By Matters India Reporter
Kochi, Sept 18, 2021: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was among those mourning the death of K M Roy, a veteran journalist whose boldness had brought to limelight the murder of a Catholic nun.
Roy died on September 18 at his residence in Kochi, Kerala. He was 82.
His funeral will be held at his parish church St Joseph’s Church, Thevara, a Kochi suburb, on September 19 with state honors.
In his condolence message, the Kerala chief minister said Roy’s death was an irreparable loss as his contributions as a journalist, columnist and cultural activist to both Kerala and Indian journalism were invaluable. “He strived to maintain discipline in public and political matters and this reflected in many of his writings. His analysis on current affairs provided guidance to society and strengthened the people’s right to knowledge,” the chief minister added.
Ignatius Gonsalves, president of the Indian Catholic Press Association, mourning Roy’s death as “a personal loss,” said the “Sr. Abhaya murder case” would not have seen light but for Roy’s “lone and bold stand as the editor” of Mangalam, a Malayalam daily newspaper.
The body of Sister Abhaya was found dead in the water well of St Pius X Convent in Kottayam on March 27, 1992. Initially, it was recorded as a suicide case, but later probe proved it to be murder. Two priests and nun were arrested in the case.
Gonsalves says Roy was “an honest Catholic” but that did not prevent him from criticizing the Church.
Roy had enjoyed high credibility among power centers, Church leaders and political parties. Nobody had “dared to lure him” because they had experienced the negative impact of such attempts.
Roy “was an upright and principled journalist who always researched for the other side. He was never judgmental in his writings but paraded verified facts in such style and skill that enabled the reader judge right,” said the head of the Catholic press body.
“Roy’s life and work are a good study material for future media people and a model for the present ones,” Gonsalves added.
Global Malayalee Press Club president George Kallivayalil expressed his “deepest condolences” and said Roy’s contributions to journalism will be remembered for long. “We have lost another great journalist of this decade,” he added.
Roy started his journalism career in 1961 while doing his Masters studies at Maharaja’s College, Kochi. He joined as a sub editor in Keralaprakasham (light of Kerala), a Malayalam daily from Kochi run by Mathai Manjooran. As a student he was attracted to socialist ideas and joined politics but later dedicated completely to journalism.
He had also worked with newspapers such as Deshabandhu (friend of the nation) and Keralabhushanam (glory of Kerala). He was also a reporter for The Economic Times and The Hindu and worked with the news agency United News of India for 9 years.
Roy was the founder secretary of the Kottayam Press Club. He presided twice over Kerala Newspaper Union and was the secretary general of the Indian Federation of Working Journalists from 1984 to 1988.
Roy had received several awards for his contribution to journalism, including the prestigious Muttathu Varkey Fountain Award in 1993 for the editorial he wrote on the Babri Masjid incident. He also received the Swadeshabhimani-Kesari Award, American FOKANA Award, Sahodaran Ayyappan Award, Shivaram Award, All India Catholic Union Lifetime Award, and the first C P Sreedharan Memorial Media Award.
He retired from active journalism as the editor of the Mangalam daily. Irulum Velichavum (Darkness and Light), the column he handled in Mangalam for around 20 years, was very widely read.
Roy had also authored nine books, including two biographies, two travelogues and novels.
His books included Chicagoyile Kazhumarangal (The gallows of Chicago) Thuranna Manassode (With an Open Mind), Kaalathinu Munpe Nadanna Manjooran (Manjooran Who Walked Ahead of His Time).
Respectful farewell to journalist K M Roy.