K.E. Eapen, a pioneer in journalism and communication education in the country, passed away in Bangalore on Saturday morning. He was 87.
Professor Eapen was actively associated with journalism for over 50 years, having set up three university departments of journalism and communication, and many organisations connected with the field. Besides teaching journalism, he also served on policy-making bodies and authored books on communication.
Professor Eapen was the first convener of the University Grants Commission (UGC) panel on mass communication, and the first UGC National Lecturer and Emeritus Fellow, Journalism/Communication. He served as consultant, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting; Vice-President, Commonwealth Association for Education in Journalism and Communication; and Vice-President, International Association for Media and Communication Research.
Professor Eapen was a pioneer in identifying the significance of the Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE) and initiated a SITE evaluation study in the Karnataka cluster in 1975-76 when the nation experimented with satellite technology in taking developmental messages to the underdeveloped areas. Dr. Eapen was recently honoured in New Delhi with the “AMIC Asian Communication Award.”
H.Y. Sharada Prasad, adviser to the former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, who wrote the foreword to Dr. Eapen's book “Critical Issues in Communication: Looking Inward for Answers,” described him as “one of the most distinguished communication teachers and analysts in India” who shaped two generations of communication practitioners.
5 comments:
Dear Dr.Kiran Thakur, It is shocking indeed to know the sudden demise of eminent scholar and Professor Eapen at this time when we all required his advice and guidance most. Last year his health turned serious but some how our prayers yielded and Eapen was with us for one more year. But, the loss of Eapen is too big that it could not be filled up so soon by any one. My sincere condolences to the bereaved family. May his soul rest in peace. Dr.CSHN Murthy Tezpur University, Tezpur Assam India.
dr eapen is no doubt a pioneer in the field of communication and journalism. he was active till his last and was keen in attending conferences and sharing experiences with younger colleagues. i had a chance to meet him in such an occasion in bangalore and he was cordial and soft spoken. he was a leading light in journalism education in the country. but for the fact fighting between his followers and the opposite camp sometimes coming to the fore, we could have used his expertise to much better results. even his own trusted lieutenants in his last days could we say did not take good care of him. may his soul rest in peace.
It is really sad and tragic. We lost a stalwart of Media education. My heartfelt condolences to the family and the media fraternity.
I was not Prof.Eapen's student as I studied in the University of Mysore but fortunately became his disciple and was greatly influenced by his life.I regularly visited his house in cooke town in Bangalore and both Mr&Mrs.Eapen used to treat me and my mother with snacks and lunches. When I visited him few years ago, he told me how he fought to save a public park against the mighty land developers near his residence. He asked me to take a stroll in the park. I felt so guilty that people like me younger to him and with resources shy away from fighting for a cause in public interest, whereas Prof.Eapen with his failing health could selflessly serve the public.That is Prof.Eapen, a role model for all teachers and adored by his students and friends. I feel so sad that none of us could build a model journalism department in the state of Karnataka based on his ideals.But he never lost hope. He continued to serve journalism education in his own way. I regularly attended the Eapen endowment lectures. Even in his failing health, he gave priority to spreading knowledge and education among people in general and journalism educators in particular. I salute Prof.Eapen for instilling values in me and giving me abundant opportunities to achieve academic excellence.I am going to miss his Christmas card that he regularly sent to his students and disciples around the world.It is a sad day for the journalism education. We have lost the Father of Journalism education in India.
-- usharani narayana
Date - Friday, 29 Oct 2010, 23:34:12
I met Late Prof. Eapen on the sidelines of AMIC Conference in 2009. We discussed in detail the challenges facing media education in India today. Audio of this interview can be accessed by clicking at the following link:
http://hellosirsa.podbean.com/mf/web/zd6t4f/ProfKEEapenEditedPodcast1.mp3
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