Writer & Journalist Turlapati Kutumba Rao No More

Veteran journalist, writer and Padma Shri awardee Turlapati Kutumba Rao, 89, breathed his last at a private hospital in Vijayawada today.

He had been rushed to the hospital by his family after suffering a cardiac arrest.

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, AP Chief Minister Y S Jaganmohan Reddy and AP Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan expressed their grief at the journalist's passing, and conveyed their condolences to the bereaved family.

Rao, born on August 10, 1933, was a multi-faceted individual who entered the field of journalism at the young age of 14.

He had worked as an editor and writer for the Telugu newspaper Andhra Jyothi for more than three decades, and had won several national and international awards for journalistic excellence through his long career.

The 89-year-old was also honoured with the Padma Shri by the Indian government in 2002, for his contribution to the field.

As an author, he penned the biographies of several important public figures, and his Telugu translations of the speeches of many national leaders also won him many laurels.

The veteran journalist also had his name included in the Guinness Book of World Records for addressing over 16,000 public meetings.

Apart from this, Rao had also served as a personal secretary to Tanguturi Prakasam, the first Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.