With Senior Journalist Venkat Narayan’s participation >>>>> Press Club Special ‘Friday Meeting’ held on Monday : Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

 With Senior Journalist Venkat Narayan’s participation 

Press Club Special ‘Friday Meeting’ held on Monday

Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao 

Some conversations are planned. Others simply happen, and quietly endure. What began as a modest Friday Evening Exchange at the Press Club Hyderabad, over weeks, it evolved into a living archive of experience, memory, and reflection. Each gathering has been adding not just voices, but depth. Not just recollections, but meaning. It is in this evolving continuum that a special meeting, found its rightful place within the spirit of ‘Friday Meetings’ though held on Monday.

With the growing resonance of ‘Friday Meetings’ bringing together like-minded, largely 70+ senior journalists and long-time members, a special gathering found its place within this evolving continuum, even though it was held on Monday, April 20, 2026. What made it distinct was not the day, but the presence of a life in journalism that spanned decades, geographies, and defining moments in public history. The occasion was shaped by the presence of Delhi-based, Telangana-born senior journalist S Venkat Narayan, who was in Hyderabad on a brief visit and scheduled to return the following morning.

What began as a late Sunday evening confirmation of his availability quickly transformed into an unexpectedly large ‘around-the-table’ gathering. The news travelled effortlessly, drawing participants with a shared sense of anticipation. What followed was more than a routine interaction, it became an engaging confluence of conversation, collective learning, and invaluable experience sharing. Venkat Narayan was accompanied by his close friends, Sammanna Etala and UK-returned journalist Jaya Kumar, whose presence added to the warmth and familiarity of the evening.

In addition to the regular participants, the gathering saw the presence of several distinguished members of the Press Club fraternity, including former Resident Editor of The Hindu and former Press Club President Ch Prashanth Reddy, M Somashekhar, former Bureau Chief of The Hindu Business Line and former Secretary of the Press Club, K Srinivas Reddy, Editor of Telangana Today and former Resident Editor of The Hindu, and a veteran journalist Nandiraju Radhakrishna. Despite the stature of those present, the meeting retained its characteristic informality, true to the spirit of ‘Regular Friday Interactions.’

In a gesture that reflected both respect and collective pride, the Press Club Executive Leadership: President Vijay Reddy, Secretary Ramesh Varikuppula, and Vice-President Attaluri Aruna, along with other colleagues, joined the table to warmly receive Venkat Narayan. The welcome, marked by a shawl and bouquet, was complemented by unhurried interaction and shared moments, including group photographs, reinforcing the sense that this was not merely a formal reception, but a gathering rooted in camaraderie and mutual regard.

The nature, scope, and underlying methodology of this Monday gathering, termed a ‘Special Friday Meeting,’ remained fully consistent with the spirit of the earlier nine interactions. The format continued to be simple yet meaningful: informal questions, equally informal responses, and experience sharing anchored in openness. Conversations flowed on the understanding of ‘may or may not agree’ and ‘agree to disagree,’ leaving little room for insistence or argument. The emphasis remained firmly on listening, reflecting, and drawing from lived experience, particularly enriching when a new participant or special guest joined the circle. True to its name, the ‘Special Friday on a Monday’ turned out to be both special in substance and effortless in execution.

Many may know, and perhaps many more may not, that, S Venkat Narayan, with nearly six decades of active engagement in journalism, represents a rare continuum of professional dedication. His journey spans working with newspapers and magazines, as well as long years as an independent freelance journalist. Born in the remote village of Kamalapur in Telangana, his trajectory reflects both rootedness and reach.

What was initially expected to be a brief interaction, from about 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM, gradually unfolded into an extended and deeply engaging exchange. In fact, when invited just the previous day, Venkat Narayan indicated that, given his early morning departure to Delhi, he might be able to spend only about an hour. Yet, once the conversation began, time quietly receded. Drawn into the flow of recollection and dialogue, he stayed well beyond his intended schedule, turning the evening into a rich session of shared experiences.

