Leaders condole Tamil magazine group chief's demise

Several political leaders in Tamil Nadu today condoled the death of S Balasubramanian, chairman of 'Vikatan' group of Tamil publications, recalling their memories about the revered journalist.
DMK President M Karunanidhi condoled the death of 79-year old Balasubramanian, who passed away late last night, and recalled their friendship, saying it was beyond politics.
Stating that he was Known to him as 'Balu', Karunanidhi in a message here recalled working together with him for the 'Kalaivanar Arangam' auditorium in the city in the 1980s.
MDMK founder Vaiko noted that Balasubramanian published famous writer Jayakanthan's stories and said they influenced him a lot during his student days.

Recalling Balasubramanian's editorial in the Ananda Vikatan on his release after 19 months in prison for supporting banned LTTE, Vaiko said, "I consider his op-ed as the highest recognition of my public life."
PMK founder leader S Ramadoss said the long list of the late scribe's characters such as giving opportunities to youth, his interest in agriculture, his decision to not accept advertisements in his publications for cigarettes, even before the government ban would show his magnanimity.

Balasubramanian's demise is an irreparable loss to the field of journalism," Ramadoss said.
TNCC President E V K S Elangovan said "Balasubramanian has carved a niche for himself in the world of journalism by unbiased publication and fearlessly expressing his mind at the right time. He has faced challenges in the past for these characters. We have lost such a daring journalist."

Senior BJP leader and national Executive Committee member L Ganesan recalled the friendship Balasubramanian's father S S Vasan and his father shared and condoled his death. Recalling his recent meeting with the journalist, he said, "My respect for him further went a notch up when I got to know that he has donated his body for medical research."
Chennai Press Club Joint Secretary Bharathi Thamizhan in a statement condoled the death and recalled Balasubramanian's contributions to the field of journalism.
Balasubramanian, who headed the Vikatan group, which publishes 'Ananda Vikatan' its flagship Tamil magazine and others, died here of heart attack yesterday.

Son of legendary film maker and movie studio owner S S Vasan, he is survived by six daughters and a son.
Known for courage of conviction, he won a case against his arrest ordered by Tamil Nadu Assembly for publishing a cartoon on Ananda Vikatan's cover in 1987, when late M G Ramachandran was the Chief Minister.