CHENNAI: V Bhagyanathan, editor of Tamil Osai, a Tamil daily, passed away in Chennai on Thursday. He was 65 and had been undergoing treatment for cardiac and kidney problems at a corporate hospital.
Bhagyanathan started his journalistic career as a reporter in Alai Osai, Tamil daily, in 1970s and then worked for Makkal Kural, an evening daily, before moving over to Maalai Sudar, Tamil eveninger, as News Editor. Later he was Senior Assistant Editor of Vikatan Paper.
In 2006, when Tamil Osai was launched, Bhagyanathan took over as editor and continued in the post till the last. He was known for expressing his views on political developments, inter-State water disputes, reservation row and Sri Lankan Tamils issue.
Condoling the death of Bhagyanathan, PMK founder S Ramadoss said the late journalist was an encyclopaedia of political events and his demise was a personal loss to him.
Apart from Ramadoss, former Union ministers A Velu and A K Moorthy and several journalists paid homage to Bhagyanathan, whose mortal remains are kept at his house in the Journalists Colony in Tiruvanmiyur.
He is survived by his wife Esther Mani, son Victor Vedanayakam and daughter Mercy.
The funeral will be at the Santhome Greenland Courtyard cemetry after prayers at the house, which will start at 9 am, on April 15, according to sources in Tamil Osai.