Dr Patrick Yesudian - a physician of the highest class

Journalist - Writer - Editor.  

I was director and editor at the Press Institute of India (www.pressinstitute.in), Chennai, for 15 years (till December 2025). I started my career in 1985 as a direct recruit officer with United India Insurance Company. After eight years (and after acquiring a diploma in Journalism), I moved to the TTK Group where I had a decade-long stint as head of public relations and corporate communications. 

I then switched to journalism full-time and worked for The Economic Times as editor – supplements, WAN-IFRA (World Association of Newspapers & News Publishers) as consulting editor; The Times of India, Chennai, as chief copy editor; and The Hindu BusinessLine as assistant editor. 

Earlier, I was a columnist for The New Indian Express and for many years wrote on heritage, sports and civic issues for Madras Musings and The Hindu Metro Plus, also contributing to S. Muthiah’s books on the history of Chennai and some of its prominent citizens and organisations (Madras Rediscovered, At Home, In Madras – A Handbook, Sixty Landmark Years – L&T-ECC, TT Vasu – The Man Who Could Never Say No, The Unfinished Journey – The Story of M Ct M Chidambaram Chettyar) as well as editing books published by New Horizon Media (Krishna Krishna, Dhirubhai Ambani – A Business Legend, Small Print, Big Risk – What No One Told You About Health Insurance). 

I studied in Don Bosco School, Park Circus, Calcutta, where I performed consistently well and was a class topper. After an excellent showing at the ISC Examination, I gained automatic admission into St. Xavier’s College, Calcutta, where I pursued a graduate degree in Commerce. I graduated with a first class and topped the course in college. My passion for writing later led me to pursue a postgraduate diploma in Journalism at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Chennai. I fared exceptionally well, winning the gold medal and the award for the best student. 

I have taught Journalism (reporting and editing) at Bhavan’s, Chennai, and lectured on the subject in schools and colleges.