Mysuru :

Veteran journalist Krishna Vattam (82), who was known as Bhishmapitamaha among Mysuru Journalists, passed away at JSS Multi-speciality hospital in city this morning owing to prolonged illness. Vattam was being treated at Intensive Critical Care Unit (ICCU) after complaining of breathing problem since Friday last.

He breathed his last at around 8.30 am following car- diac arrest.

The doctors at the hospital said that Krishna Vattam showed signs of recovery yesterday and day before but suffered cardiac arrest this morning and could not recover. Vattam, who was a cancer survivor, was ailing from heart problem, the doctors said. Krishna Vattam is survived by his wife Kamala Vattam, son Shyam Sundar Vattam, a Senior Journalist in Bengaluru and two daughters Saraswathi Vattam, who lives in USA and Parvati Vattam, who works as Manager with State Bank of India, host of relatives and friends.

Vattam’s body was shifted to his residence at #3, ‘Malahari’, near T.V. Srinivasa Rao Circle in Vidyaranyapuram. Prior to this, Krishna Vattam’s eyes were donated to JSS Hospital as per his last wish.

Star of Mysore Editor-in-Chief K.B. Ganapathy, Mandya Deputy Commissioner Dr. Ajay Nagabhushan and Deputy Director, Department of Information and Publicity, Mysuru A.R. Prakash visited JSS Hospital and paid their last respects.

Chief Minister Siddharamaiah, who arrived in city this morning, too visited Vattam’s residence and paid his last respects.

CM condoles: The demise of Krishna Vattam, who was known as ‘Bhishma of Journalism’ is a great loss for the field of journalism. He was the person who uplifted the spirit of journalism with the accurate presentation of news and stories. I have known him for the past 40 years since the days when I was practising as an advocate in Mysuru. Krishna Vattam is a great personality who will be remembered always. I pray for his soul to rest in peace and give strength to his family.

Others who visited and paid their last respects were: Ministers V. Sreenivasa Prasad and H.S. Mahadevaprasd and Umashri, MLAs Vasu and G.T.Devegowda and M.K. Somashekar, Mayor R. Lingappa, MUDA Chairman K.R. Mohan Kumar, Karnataka Exhibition Authority Chairman R. Murthy, DC C. Shikha, MCC Commissioner Dr. C.G. Betsurmath, MUDA Commissioner M. Mahesh, City Police Commissioner B. Dayananda, DCPs Dr. H.T. Shekar and N.D. Birje, former Minister S.A. Ramdas, actor Prakash Rai, Rangayana Director Janardhan, District Co-operative Union President H.V. Rajeev, Mysore District Journalists’ Association (MDJA) President K. Deepak, Vice President S.T. Ravikumar, General Secretary K.J. Lokesh Babu, Senior Journalists Srinivas (brother) and M.B. Maramkal, Former MDJA Presidents C.K. Mahendra, M. Shivakumar and Amshi Prasanna Kumar, Mahajana Education Society President R. Vasudeva Murthy, State Safai Karmachari Commissioner Chairman Narayan, Retired Prof. K.C. Belliappa and Retired Prof. R.N. Padmanabha.

Last rites were held at the crematorium at the foot of Chamundi Hill this afternoon.

MDJA will hold a condolence meeting at Pathrakarthara Bhavan tomorrow at 10.30 am.

Condolences

District In-charge Minister V. Sreenivasa Prasad: One of the great journalists in the State Krishna Vattam will be known for his simplicity and friendly nature. His demise is not only a loss to Mysuru but to the entire State. His ideals should be followed by present generation of young journalists to achieve great heights in their profession. He used to advise me during my early days in politics. Krishna Vattam’s demise is a personal loss.

Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha: The demise of veteran journalist Krishna Vattam is a huge loss to the profession of journalism in which he worked for more than six decades. Having started his career at Deccan Herald, Krishna Vattam also worked for ‘Mysore Mail’ and ‘Prajanudi’ newspapers in Mysuru after his retirement. His demise has created a vacuum in the field of journalism. May his soul rest in peace and may God give strength to his family to bear the loss.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Wednesday – August 012th, 2015