<p>Chief Editor and Managing Director of Malayala Manorama publications, Memon Mathew, was today conferred with the coveted Lokamanya Tilak national award for excellence in journalism.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The award, instituted by the Kesari-Mahratta Trust, carries a citation and a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh. It recognises lasting contribution to the field of journalism.<br /><br />The award was presented to Mathew by Deepak Tilak, chairman of the trust, at a function to mark the 133rd anniversary of 'Kesari'.<br /><br />Responding to the honour, Mathew drew parallels between 'Malayala Manorama' and 'Kesari', saying that both newspapers shared a similar cause of inculcating the spirit of patriotism during the fight against British rule.<br /><br />Hailing the role played by Lokmanya Tilak in the "great cultural renaissance" in the country, Mathew said the media was "duty bound" to safeguard the "Swarajya".<br /><br />Tilak had famously said that "Swarajya" was his "birthright", in 1907.<br /><br />Mathew said he felt deeply honoured by the award, which he dedicated to the readers of and colleagues at 'Malayala Manorama'.<br /><br />Saying that Lokmanya Tilak was a national icon, Mathew spoke of the "grit and guts" of the leader in taking on the British by launching 'Kesari', which inspired the pre- Independence generation to participate in the freedom struggle. Mathew said that as had been aptly described by Mahatma Gandhi, the Lokamanya's personality was like that of an "ocean".<br /><br />He noted that the 'Malayala Manorama' group was committed to the journalistic values of "fairness, justice and morality". He added that they believed in "journalism with a human touch".<br /><br />Maharashtra cooperation minister Harshawardhan Patil was among those present on the occasion.</p>
<p>Chief Editor and Managing Director of Malayala Manorama publications, Memon Mathew, was today conferred with the coveted Lokamanya Tilak national award for excellence in journalism.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The award, instituted by the Kesari-Mahratta Trust, carries a citation and a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh. It recognises lasting contribution to the field of journalism.<br /><br />The award was presented to Mathew by Deepak Tilak, chairman of the trust, at a function to mark the 133rd anniversary of 'Kesari'.<br /><br />Responding to the honour, Mathew drew parallels between 'Malayala Manorama' and 'Kesari', saying that both newspapers shared a similar cause of inculcating the spirit of patriotism during the fight against British rule.<br /><br />Hailing the role played by Lokmanya Tilak in the "great cultural renaissance" in the country, Mathew said the media was "duty bound" to safeguard the "Swarajya".<br /><br />Tilak had famously said that "Swarajya" was his "birthright", in 1907.<br /><br />Mathew said he felt deeply honoured by the award, which he dedicated to the readers of and colleagues at 'Malayala Manorama'.<br /><br />Saying that Lokmanya Tilak was a national icon, Mathew spoke of the "grit and guts" of the leader in taking on the British by launching 'Kesari', which inspired the pre- Independence generation to participate in the freedom struggle. Mathew said that as had been aptly described by Mahatma Gandhi, the Lokamanya's personality was like that of an "ocean".<br /><br />He noted that the 'Malayala Manorama' group was committed to the journalistic values of "fairness, justice and morality". He added that they believed in "journalism with a human touch".<br /><br />Maharashtra cooperation minister Harshawardhan Patil was among those present on the occasion.</p>