Adieu in the cruelest month

V Sasidharan, one of Kerala's most senior journalists and editorial advisor to Kerala Kaumudi, passed away the other day. In the mid-sixties, editor K. Sukumaran interviewed Sasidharan directly and made the then slender young man a member of the editorial committee of Kerala Kaumudi. This selection from editor K Sukumaran turned momentous for Kaumudi as Sasidharan proved to be a backbone for the newspaper for generations to come.

In T.S. Eliot's "The Waste Land", "April is the cruelest month" marks the beginning of a cycle of rebirth and renewal, but also the awakening of painful memories and desires in a barren, lifeless landscape. The passing away of the veteran journalist can't be put in clearer words than juxtaposing with Eliot's revered lines.

Sasidharan would dedicate day and night in the four walls of the newspaper office, evaluating copies, articles and proof. He worked very reservedly in a way that his talent rarely became a topic in the office. Moreover, Sasidharan never yearned for appreciation or laurels. His work ethic was tough to emulate and can leave contemporary journalists envious.

People who closely watched his work were aware of the scope and magnitude of his talent. In the 70s, even giants in the film business, including Thoppil Bhasi, would remember Sasidharan’s name.

The movie reviews he wrote were so sharp and passionate. Sasisharan’s humour-tinged scathing review of movies, including his famous review of ‘Anubhavangal Paalichakal’, gave nightmares to moviemakers, albeit being brutally honest in his evaluation.

Saidharan also had a special nose for news. He would effortlessly choose the news to be printed on the next day’s paper, without going through any brainstorming. Some of his political commentary may seem malicious, but if thoroughly scrutinised, it would show the fine blend of humour and acid remarks, meticulously collated by the veteran journalist.

When Kerala Kaumudi started its Kozhikode edition in the early eighties, he was in charge there for about a year. Later, he returned to Thiruvananthapuram and worked as News Editor, Chief News Editor, and Associate Editor.

He had been writing editorials in Kerala Kaumudi until the first week of April. Age-related ailments had pushed him to languor in the recent past. However, he continued to stun us all by deftly preparing the day’s editorial before leaving for routine hospital check-ups every day.

Sasidharan Sir was a journalist who had the opportunity to work with editors-in-chief K. Sukumaran, M.S. Mani, M.S. Madhusoodanan, and, most recently, Deepu Ravi. His demise is a great loss to Kerala Kaumudi in every sense. We join in the grief with his bereaved family.