Vijayan Kannampilly, prolific artist and the former editor of The Free Press Journal, died Thursday after suffering a cardiac failure. He was 72. Born to former Indian ambassador K. M. Kannampilly and Konath Madhavi Amma, he was a passionate Marxist during his student days, before turning to journalism in 1974, when he joined The Economic Times.
He took a brave stand against the Emergency in 1975 at a time many Indian media houses buckled under political pressure. Post-emergency, he quickly rose through the ranks, becoming editor of FPJ in the mid-1980s. He later left journalism to work for the Business India publishing group and he had a long stint with the group.
He rekindled his passion for painting becoming a committed artist and the author of a bestselling cookbook on Kerala cuisine. He retired to the coastal state in his final years where he spent his time painting. He is survived by his wife, daughter and stepson.
