Edatata Narayanan

Edatata Narayanan (1907-1978) was a famous journalist and a freedom fighter from India. He took active part in the freedom struggle through the Congress Socialist Party, a caucus within the Congress Party for activists with socialist leanings. He was among those who were disillusioned with the progress of Congress party on socialism and formed a new party, Socialist Party in 1948. He however left that party along with Aruna Asaf Ali and they visited Moscow along with Rajani Palme Dutt. Both of them joined the Communist Party of India before Stalin's death but left the party in 1956 following Khruschev's disowning of Stalin. Edatata Narayanan started a daily, "Patriot"(1963)° as the Chief editor and was also associated with a weekly, "Link" in 1958 along with Aruna Asaf Ali. The publications became prestigious due to patronage of leaders such as Nehru, Krishna Menon and Biju Patnaik. When Edatata Narayanan wanted to make some editorial changes amidst reported opposition from the editorial staff, he told them in no uncertain terms that he belonged to the school of journalism where the editor's view is final. He brought "Patriot" into spotlight by publishing the income tax returns of top industrialists in it and thus, bringing the information into public domain. He pursued a pro-CPI and pro-Left editorial policy - Indira Gandhi, a good friend and later the PM herself was pro-left. The publications and the associated publishing house were successful. The relationship between him and Aruna Asaf Ali was controversial as they were believed to be living together, despite no formal marriage. He wrote a book titled "Praja Socialism: Monopoly's Pawn" on the merger of the Socialist Party with the Kisan Mazdoor Praja Party (founded by Acharya Kripalani).

External links

* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/india/story/0,12559,824059,00.html An Obituary of Mrs. Aruna Asaf Ali by Inder Malhotra in The Guardian]
* [http://www.busybeeforever.com/viewart.asp?section=roundandabout&filename=roundandabout921200435208.xml&subsec=roundandabout Approach of Narayanan as a tough boss]
* [http://www.dawn.com/2002/08/20/fea.htm Edatata among top Indian editors]
* [http://www.kaumudi.com/news/033005/breakpage.stm O. V. Vijayan under Edatata Nrayanan]
* [http://www.samachar.com/features/201103-editorial.html Publishing the Income tax returns of top industrialists]
* [http://www.booksasia.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=00000002646&zenid=1e6051beecec8b9532827b54a68439c0 Book by Edatata Narayanan] .
* [http://www.india-seminar.com/2002/515/515%20ajoy%20bose.htm Editorial approach of Patriot]