G. Kasturi – what a many-splendoured person!

 

Anyone who had worked in the Indian news publishing industry during the 1960s, 70s and 80s, whether as a journalist or an editor, or a press operator or printer, would have heard about G. Kasturi. Those who worked during those years with The Hindu Group would have got to know him better than most. And those in top management positions in the news publishing business in India and abroad who corresponded with him or met him would have considered it a privilege. 

Gopalan Kasturi, grandson of S. Kasturi Ranga Iyengar who purchased The Hindu in 1905, was not just an extraordinary editor of a newspaper and the longest serving, guiding The Hindu for more than 25 years, from 1965 to 1991. His wide-ranging knowledge and fascination in tools and skills led him to bring modern production technology to the group – a first in Indian journalism. For an editor and managing director, GK, as he was better known, had extraordinary vision. He introduced offset printing, colour scanning, and facsimile transmission so that The Hindu could be printed at different centres at the same time. Of course, he was from the old school, having trained himself rigorously for several years ever since he started working at the newspaper in 1944. 

A significant aspect of his personality was that he was humble and kept a low profile, letting his work speak. It is not enough if you are an exceptionally talented person or brilliant at work, you also need to be a good human being. And Kasturi was such a person. During The Hindu’s 125th year celebrations in September 2003, twelve years after he had retired, the loudest cheers from the packed hall were reserved for him as he arrived on stage. Prime Minister Vajpayee who was present must have been surprised.  Such was Kasturi’s stature and so dearly was he loved. 

I relate all this because I have just finished reading ‘The GK we knew’, a wonderful book brought out by his children – K. Balaji, K. Venugopal and Lakshmi Srinath – to mark Kasturi’s birth centenary, which fell on 17th December 2024. They felt that if they were to write about their father, “it would be tinged with colour that springs from filial bonds”. So, they decided to ask people who had dealt professionally and personally with GK over the years to recall their association with him. And, indeed, the pages come alive through their voices. 

I must thank Mr Balaji for sending me a copy of the book, which is for private distribution and not for sale. It is a book someone like me who has spent more than 35 years in journalism, writing and editing would love to read bits and pieces of over and over again. Also, having served the Press Institute of India (PII) and the Research Institute for Newspaper Development (RIND) for 15 years, reading the book and getting to know so much about Kasturi, his discipline, work ethic and aura, was a rewarding experience. For the record, PII was established in 1963 in New Delhi, to create and sustain high and responsible standards of journalism. RIND was established in 1979 with the focus on technical aspects pertaining to newspaper printing and production. Kasturi was The Hindu trustee on both the boards in the early years. In April 1990, both organisations amalgamated to form PII-RIND. After reading the book, I sometimes wonder how much I might have gained, in running the institution better, if only Mr Kasturi had been there! He had passed away by the time I took charge. 

There are some lovely pictures in the book – of a dapper and handsome GK in his younger days and him at work. Several pictures show him at various printing presses in India and abroad. There are screenshots of correspondence exchanged with him, on editorial as well as technical issues, which show how highly he was regarded in the industry, not just in India. His passion for technology lasted till the very end – he had set up a studio at home and experimented with design layouts, digital photography and post-process technology. However, some of the most endearing photographs, to me, are those of him with his granddaughters, reflecting very special bonds. The last picture of G. Kasturi in the book shows him in a white khadi kurta, reading The Hindu. He looks a little frail but the aura is intact. 

Note: To be an extraordinary editor as well as a technologist is quite rare. The only other person I can think of was my mentor, S. Muthiah, editor-author-historian, who headed TT Maps and Publications, a TTK Group company, for more than 22 years and oversaw operations at the press there. Muthiah introduced the degree course in Printing Technology at Anna University and was associated with several printing bodies, including the Madras Printers’ and Lithographers’ Association and the All India Federation of Master Printers.  

Picture: The book cover.