsung hero that inspired you?
Yes, I can recollect one incident that really affected me at that time. The story is about a professor from St. Aloysius College, Mangalore. Once during the Salt Satyagraha movement, he went to make salt from the sea; he was holding his hand -made salt from the sea in one hand and in another hand the national flag. The police asked him to drop both but he denied. The annoyed British policemen then had beaten him very badly. He was bleeding profusely. His wrist was broken and he could not hold anything. During the Quit India movement in 1942 his legs were broken too.
This incident affected me a lot. When I was a reporter in 1992, I wrote a column about this man who inspired me a lot. In a few days after the publication of my article, I got a call from the same man and he urged me to meet him. I agreed and started preparing to welcome my hero. The next day one lady came and knocked on my door. The lady asked me to meet the man downstairs. I was surprised as to why he couldn't come to meet me upstairs. I came and was astonished to see him. He was not in a position to hold anything. He was on a wheelchair and was made a handicap by the beating from the British. So this was the level of dedication for the nation at that time.
Have you ever participated in the war against British when you were young in any way?
In 1942, I was a chemist and a congress volunteer too. Those times being a congress volunteer was a matter of pride. Being a congress volunteer I used to distribute pamphlets and helped in managing the meetings of the congress. I attended the AICC meeting at Gwalior maidan when Quit India resolution was passed. At 1946 the war was over and again there was a meeting by the congressmen and again I was there as congress volunteer. In 1946, I became a reporter.
You also got the privilege to cover the independence midnight at Government Secretariat where a lot of congressmen and other prominent people assembled. How was the eve of Independent India?
The eve of the Independence Day was the most remarkable day of my life. The scene was very patriotic. Many patriotic songs were sung on the event. Front rows were occupied by the congressmen who had fought and struggled for the day to come. Around 1000 congressmen were there. Behind them were prominent people like J R D Tata and others.
Seconds were passing like years. Around 11:59 at night the band started the national anthem and almost all spectators were in tears, remembering the days of struggle. Even I could not prevent myself in doing so. It was the greatest day of my life.
You have got a chance to meet the history makers of India personally, who are now considered as idols like Jawahar lal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and others. Can you share one incident when you met any one of them?
I met Indira Gandhi once in Paris when I was a foreign correspondent there. She was not PM that time. We met at a farewell along with my wife. Then my wife asked her to come with us for a film on Kennedy and she came with us happily. My wife wanted to invite her for dinner. But I asked what she would give her. She (wife) said that we had only left over. She heard our conversation and expressed her desire to come along with us. She came to my house at Paris. My wife made some items that could be prepared easily. Indira Gandhi and I had a long talk that night. We started around eight in the evening and continued till 2:30 in the morning. She discussed many things with us like how her husband proposed to her and many other things related to her personal life.
Soon after Shahstriji died she became the PM of India. We again met at Paris when she returned from the commonwealth PM conference at London. But now she did not recognize me.
We have heard you anyhow managed to meet Nehru who was considered as a man who was known for not giving interviews? Tell us something about that incident?
I was at that time working for Free Press Journal. I was waiting for the saloon carrying Nehru at Kalyan station along with one photographer and one journalist from Indian Express. We were like chota bacchas (small kids) that time. Anyhow we managed to take the train. Suddenly Nehru noticed us. He asked who we were. We introduced ourselves although we were afraid. We came near him and started noticing his activities. He was silently reading books. I still remember the name of the book, it was 'The Green Hat.' I made a note of that. Near Thane station he noticed the transport of some war materials on trucks. He got angry and murmured 'What a waste of money' and suddenly asked "what do you boys think of this?" We anyhow got our stories and finally got to know more about Nehru.
If anyone visits your office, one may get surprised that in the modern era of computers, you still use type writers.
You can compare this to a situation where an old wife asks her husband why you don't marry a young girl, why you are still with me (smiles and clarifies), it is like my old wife who has shown loyalty to me for years. How can I reject it?
Many people think that we have not valued the freedom we got after so much of struggle. How do you see India after almost 60 years of Independence?
I agree that there are a lot of problems in the society. But the scenario is changing. In the last 60 years India has witnessed fantastic changes in various sectors. We are getting more and more advanced in technology. Now we can build our own aircraft carriers, we can build our own nuclear submarines; we can send man on the moon if we want. We have the talent and the energy to be the No.1 country of the world. We are great and will be greater in the coming few years.
