Journalist Hanumantha Rao dies at 91: KCR condoles

​Hyderabad: Senior journalist V Hanumantha Rao, aged 91, popularly known as DNF Hanumantha Rao, passed away on Tuesday morning at his residence in Srinagar colony.

Rao was associated with media for about 65 years. He worked in several media organizations, including Krishna Patrika, Eenadu and Economic Times. Rao had been running the media agency Data New Featurs (DNF) for over three decades.

Over the years he had trained scores of journalists and was considered as one of the most respected figures in the field of journalism.

An avid reader, Rao even at the age of 91, was making a comparative study of the budget documents of united Andhra Pradesh and the budget that was presented by the government of Telangana after the formation of the new State.

Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao expressed his condolence at the demise of the doyen of journalism. He called Hanumantha Rao a role model for journalists. He termed Rao's death as a great loss to the journalism faternity.

YSR Congress Party chief Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy also expressed his condolence at the demise of Hanumantha Rao. The Telangana State Press Academy chairman Allam Narayana and Telangana working Journalists union expressed their grief over the demise of the veteran journalist.

He recalled that Hanumatha Rao had established Data News Features in 1977 and got Best Journalist Award in 1988, Telugu University Pratibha Puraskaram in 1999 and bagged Kasinadhuni Nageshwara Rao Panthulu Award in 2000 and Life Achievement Award recently.

He also said that Rao’s demise was an irreparable loss to the field of journalism. He used to give top priority for ethics in journalism, he added and conveyed his heart-felt condolences to the members of the bereaved family.

His family members donated his body to Gandhi Medical College for research purpose.