I had the honour of reading the citation for the Life Time Achievement Award for Distinguished Journalism presented to my good friend S.R.Madhu by the TAG group & Ramu Endowments on 10th December at the Tag Centre. It was a packed audience of over 200 which witnessed Madhu receiving the Award from the Chief Guest R.K.Raghavan the former Director of CBI and Consul General of Cyprus.
A well
deserved honour for a writer who in a journalism career
spanning more than 60 years, has made a mark in newspapers and magazines as
well as specialist journals; in both mainstream mass media and development
media; in print as well as audio-visuals. His writing is characterized by
clarity and vigour, precision and elegance. As editor, he promotes the highest
standards in content, composition and presentation, as well as in design and
visual appeal.
With a Gold
Medal in Journalism from Bombay, a certificate in photojournalism from Parson’s
School, New York; and a certificate in communication from Cornell University,
New York Madhu started his life as a
feature writer in 1964 with the Times of India Group. He later shifted to USIS Bombay as English Editor in 1970. Between 1974-79 he was the
Deputy Editor of SPAN magazine published by the American Embassy
in Delhi. As the principal staff writer of SPAN magazine, he wrote articles on
Indo-US relations and covered visits of dignitaries from the USA. He got a
certificate of appreciation from the White House for his wonderful coverage of
President Carter’s visit.
Shifting
to Development Communication, he served for 15 years (1979-1994) as an
International Information Officer with the FAO-United Nations in India and Africa. In
the course of his work, he wrote and photographed UN projects in more than a
dozen countries of Asia and Africa. He founded the newsletter Bay of Bengal News, for the
FAO’s Chennai-based regional programme, the Bay of Bengal Programme.
The FAO in Rome commended Bay of Bengal News as a model for all
FAO projects worldwide.
Retiring from the UN in 1995, Madhu has for
the past 28 years been a writer-editor consultant – mainly to UN agencies.
He has been also very active with Rotary as a Programme director of Rotary Club of Madras
South for the last 25 years besides being a popular anchor of the South India Heritage lectures, numbering over 350, organised by the Tag group in
Chennai.
Madhu`s abiding interest in Cricket and Films is
well known. His recent series of 22 well-researched articles on personalities
in the Hindi and Tamil music world in Rotary News, a magazine
of Rotary International has become so popular that a reader, a well-known
journalist remarked, ` Madhu just doesn`t write but `composes` his articles
with his pen`. He has also made eight presentations based on film music
covering the period from the 1940s to the 1980s.
The award function was followed by an engaging video
presentation by Madhu of selected Songs
from films of the yester year star Dev Anand , whose birth
centenary is being celebrated this year.
( Quote from Charis, Raghavan`s and madhu`s speeches)
My friendship with Madhu is six decades old. We
both did our PG Diploma courses in Bharatriya Vidya Bhavan, Bombay in 1962-64.
He did journalism and I did Advertising and PR. We both started our respective
careers in Bombay , went to Delhi and finally landed in Chennai. It is a
friendship that has stood the test of time.I was responsible for roping him
into my Rotary Club. I consider him as
one of my mentors in my second innings as a writer/author post retirement.
Hearty Congratulations Madhu on a long overdue but a well deserved honour. Hope this is the beginning of many more Awards you will get in the future. I am proud to have you as my friend.
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