MADURAI: Dear friends, well-wishers and general public, I am Shastry V Mallady, a journalist by profession who decided to be in public life as a press reporter in media even before when I was 13 years of age. I became a journalist out of passion and not for just a job. I chose to make media as a career when I was studying in 7th class in Guntur in Andhra Pradesh, because I always had my ears and eyes open for common man issues, politics and what is happening with political parties at that time in the year 1982.
Born on July 16th 1971 at Vizianagaram in Andhra Pradesh, I had been greatly motivated by my grandparents of both sides since my childhood to be focused on public life and people’s socio-economic livelihood issues in our country. My father encouraged me to read Indian Express since my school days while my both grandfathers made me read ‘The Hindu’ when I was studying in Andhra Pradesh from 1974 to 1986. And, there were many other English best newspapers, magazines and books in my house since my grandfather and uncle were subscribers. So, I used to regularly read Blitz magazine coming from Bombay, Illustrated Weekly, Reader’s Digest etc and later on Economic Times.
I had a natural zeal and passion for national duty from school days. I met Mother Teresa in 1982 in Guntur, I met NTR in 1983, I started attending public meetings from 1984 in Vijayawada when opposition parties in India began fighting the Congress Party unitedly, I attended the opposition parties conclave in Vijayawada in 1986 when leaders of all political parties from opposition came there and I was studying 10th std at that time. Still, I have that old autograph book, maintain my old contacts and cherish those memories.
More than studies and school, I had interest for people’s issues and nation. I met so many leaders, I started writing letters to national leaders and began reading about current issues and great ancient history. The focus went to anti-corruption movement started by legal legend Ram Jethmalani in 1988 against Bofors corruption scandal who told me to remember ‘My blood is boiling’.
I attended so many public meetings as a UG student of RKM Vivekananda College in Mylapore in Chennai. During that time, I met N.Ram in 1988 when I was a student who went to listen to his speech near Kabaleeswar Temple in Mylapore in Madras. (Then I went to hear his words, after that I became a journalist in ‘The Hindu’).
I met so many leaders from 1988-91 in Madras starting from V.R.Nedunchaezhiyan to Era Chezhiyan to youth wing chief M.K. Stalin to know about then political events, spent time for their events, and later went to Delhi in 1991-92 academic year thanks to my father who wanted me join in a college in New Delhi for PG course and also pursue coaching for competitive exams. I did my media course in Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan at Mylapore in Chennai.
In Delhi, I met many leaders and spent my time in heritage spots of historical significance. After returning to Chennai in 1992-93, I joined as a reporter and started covering various issues. From the year 2000 to 2002, I covered many vital events in Chennai, Delhi and Tirupati thanks to the then News Today editor’s support and encouragement which was always there in abundance.
From there, I came to Madurai ‘The Hindu’ edition as a senior reporter, in 2003, went to Vijayawada edition of ‘The Hindu’ and again came back to Madurai on a request transfer that was given by great N.Ram and the editorial team which included top journalist V. Jayanth. From 2003, I am in Madurai. I worked in ‘The Hindu’ covering education, health and other important beats, and my last designation in that great newspaper ‘The Hindu’ english daily was Senior Assistant Editor and did my role as deputy CoB in Madurai bureau.
I took voluntary retirement when a VRS scheme for employees was announced by the newspaper management in 2014-15. I opted for VRS because I have my own interest to pursue. I started ‘Lotus Times’ in 2017, I was also associated with BJP as intellectual cell State secretary in Tamil Nadu for three years, and after that I am now doing the independent neutral unbiased website ‘Lotus Times’ in English from Madurai. In the meanwhile, I also launched an English magazine called ‘Cover Point’ in 2022, ran it for five months successfully getting very good talk and image. Due to my personal health issues, there was a break for two months in June and July 2022, and hence I had to again start procedure for title renewal. Hope to have a relaunch of that magazine in print version.
In the meantime, our ‘Lotus Times’ English media website www.lotustimes.org is becoming very popular across Tamil Nadu due to our commitment to honest and fair journalism. The online website is emerging as a topper and for that we always thank our reader. For your news, views, articles, opinions and write-ups, feel free to contact us.
Regards,
SHASTRY V MALLADY / MADURAI / 94421-29630; info@lotustimes.org.
