Malayala Manorama Chief Editor Mammen Mathew pays tribute to Nihal Singh

Mammen Mathew, one of Kerala's most prominent editors, paid homage today to veteran journalist S. Nihal Singh who died this week, saying his smile and non-patronising attitude would be missed forever.

Mathew, the Chief Editor of Malayala Manorama, said in a statement that Nihal Singh, who died on Monday at the age of 88, was "lucidly cerebral with an easy style of writing".

"This fascinated me no end. I became a camp follower of trying to emulate his pen pushing ease," he said.

Mathew's admiration for Nihal Singh was such that he named his only grandson Nihal.

He also noted the pipe-smoking Nihal Singh's signature sartorial style of wearing shirts with shoulder epaulets "like an armed forces officer".

Mathew pointed out that Rajya Sabha TV did a two-part series with Nihal Singh on select editors of India, and "sitting in Kottayam, Kerala, all were surprised that Nihal gave the 'introduction' on me".

"I was touched. For me it was a moment of acceptance in the hallowed world of Editors. Once an Editor always an Editor," he said. "His smile and non-patronising attitude will be missed forever. Bravo Nihalji. Your ideals will not vanish."