The Hindu honoured and felicitated Palamadai Ananthanarayana Seshan, its former Financial and Commercial Editor, on his completing 100 years. Mr. P.A. Seshan, as he is popularly known, completes his century on July 7.
At a simple function at the conference hall of the office here on Saturday, Directors and staff of The Hindu and its sister publications commended the pioneering work of Mr. Seshan in the field of business journalism. He began his long association with The Hindu in 1952 as a Financial Correspondent and was designated as Commercial and Financial Editor in 1991. Though he formally retired in 1994, he continues to contribute to the newspaper.
Mr. Seshan started a popular column for new and small investors, called Leo’s News and Notes, and continued it for over four decades. He was also responsible for the launch of the newspaper’s annual Survey of Indian Industry.
Describing Mr. Seshan as “a legend in his own lifetime,” N. Ram, Director, Kasturi and Sons Limited, and former Editor-in-Chief of The Hindu , said his precise and prodigious memory helped Mr. Seshan overcome his long-term visual handicap. Mr. Ram said Mr. Seshan worked long hours and was always warm and amiable to fellow staff and industrialists alike. He commanded respect from all.
K. Balaji, Director, Kasturi and Sons, offered a shawl and a garland to Mr. Seshan, while Mr. Ram presented him a memento.
Mr. Seshan said he cherished the long association he had had with The Hindu , and would like to continue to contribute and remain active. He recalled his interactions with the late G. Kasturi and his Editor then, Mr. N. Ravi, and said he became famous because of the Leo’s notes and people even used to call him “Leo.”
