Editor Dr. R. Krishnamoorthy

 Editor Dr.R. Krishnamoorthy
 
Honesty, strong character, humane touch together with politeness, serving people , glad involvement far beyond his elderly years are the hallmarks of Dr. R.K.
                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                           - by  NC.Mohandoss & Ramani.VB
 
“Forget about becoming a Civil Servant in the Government; You can serve the people more and achieve even greater things by taking up the field of Newspaper Journalism”, Late Ramasubbaiar the Founder of Dinamalar national daily advised his son R.Krishnamoorthy.
 
The wisdom and foresight embedded in the advice was proved to be correct as Dr.R.Krishnamoorothy,  Editor, Dinamalar Newspaper & publications stepped forward to receive the ‘Tolkappiar Award – 2012-13’,  with a standing ovation from the public loudly applauding his great service and contribution to Tamil Language, Tamil History and people of Tamil Nadu.
 
Mr.R.Krishnamoorthy started his schooling in his native place at Vadiveeswaram and continued his studies in a convent and then at S.L.B English school. The Intermediate studies at Scott Christian College transformed RK in remarkable way, making him a brilliant student.  However, even passing the exams with flying colours by obtaining First Class could not secure him an admission into any Medical college.  Slightly dejected, he joined Alagappa College to study B.Sc (zoology).  He once again proved his mettle by graduating with one more excellent academic record as the state topper in the examinations.  
 
R.K. got married in 1953, but went on to complete his post graduation in Zoology from the prestigious Presidency College, Chennai.  He was offered a scholarship by the government to pursue doctorate course in zoology.  However, heeding to his father’s advice, he decided to forego his chance to pursue the research career and stepped into the field of journalism.
 
Mr.R.Krishnamoorthy’s father had started publishing Dinamalar Newspaper from Trivandrum in the year 1951 and later from Thachaanallur, Tirunelveli from 1957.  Dinamalar was one of the first to use Tele printer to gather news from all over India and abroad.  The paper was type-set by hand and printed in cylinder rotary machine at that time.  It evolved into a modern press with imported machinery in 1962.
 
Mr.Krishnamoorthy stepped in to take the reins of ‘Dinamalar’ from his father.  News contents with cheap sensationalism and vulgarism pandering to the base instincts of people could have surged the circulation of the paper in a short time. 
However, Mr.Krishnamoorthy shunned these in his paper and chooses to concentrate on highlighting various common men’s problems and forcing the authorities to take necessary redressal action.   
 
While championing the cause of the man-on-the-street, ‘Dinamalar’ faced many pressures and threats but managed to successfully withstand attempts by vested interests with criminal nexus to stifle the publication of truth on many occasions.
 
The underlying social focus in all its news content distinguished ‘Dinamalar’ from others and made it the leading newspaper in Tamil Nadu with a large circulation and well respected by all for its contents.   It now has 10 editions being published from different cities.
 
Over the years, through articles such as the one on ‘Telugu Ganga’, the newspaper and its editor made significant contribution to the development and growth of Tamil Nadu. 
 
Dinamalar has always been in the forefront to gather news stories as it develops.  Most of the news agencies relied on the photos of the scene of assassination of Mr. Rajiv Gandhi distributed by Dinamalar newspaper. 
 
Dinamalar was the first newspaper to introduce off-set printing.  It was the first newspaper to bring out a supplement as an add-on to the newspaper.  With RK at the helm of affairs, there were many such innovative steps in Dinamalar.
 
The love for Tamil Language that was possibly etched in his heart even when he started learning Tamil Alphabets by writing it in sand as a child in his native village, Vadiveeswaram was rediscovered by RK as Editor of Dinamalar.
 
The love for the Tamil Language made Mr.Krishnamoorthy to venture into the study of ancient Tamil scripts in various stone edicts and inscriptions.  Seeing that the advent of computerization had ended the era of  composing by type-setting by hand, Mr.Krishnamoorthy, assisted by Tamil Pandit  Mr.Ramamoorthy,  designed five sets of ‘Shree Lipi’ Tamil Fonts and a Computer Keyboard for Tamil language.
 
He made these available free to a Pune based Software Company, so that the entire Tamil community could benefit by using the Tamil fonts and keyboard.  Understanding the necessity to streamline the Tamil Script for ease of computerization, Mr. R.K. took a courageous decision to use the ‘revised’ Tamil Script (suggested by Tamil social reformer ‘Periyar’) in Dinamalar newspaper, despite the resistance s from others.
 
While browsing the old Tamil Manuscripts in Palm leaves at a shop in Kodaikanal, RK came across a copper coin issued by King ‘Peruvazhuthi’.  This set him on a trail of research in coinage done by various Kings belonging to Chera, Chozha and Pandiya dynasties. 
 
R.K. was instrumental in chronicling the coins discovered in Amaravathy river bed at Karur.   Till then, it was considered by scholars that the Tamil Kings of the ‘Sangam period’ did not have their own coinage but used only the silver coins minted and circulated by the Mauriyas of the north.   However, through various research papers published by him, RK proved that the Kings in South India had their own coinage system.  He was also able to establish that Indo-Greek trade preceded the arrival of Romans in India.   
 
The findings of the research work done by Mr.Krishnamoorthy in coinage of Ancient Tamils were one of the key factors that facilitate Tamil language being recognized as ‘Semmozhi’ by the Government of India.
 
Accolades and recognition of his work in this area poured in.  He received award from the Tamil Nadu Government for his scholastic work contained in the books on Coins of South India published by him.  His book on ‘Late Roman Copper Coins from Karur and Madurai’ got him the unique reward of being the first Tamilian in more than 100 years to be invited to join the Royal Numismatic Society of London. 
 
RK has started Tamil Nadu Numismatic Society and through various seminars/conferences makes people aware of the roots to the ancient Tamil history as revealed by the ancient coins.
 
Had he desired, Mr.Krishnamoorthy could have spent his time purely for personal entertainment and pleasure.  It is our fortune that he has dedicated his life-time for the benefit of the Tamilians, Tamil Language and Tamil History.  The ‘Tolkappiar’ award he has received now is just an acknowledgement by the Government of India of his contribution to the Tamil Society. The award is a fitting and glowing tribute to the glorious services of Dr. R. Krisnamoorthy.
 
He has very high patriotic feelings and his contribution and service to the Tamil language have been immense. To have chosen him for the coveted award, who has an immaculate and an in depth knowledge about coins is commendable indeed.
 
Printing is one of the most highly knowledge-demand industries of the world. The single most important requirement of modern days printing is to work with computers at lightning speeds and Srilipi is the crown software for the same. It was used by Dinamalar, since the year 1988 and it has benefitted the Daily, in a number of ways. Sowing the first seed and watching it grow like a banyan tree of today, Dr. R. K had to toil hard, for which the whole industry appreciates him.
 
Srilipi is the only software language that encompasses the facility to change any other language software to Srilipi and vice versa, with the availability of up to-second updated computer facility. Quick corrections, deletions will also be introduced in Srilipi, soon. Let us all be reminded today that Srilipi is the jewel of the Tamil language. Added benefits of Srilipi are that it is user-friendly, costs less, easy to comprehend and not cumbersome to use.    
 
Honesty, strong character, humane touch together with politeness, glad involvement far beyond his elderly years are the hallmarks of Dr. R.K., from who we need to learn a lot of good lessons. Dr. R.K.’s dedication and contribution to the Tamil language will live forever in the hearts and minds of the Tamil community. We pray for a long and happy life for Dr. R.K. and let his services continue for the Tamil language. 
 
  
 
 
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