The Hindu : Front Page : Manmohan, Somnath pay tributes to Rangarajan

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 10, 2007
ePaper

Front Page

Front Page

Manmohan, Somnath pay tributes to Rangarajan

Special Correspondent

A philanthropist, a great lover and promoter of sports and one of the doyens of the Indian Press"

S. Rangarajan

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Speaker of the Lok Sabha Somnath Chatterjee on Friday led the nation in condoling the death of S. Rangarajan, Chairman of Kasturi and Sons Limited, proprietors of The Hindu group of publications.

In a communication to N. Ram, Editor-in-Chief of The Hindu , Dr. Singh said that he joined "the family, the employees and journalists at The Hindu and all the admirers and friends of Shri Rangarajan in mourning his untimely passing away."

Under his chairmanship " The Hindu has grown from strength to strength and is today one of the most respected national dailies. I am sure Shri Rangarajan will be greatly missed at The Hindu ."

In his message to Mr. Ram, Mr. Chatterjee acknowledged Mr. Rangarajan's "role and contribution in sustaining free press and thereby strengthening democracy in the country." He said: "The professionalism and commitment to journalistic ethics that he has strived to sustain through the reputed newspaper The Hindu and other sister publications will be remembered forever."

Mr. Rangarajan was "a philanthropist, a great lover and promoter of sports and one of the doyens of the Indian Press," he added.

Irreplaceable loss: Chaturvedi

Bangalore Bureau reports:

In Bangalore, Karnataka Governor T.N. Chaturvedi said Mr. Rangarajan's demise was an irreplaceable loss not only to the world of journalism but also to all Indians who believed in the ethical and moral responsibilities of a newspaper.

Mr. Rangarajan's activities ranged from journalism to sports, kennelling, race horses and film production. He excelled in each field and won national and international recognition. "By virtue of his association with The Hindu throughout his life, holding many important positions, Mr. Rangarajan played a crucial role in its phenomenal growth and impact," he said.

Multifaceted personality: Gowda

The former Prime Minister and national president of the Janata Dal (Secular), H.D. Deve Gowda, said in a message that "Rangappa was a multifaceted personality whose interests ranged from sports to films, not to speak of his fondness for horses and dogs. He played a key role in the growth and expansion of The Hindu as one of the leading newspapers in the country and the world. He was at ease with the nuances of the English language. Above all, he was an ideal employer, a deeply devout person, a sports lover par excellence and a great human being."

Mr. Gowda said he prayed to the Almighty to provide strength and courage to the bereaved family.

Chandigarh Special Correspondent reports:

In Chandigarh, Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda expressed grief over the death. In a message, he said that Mr. Rangarajan was a great promoter of sports and had passion for cricket. He would be long remembered for his pleasing personality and his significant role in the growth of The Hindu . He conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the members of the bereaved family and prayed that the departed soul rest in peace.

Great visionary: Seshasayee

Chennai Bureau reports:

In Chennai, R. Seshasayee, president, Confederation of Indian Industry, condoling the death on his behalf and on behalf of Indian industry, said: "The sad demise of Mr. S. Rangarajan was a great loss to the country and we have lost a great visionary and a doyen of Indian journalism."

His leadership made a remarkable impact on the growth of The Hindu Group of Publications, said Mr. Seshasayee, who also praised the Chairman's contribution to nurturing arts and sports.

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president M. Krishnasswamy and State secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) N. Varadarajan paid rich tributes to Mr. Rangarajan.

"My deepest and heartfelt condolences on the demise of Sri Rangarajan," Mr. Krishnasswamy said. Expressing shock at the demise of Mr. Rangarajan, Mr. Varadarajan conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.

Congress Legislature Party leader D. Sudarsanam also condoled the death.

President of the Working Women's Forum Jaya Arunachalam said the loss was irreparable to society.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page