K. Santa Kumar, IFWJ secretary
Bengaluru : The Indian Federation of Working Journalists (IFWJ) deeply mourns the sad death of freedom fighter, Editor and Gandhian thinker H.S. Doreswami here. He was 104. He was the founder member of the old Mysore Journalists Association and later the IFWJ Karnataka unit, the K.U.W.J.
Sri Doreswami was in the vanguard of the struggle for free press and journalist trade union rights. When the IFWJ held its plenary session in the local Chowdiaiah auditorium in 1982 Sri Doreswami was among the illustrious participants. At that time he had welcomed K. Vikram Rao, former secretary-general then. The late S.V. Jayasheel Rao later took over the post.
Sri Doreswani was a patriot to the core. He was jailed by the Portuguese imperial government during the Goa liberation movement. It was started on 10th June 1946 by socialist leader, Dr. Rammanohar Lohia. Sri Dorewsami was also jailed when
Indira Gandhi had imposed Emergency and press censorship on India on 25th June 1975.
Sri Doreswami was citizen activist and Karnataka’s noted voice for freedom of expression.
He suffered cardiac arrest. He had recently beaten Covid-19 but was readmitted due to post-Covid-19 complications.
Born on April 10, 1918, in Harohalli on the outskirt of Bengaluru, he joined the freedom struggle at a young age and was jailed during the Quit India movement. He came under the influence of Mahatama Gandhi and remained a committed Gandhian till the end. Post Independence, he disassociated himself from the Indian National Congress and was a part of almost all major National and social movements.
He edited a magazine, called “Poura Vani”, with nationalist aspirations in pre-Independence times. He continued to work as a journalist through his life, writing his last column for the magazine “Nyaya Patha” two weeks ago. He was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award for Ramanath Goenka Excllence in Journalism in 2019. In 2018, he was awarded the Basava Puraskara by the Kanataka government .
Chief Minister B.S. yediyurappa mourned his death. He described him as “a man who lived his life like the conscience of Karnataka.”
Leader of congress the opposition Siddaramaiah tweeted that Sri Doreswamy was an inspiration to millions for his truth and honesty. He was cremated with State honours in Bengaluru.