Senior Malayalam journalist D Vijayamohan passed away in New Delhi on Tuesday. He was working as a senior coordinating editor with the Malayala Manorama Delhi bureau. He was under treatment at St Stephen’s Hospital after he tested positive for coronavirus. He was 65.
Vijayamohan, who was originally from Nedumangad in Thiruvananthapuram, joined the Malayala Manorama in 1978, after which he settled in New Delhi from 1985.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in his condolence message mentioned that Vijayamohan was a great journalist who brought the factual reporting of national politics to Kerala readers. The CM said that Vijayamohan stood out in his profession because he reported factually, without prejudice and without paying attention to rumours.
“At a time when there are attempts to divide the people based on religion and caste, his journalism was based on secularism. Apart from politics, he also had the skills to analyse economics. He was part of many Delhi Malayali associations. His unexpected death will be a great loss to journalism as well as to all Delhi Malayali unions,” Pinarayi Vijayan said.
Vijayamohan graduated in Economics from Thiruvananthapuram’s Mar Ivanios College and completed his post-graduation from Kerala University. He also studied in the UK after securing The Harry Brittain Fellowship. He has also reported from many countries abroad.
Vijayamohan was the first president of the Delhi unit of the Kerala Union of Working Journalists. He was also a member of the Film Censor Board and the Lok Sabha Press Advisory Council.
The veteran journalist has also written a few books, including Chentharkkazhal (collection of poems), Ee Lokam Athiloru Mukundan, Swami Ranganathananda (biography), A Ramachandrante Varamozhikal and Humour in Parliament. A Ramachandrante Varamozhikal secured the Kerala Lalitha Kala Academy award in 2005. He also won the V Karunakaran Nambiar Award by the Kerala Press Academy and the Kerala government award for development journalism.
Vijayamohan is survived by his wife S Jayashree and son VM Vishnu.