<p>Veteran journalist and Padma Shri awardee Turlapati Kutumba Rao died following heart attack in Vijayawada early Monday,his family sources said. Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, Opposition leader N Chandrababu Naidu and leaders of various political parties mourned the death of Kutumba Rao (87). In a statement, the Chief Minister said Rao was a multi-faceted talent, who excelled as a prolific writer and an orator.</p>.<p>"His contribution to Telugu journalism and literature was rich," Jagan said, and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family.</p>.<p>Kutumba Rao, who became a journalist at 14, had the distinction of serving as Secretary to the first Chief Minister of Andhra state, Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu, in the 1950s.</p>.<p>He was also an author and orator and held the Guinness World Record for presiding over more than 10,000 public meetings,according to sources.</p>.<p>Rao had addressed more than 20,000 events during his career that spanned over six and a half decades.</p>.<p>He was considered a 'walking Encyclopedia' on politics and Telugu movies for his in-depth knowledge of the subjects.</p>.<p>Rao later became Editor of Andhra Jyothy Telugu daily and Jyothy Chitra, the film weekly run by the same group.</p>.<p>He had a good rapport with at least 18 Chief Ministers of erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh and had penned a book listing his interactions with them.</p>.<p>The Government of India conferred Padma Shri on Kutumba Rao in 2002.</p>.<p>During the tenure of Y S Rajasekhara Reddy as Chief Minister, Rao served as Chairman of the AP Library Council.</p>.<p>He won numerous awards while the Andhra Viswa Kala Parishad conferred the Kala Prapoorna (honorary doctorate).</p>.<p>"Andhra Pradesh lost a multi-faceted talent in the demise of Rao.The numerous awards and accolades he won, reflected Raos immense talents," Chandrababu said.</p>.<p>Jana Sena president Pawan Kalyan, state Congress president S Sailajanath, journalists associations and a host of others too expressed grief over the death of Kutumba Rao.</p>
<p>Veteran journalist and Padma Shri awardee Turlapati Kutumba Rao died following heart attack in Vijayawada early Monday,his family sources said. Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, Opposition leader N Chandrababu Naidu and leaders of various political parties mourned the death of Kutumba Rao (87). In a statement, the Chief Minister said Rao was a multi-faceted talent, who excelled as a prolific writer and an orator.</p>.<p>"His contribution to Telugu journalism and literature was rich," Jagan said, and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family.</p>.<p>Kutumba Rao, who became a journalist at 14, had the distinction of serving as Secretary to the first Chief Minister of Andhra state, Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu, in the 1950s.</p>.<p>He was also an author and orator and held the Guinness World Record for presiding over more than 10,000 public meetings,according to sources.</p>.<p>Rao had addressed more than 20,000 events during his career that spanned over six and a half decades.</p>.<p>He was considered a 'walking Encyclopedia' on politics and Telugu movies for his in-depth knowledge of the subjects.</p>.<p>Rao later became Editor of Andhra Jyothy Telugu daily and Jyothy Chitra, the film weekly run by the same group.</p>.<p>He had a good rapport with at least 18 Chief Ministers of erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh and had penned a book listing his interactions with them.</p>.<p>The Government of India conferred Padma Shri on Kutumba Rao in 2002.</p>.<p>During the tenure of Y S Rajasekhara Reddy as Chief Minister, Rao served as Chairman of the AP Library Council.</p>.<p>He won numerous awards while the Andhra Viswa Kala Parishad conferred the Kala Prapoorna (honorary doctorate).</p>.<p>"Andhra Pradesh lost a multi-faceted talent in the demise of Rao.The numerous awards and accolades he won, reflected Raos immense talents," Chandrababu said.</p>.<p>Jana Sena president Pawan Kalyan, state Congress president S Sailajanath, journalists associations and a host of others too expressed grief over the death of Kutumba Rao.</p>