AMN
Senior Journalist and the Hindu’s former Delhi Chief of Bureau K.K. Katyal passed away in a Delhi hospital on Wednesday after a brief illness. Mr. Katyal was 88. He was also President of the South Asia Free Media Association SAFMA.
Mr. Katyal, who was the face of The Hindu’s Delhi bureau since the launch of the paper’s New Delhi edition in 1986, had also worked in The Statesman and Hindustan Times.
Hailing from Jhang in Pakistan, he had wide contacts across political and diplomatic circles. Mr. Katyal was widely travelled and had a wide array of interests.
A familiar byline to The Hindu’s readers, the veteran scribe worked towards improving relations with Pakistan. After his retirement from The Hindu in 2004, Mr. Katyal was associated with the South Asia Free Media Association as president of its India chapter.
Mr. Katyal is survived by his wife Darshan and daughters Anita and Sugita, both of them accomplished journalists in their own right.
The President of India, Pranab Mukherjee has condoled the passing away of K.K. Katyal.
In a condolence message to his wife, Smt. Darshan Katyal, the President has said, “I am sad to learn about the passing away of K.K. Katyal.
Katyal was a much loved and admired personality in the world of media. He had a long and distinguished career, especially with “The Hindu”, “The Statesman” and “Hindustan Times”.
His services as President of the South Asia Free Media Association will be remembered by members of the media across the region.
Katyal made important contribution to making the newspapers he worked for symbols of excellence in journalism. In his death, the nation has lost an outstanding and veteran journalist who will continue to be a source of inspiration to the younger generation of journalists.