J.S. Ifthekhar
Hyderabad
Friday evening turned out to be a particularly memorable and nostalgic occasion for me, as I, along with several other retired employees of The Hindu, was felicitated at the Press Club on the occasion of the golden jubilee celebrations of The Hindu’s Hyderabad edition.
It was a deeply gratifying moment to be remembered and honoured by an institution with which I have shared an important and rewarding part of my professional life. I was presented with a bouquet and shawl as a token of appreciation. Adding to the significance of the occasion was the fact that the special supplement brought out today to mark the golden jubilee also carried an article written by me. Seeing my byline, picture and words in the commemorative edition made the occasion all the more special.
But beyond the felicitation and celebrations, what made the evening truly unforgettable was the opportunity to meet old friends and colleagues after many years. Time, as always, has quietly moved on. Many of those familiar faces have changed, and some who once appeared young and energetic have themselves grown old. Yet, as we exchanged greetings and sat together, it seemed as though the intervening years had simply disappeared. Old bonds, old conversations and old memories came alive once again.
There was, however, one familiar face whose absence was deeply felt. We remembered with affection and respect the veteran journalist Rajendra Prasad, who for many years was regarded as the face of The Hindu in Hyderabad. Sadly, he is no more. For me, his memory carries a particularly special significance. He was the Editor who recruited me into The Hindu, giving me an opportunity that became an important turning point in my professional life.
As we spoke about those days, memories of Rajendra Prasad came flooding back. His presence, his journalistic acumen and his association with the Hyderabad edition remain an inseparable part of the newspaper’s history. For those of us who worked under him, remembering The Hindu in Hyderabad without remembering Rajendra Prasad would be almost impossible. His absence was felt all the more poignantly at a gathering that brought together so many people who had shared that journey with him.
Former Resident Editor Srinivas Reddy, Venkateshwarlu, Prashant Reddy, present Editor, Ravi Reddy, and several others recalled those days when bringing out a newspaper supplement was far more than a routine assignment. It involved long hours, relentless effort, tight deadlines, disagreements, improvisation and, above all, a great deal of sweat and struggle. We reminisced about the days of producing popular supplements such as Education Plus, Down Town and Property Plus. Each supplement had its own challenges, and bringing them out successfully required teamwork, commitment and an almost unquestioning dedication to the job.
Listening to colleagues recall those days was like turning the pages of an old album. We remembered the hectic newsroom atmosphere, the pressure of deadlines, the last-minute changes, the occasional frustrations and, of course, the satisfaction when the finished product finally reached the readers. Those were demanding times, but they were also immensely fulfilling. Looking back today, the hardships seem less important than the camaraderie and the sense of purpose that bound us together.
The golden jubilee celebration was therefore not merely a commemoration of fifty years of The Hindu in Hyderabad. For many of us, it was also a celebration of our own journey with the newspaper—a journey marked by friendships, professional challenges, shared achievements and countless memories.
The evening eventually concluded with a lavish dinner, giving everyone more time to continue conversations that had begun much earlier. There was laughter, reminiscence and a sense of warmth that made it difficult to say goodbye.
As I returned home, I realised that some occasions become memorable not because of the ceremony itself, but because of the people and memories they bring back. Friday evening was one such occasion. It reminded me of a cherished chapter in my professional life—and of colleagues and friends, including Rajendra Prasad, whose contributions and memories remain an enduring part of that chapter.
For a few hours, at least, we were young journalists again—working against deadlines, chasing stories and putting together supplements, sharing the pressures and pleasures of newspaper life. It was an evening of memories, friendship, gratitude and nostalgia—one that I am sure will remain etched in my memory for a long time to come.
