KOTTAYAM: K M Mathew, the doyen of Kerala's media world and Chief Editor of Malayala Manorama, died at his residence here on Sunday morning. He was 93.
Mathew's end came around 6 a.m., after he completed his chores. He had a brief walk and took rest, but, complained of uneasiness and soon fell unconscious. His demise was confirmed afterwards.
Fondly called by one and all as 'Mathukuttychayan', the revered thespian figure in the media as well as the social and cultural life of the state was an active person till his end and had attended office even on Saturday.
Mathew's body was laid in state at his residence 'Roop Kala' at 'Mount Wardha' in Kanjikuzhi, near here, to enable the public to pay their last respects.
The body will be placed at the Malayala Manorama head office here at 1 p.m. on Monday where also the public can pay their homage.
The funeral will take place at the Puthenpalli cemetery in the town at 4 p.m. on Monday. Dignitaries from all walks of life and others from all sections of society are expected to attend the ceremony.
K M Mathew is survived by sons Mammen Mathew (Malayala Manorama Editor), Philip Mathew (Managing Editor) and Jacob Mathew (Executive Editor), daughter Thankam Mammen, soninlaw C P Mammen (owner of CCS Technologies, Mr Butler's), daughtersinlaw Prema (Editor, Vanitha), Beena (Editor, Balarama) and Ammu (Editor, Magic Pot) and grandchildren.
K M Mathew's wife Annamma, who was popular as Mrs K M Mathew and former chief editor of 'Vanitha' women's magazine, had died in 2003.
Born on January 2, 1917, in the illustrious Kandathil family as the eighth progeny of K C Mammen Mappilai, a pioneer of Malayalam journalism, and Kunjanamma, K M Mathew had waded an eventful life before he joined the Malayala Manorama as its Managing Editor in 1954. He became the Chief Editor in 1973, when his elder brother K M Cherian died.
His stint thereafter was virtually dreamlike, taking the organisation to dizzy heights.