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The first recipient of Andhra Pradesh's Best Journalist
Award, 'Paatrikeya Rushi', G Krishna was
born on 20th October 1924, in Madhurapuram (on
the banks of the River Krishna, near Vijayawada). Credited
with educating the public, on the far- reaching
ramifications of the massive Nagarjuna Sagar project,
Krishna was also known for his steering clear of
'yellow journalism' right through his eventful
career.
"News", he says, "is not mere statement
and contradiction. It serves no purpose, if it does
not serve the cause of the people."
Arrested twice for his involvement in the Quit India
movement (and sentenced to six months imprisonment),
Krishna has made razor-sharp wit and an enduring passion
for the truth, his journalistic trademark. From his
first job as an unpaid apprentice at the 'Meezan',
through his assignments at 'Free Press', 'Andhra
Patrika', 'Andhra Prabha' and 'Indian Express',
Krishna always managed to report and highlight what
mattered most to the people.
 He
also happened to know on a personal basis, opinion leaders
who mattered most; Jawaharlal Nehru included.
Author of a dozen books, his biographies of Komararaju
Venkatalakshmana Rao and Ganapathy Muni,
along with his work on the Cultural History of Andhra
Pradesh, have received considerable acclaim. He
had also contributed several articles to Andhra Vignana
Sarvaswamu (Encyclopaedia on and of Andhra).
Krishna had been an understanding witness to the massive
transplantation of the archeological structures between
Srisailam and Alampur (at the confluence
of the Rivers Krishna and Tungabhadra), probably the
first of its kind in India. A task more challenging
and complex than the transfer of Abu Simbel on
the River Nile in Egypt (which received
considerable aid from UNESCO). Engineers handling the
project performed a miracle and successfully warded
off the threat of submergence, due to the construction
of the Srisailam project.
"A journalist", he says, "is a writer and
scholar combined. If he can be impartial and if he cares
to study, he could be extremely useful, academically."
In 1997, Sri Venkateswara University conferred
its doctorate on this man, who has himself, guided several,
for doctorates in Philosophy, Political Science, Economics,
Sociology, History and Literature. Academician, Author,
Translator and 'Sage Journalist', the irrepressible
G Krishna now has followers in the profession - both
within and without the family.
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