Thiruvananthapuram

Veteran journalist and author K Govindan Kutty passed away at his residence here after a brief illness on February 18, family sources said. He was 81.

Kutty, popularly known as KGK in journalistic circles, is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.

Widely respected for his deep understanding of Kerala and national politics, Govindan Kutty had a distinguished career as a reporter and editor, working both in Thiruvananthapuram and New Delhi. He was known for his sharp political insights, clarity of thought and elegant prose, which influenced a generation of young journalists.

One of the major highlights of his reporting career was when he broke the news of the air crash involving then Prime Minister Morarji Desai in 1977 at Jorhat in Assam. He was also among the first journalists to report on the internal fissures within the CPI(M) in Kerala during the 1980s—developments that later culminated in the expulsion of firebrand leader M V Raghavan in 1986 and a split in the party.

At the peak of his career with The Indian Express, Kutty’s writing style—fluent yet incisive—became a benchmark for aspiring reporters. He later also had a long association with India Today.

Apart from journalism, Govindan Kutty made significant contributions as an author. He wrote ten books in English and Malayalam. His notable works include “An Intimate Story”, a biography of former Chief Election Commissioner T N Seshan, and “A Wasted Death: Rise and Fall of Rajan Pillai”, the biography of ‘Biscuit King’ Rajan Pillai.

He also penned political biographies of former Kerala Chief Minister K Karunakaran and former state Finance Minister K M Mani. His Malayalam work “Kalakshepam” (Time Pass) received critical acclaim.

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Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan condoled Govindan Kutty’s demise, remembering him as a journalist of rare integrity and intellectual depth whose contributions enriched Indian journalism.