HOMAGE TO RAMAKOTISWARA RAU
V.
VENKATESWARA RAO
Advocate,
Amalapuram, Andhra Pradesh
In the demise of K.
Ramakotiswara Rau, Indian journalistic firmament has lost its most resplendent
star. After a brilliant academic career and a short spell at the Bar, he
entered the precarious profession of journalism at a time when it was more a
noble mission than a paying profession, a mission which made willing victims of
its votaries. He founded Triveni, an ideal magazine which meant for him
“the triple stream of sorrow, suffering and sacrifice.” Triveni is a
unique journal devoted purely to art, literature and culture. It is nothing
short of a miracle how Ramakotiswara Rau conducted the journal at a very high
level with no adequate pecuniary resources. Not only Indian intellectuals like
Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, Dr. Pattabhi,
Sir C. P. and S. Srinivasa Ayyangar
but also celebrated Western savants were captivated by the immaculate standards
and the high tone of the articles of Triveni. Late K. M. Panikkar wrote thus of Ramakotiswara Rau: “An idealist who
with no financial assets could plan to bring out and keep alive a truly
high-class magazine like Triveni is entitled to be considered one of the
heroes of Indian Journalism. A man of simple tastes and few wants but with unimpeachable
zeal and a missionary spirit, he is one of the
pathfinders in the field of cultural journalism. I had the privilege of being
associated with him during my days in Swarajya.”
Prof. Hiren Mukherji,
the communist leader, regarded Ramakotiswara Rau as a stalwart journalist.
Ramakotiswara
Rau was one of the few Andhra journalists who in answer to the clarion-call of
Mahatma Gandhi gave up practice and suffered the rigors of incarceration during
the British regime. Such was his patriotism. He endured the pangs of chill
penury and as in the case of the unforgettable Khasa, he too died a
neglected man.
The
life story of Ramakotiswara Rau is the history of the most glorious period of
Indian periodical journalism. We shall not see that like of him.
May
his soul rest in peace!