London, Oct 27 Veteran journalist H Seetharama Rao, whose four-decade career with the Press Trust of India included key editorial positions and a tenure as its UK correspondent, died here on Tuesday after a brief illness. He was 85.
Rao is survived by his wife Geeta, daughter Aparna, son Rajesh, and three grandchildren.
He was admitted to West Middlesex Hospital near his home in west London on September 22 with breathing difficulties, and passed away early Tuesday following multi-organ failure, according to his family.
Hailing from Mangalore, Rao began his career with PTI in the late sixties as a reporter in Bangalore. He later moved to Delhi as a Special Correspondent and covered various beats, including the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) during the tenures of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, as well as Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Rao had also undertaken several foreign assignments during his career, accompanying Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, and former President Zail Singh on their official trips.
Rao also served a stint as Regional Manager (East) based in Kolkata before being posted as PTI’s staff correspondent in London in 2000.
“He was truly a special person. We came from the same region in Karnataka and shared many heartening moments together over the years,” said Dr MN Nandakumara, Executive Director of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in the UK, while condoling Rao’s death.
“Rao was always supportive of the Bhavan and its work in spreading Indian culture overseas. It is a sad day, and my prayers are with his family,” he added.
In March 2017, Rao was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award by a media group for his “illustrious career” spanning nearly five decades, presented at a ceremony in the House of Commons complex in London.
The Political and Public Life Awards are presented annually by the Asian Business Publications Limited (ABPL), publishers of ‘Asian Voice’ and ‘Gujarat Samachar’ newspapers, and past winners of the awards have included the likes of former British prime ministers Theresa May and David Cameron.
“H. S. Rao has been a journalist with the Press Trust of India, the premier news agency of India, for nearly five decades. He has travelled the world with Presidents and Prime Ministers. He is regarded as the doyen of Indian journalists in Britain, having given a lifetime of service to journalism and the truth,” the award citation noted at the time.
He received the award from the then Commons Deputy Speaker Eleanor Lang and C.B. Patel, the publisher and editor of ABPL Group.
Rao’s daughter Aparna said her father fought so bravely over the last few days and the family was hopeful he would pull through.
(PTI News)