The interaction was initiated by Prashanth Reddy and Somashekhar. What followed was an almost uninterrupted flow of insights, recollections, and observations. It was one of those rare sessions where, if documented in its entirety, the conversation itself could serve as a compact yet powerful learning resource, not only for budding journalists, but equally for those already in the profession, and indeed for anyone interested in understanding the depth of the field.

What made for an engaging beginning was the glimpse into his formative years: a student of Nizam College and the Arts College of Osmania University, and a contemporary of former Union Minister S Jaipal Reddy. Equally striking was his recollection of learning the basics of journalism, that gave him confidence, through the simple yet disciplined practice of writing letters to the editor, an entry point that quietly shaped a long and distinguished career.

Tracing his professional journey, he shared that he began as a reporter with The Times of India in Ahmedabad in 1968. His career soon expanded beyond national boundaries: as a Summer Scholar with The Sunday Times, London, in 1975, and later as a guest writer at The Boston Globe in the United States in 1978. He subsequently joined India Today as Executive Editor, contributing significantly during a formative phase of the publication.

Currently, he continues as an independent freelance journalist, writing for a range of national and international platforms, sustaining his engagement with the profession across decades. During the course of the conversation, Venkat Narayan shared an important dimension of his professional journey, his association with the Foreign Correspondents’ Club (FCC) of South Asia, an institution established in 1958 and based in New Delhi.

The FCC brings together foreign and Indian Journalists covering South Asia and neighbouring regions for leading global newspapers, magazines, radio, and television networks. Notably, he served as its President for nearly a decade, and in 1999 became the first Indian to head the Club, marking a significant moment in its institutional history. During his tenure, he was regularly inviting prominent newsmakers for interactions and by organizing meaningful engagements that enriched the professional environment for journalists.

He further shared that he currently serves as Chairman of the FCC–IAPC Global Forum, a network that connects more than 40 international press clubs across countries, enabling a system of mutual access and professional exchange among members. The relevance of this idea was immediately recognized by Devulapalli Amar, who suggested that the Hyderabad Press Club explore the possibility of associating with this global network. The suggestion was readily taken up with the Press Club Leadership present, indicating a potential avenue for expanding the institutional reach and engagement of the Hyderabad Press Club.

In a characteristically jovial and engaging mood, Venkat Narayan, as part of a broader discussion on contemporary subjects, responded to our request by revisiting some of the most defining moments of his long career. Among them, his account of accompanying and covering Indira Gandhi during her 1979 election tour stood out for its immediacy and depth. Contesting from the Medak constituency in Telangana, she went on to secure a decisive victory. Venkat Narayan travelled extensively with her across the region, covering numerous public meetings and interactions, before returning to Delhi to file his story, capturing not just events, but the pulse of a political moment in transition.

Recalling how this assignment came about, he referred to an article he had written in India Today, where he observed that Indira Gandhi had recognized the enduring importance of direct contact with people in a country where large sections were still beyond the reach of formal communication channels. According to him, she understood that her strength lay less in engaging in prolonged issue-based arguments or defending her past record, and more in connecting with the electorate through her presence and what he described as her unmistakable ‘charisma.’

Drawing from his ground-level observations during the tour, Venkat Narayan anticipated and written about her impending electoral success, an assessment that was borne out in the results. He recalled, with precision, what he had written in his news report at that time: ‘In less than three years after she was unseated from power, Mrs Gandhi appears all set for a decent victory. Winston Churchill had to wait for six years to return to power, Napoleon Bonaparte for seven, and Charles de Gaulle for twelve. If Mrs Gandhi returns to power next month, it will certainly be the quickest comeback in recent political history—and a victory for gritty determination and stamina over an ageing and effete opposition in total disarray.’

