BENGALURU: Khadri Achyuthan (71) is no more but his yeoman contribution to the development of Kannada television news and the coinage of new Kannada words will always be remembered. He was at the helm of TV news production during a tumultuous period that witnessed the advent of Kannada news and saw many changes in broadcasting in the state.
A veteran print and broadcast journalist, author, academic and translator of various literary works, the former Doordarshan news director who served for almost a decade in the Bengaluru Kendra, died on Sunday night after a brief period of illness.
His passion for Kannada was such that he did not join any English newspapers. Winning many laurels, he had written on a range of subjects from space to politics.
His vast experiences helped him pen a book in Kannada on ISRO and its grassroots application.
After retirement, he served on many Kannada literary trusts and actively worked on a few Kannada translations of Sardar Patel and Dr Ambedkar.
Contribution to broadcast
His tryst with audio-visual communications began in 1981 when the first regional Kannada news on All India Radio (AIR), Dharwad was launched. Recalling those days, he had told Express, “During those days, beyond Hubli, telecommunications had not improved and with Dharwad services, both Press Trust of India (PTI) and United News of India (UNI) also began. Our bulletin became very popular and almost a mouth piece for the Gokak agitation in 1982-83.” Serving in various capacities and across the country, he worked in several divisions of the Union government in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Anadaman and Nicobar islands where communication was the grea t est challenge . He ef fectively brought the islands together with news bulletins in Hindi on (AIR) besides bringing PTI services to this region.