K. M. Mathew was born on 2nd January 1917, the seventh son of Sh. K. C. Mammen Happillai. He had his early schooling in Kottyam, Kerala and his degree in Economics from Madras University.

Mathew  joined   the   'Malayala   Manorama'   as Managing Editor in 1954 and became Chief Editor in 1973. Under his stewardship, the newspaper achieved many milestones. He launched many best selling publications such as 'Vanitha' in Malayalam,the English news magazine 'The Week' etc. and revived the elite literary magazine 'Bhashaposhini' and a popular magazine 'Manora ma Weekly' which became the largest selling weekly in India. He also led the Malayala Manorama Company into electronic media.

Thorough professional that he was, he restructured every aspect of newspaper production and inducted new and appropriate technology. He had also rendered professional Consultancy to many Indian newspapers.

'Journalism with a Human Face' was his motto. In 1993, when an earthquake flattened Latur in Maharashtra, Mathew rose to the occasion by raising funds and rebuilt Banegaon village in a record 15 months. When Gujarat suffered a massive earthquake in 2001, his helping hand reached the people of Chapredi and Adipure villages and rebuilt their homes. Similarly, he built houses for 153 tsunami-hit families on the Kerala coast in 2005. In another humanitarian initiative, he helped more than 1000 poor heart patients, most of them children, to undergo free heart surgery.

His campaign in 1993 for Kerala's development brought rich dividends. He  was instrumental in bringing Kochi International at Nedumbassery, Kayamkulam.

Thermal Power Plant and Ezhimala Naval Academy to Kerala. He had a deep passion for his mother tongue, culture and traditions.

In 1998, the President of India conferred the 'Padma Bhushan'. He has received many other awards such as Foundation of Freedom  of Information Award in 1991, National Citizens Award in 1992, Ramakrishna Jay Dayal Award in 1995, Durga Prasad Chaudhary Award in 1996, B.D. Goenka Award in 1996 and Kerala Press Academy in 1997.

During his tenure  as the  President of the  Kerala Amateur Athletic Association for six years he started a talent spotting scheme and funded the education and training of several youngsters. Mathew has worked in several capacities as Chairman of Press Trust of India, President of Indian Newspaper Society, Chairman of Audit Bureau of Circulations, Vice-President of Indian Language Newspaper Association and founder-trustee and Chairman of Press Trust of India and Research Institute of Newspaper Development (RIND).

His  book  of  memoirs,  'Annamma',  published  in Malayalam (2004) and  English (2005) has been highly appreciated for its literary and historical value. His autobiography, 'Ettamathe Mothiram', gives an insight into the social and political evolution of the state. He breathed his last on 01 August, 2010.

India  Post  is  happy  to  issue  a  commemorative postage stamp on K.M.Mathew.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India