The assessment, made ahead of the electoral outcome, reflected both his ground-level observation and his ability to situate contemporary events within a broader historical perspective. Venkat Narayan further recalled that Indira Gandhi, upon reading the article, conveyed her appreciation through her close aide, Member of Parliament and senior Congress leader Yashpal Kapoor.

Following her return to office as Prime Minister, she offered him the position of her ‘Information Advisor,’ a role of considerable significance. He chose, however, to decline the offer, politely but firmly. As he explained, it was a conscious decision, taken despite contrary advice from well-wishers, guided by his commitment to remain within the mainstream of journalism rather than move into an advisory role. He conveyed his decision through Yashpal Kapoor. Subsequently, at her invitation, he also had the opportunity to interview her after she assumed office.

Further reflecting on his wide-ranging career, Venkat Narayan recalled his interview with Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, the Pakistani military ruler who served as the country’s sixth President. He told us that over the decades he interviewed numerous Presidents, Prime Ministers, and other global dignitaries, including Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, besides travelling extensively across countries in pursuit of journalistic assignments. His recollections offered a glimpse into a phase of journalism where access, observation, and interpretation combined to shape leadership and governance.

Another significant, though lesser-known, contribution he shared relates to the evolution of psephology, the statistical study of elections and voting trends, in the Indian context. He explained how he played a facilitating role in adapting and encouraging this analytical approach, originally designed and developed by psephologist Prannoy Lal Roy, to suit Indian electoral conditions.

This effort, in collaboration with Oxford political scientist David Butler and Indian economist Ashok Lahiri, resulted in remarkably accurate election predictions during the period that saw Indira Gandhi’s return to power, as published in India Today, where Venkat Narayan served as Executive and Senior Editor. The episode stands as an early example of data-driven electoral analysis taking root in India.

The ‘Special Friday Meeting on a Monday’ drew to a close late in the evening, not with formality, but with a sense of quiet fulfilment. A simple yet thoughtfully arranged supper, facilitated by the Press Club Executive, complemented the warmth of the interaction. Expressions of gratitude to Venkat Narayan, for his time, his openness, and the richness of his experiences, were not mere courtesies, but acknowledgments of value received and responsibility shared. In acknowledging the collective effort behind the evening, sincere thanks are due to President Vijay Reddy, Secretary Ramesh Varikuppula, Vice-President Attaluri Aruna, and their committed team, whose thoughtful presence and support ensured that the spirit of these gatherings continues to grow.

The ‘Special Friday Meeting on a Monday’ thus became a natural extension of an idea that has steadily found both rhythm and relevance over the past weeks. What distinguished the evening was not merely the presence of a seasoned journalist, but the manner in which experience was shared, received, and absorbed, without formality, without hierarchy, and without the need for conclusion in the conventional sense.

As with earlier gatherings, the value lay not in the number of participants or the duration of the interaction, but in the depth of engagement. Each such meeting adds to an emerging continuum where memory is not allowed to fade into isolation, but is gently drawn into collective understanding. The presence of a special participant like Venkat Narayan did not alter the nature of the meeting; rather, it reaffirmed the strength of the format, where every voice finds space, and every experience finds relevance.

If earlier Friday evenings demonstrated how memory can be converted into meaning, and how repetition can shape continuity into tradition, this special gathering further underlined another dimension: that when experience is shared in the right spirit, it becomes a resource beyond individuals. It informs, it guides, and it quietly builds a repository of lived knowledge. What continues to stand out across these meetings is their simplicity of design and strength of intent.

No formal agenda. No structured outcomes. Yet, a clear and consistent purpose. Conversations are allowed to flow. Reflections are neither imposed nor interrupted. Documentation that seeks to preserve without embellishment. As the initiative moves forward, irrespective of the day it is held, the underlying idea remains unchanged, yet steadily enriched:

Meet. Reflect. Document. Continue…. And now, perhaps with added clarity: Share, so that experience becomes collective, and collective becomes enduring.