As the Hyderabad edition of The Hindu celebrates its Golden Jubilee, attention naturally turns to its editors, landmark stories and the newsroom leadership that helped build one of India’s most respected newspapers. Equally important, though far less celebrated, is the contribution of the district correspondents who served as the newspaper’s eyes and ears across united Andhra Pradesh.
When the Hyderabad edition was launched in September 1976, The Hindu had only a handful of staff reporters in the State, supplemented by part-time stringers in a few towns. In the early years, reporters from Hyderabad frequently travelled to districts, spending several days gathering stories and understanding local issues. The extensive use of local datelines reflected a growing recognition that readers wanted news from beyond the State capital.
As circulation expanded, The Hindu realised that sustained district coverage required a permanent presence on the ground. The newspaper gradually built a network of dedicated district correspondents, beginning with journalists such as Mahesh Vijapurkar in Warangal and Dasu Keshava Rao in Kurnool. Both would go on to occupy senior positions in the organisation, illustrating the importance attached to district journalism. Keshava Rao eventually became Chief of Bureau for united Andhra Pradesh, while Vijapurkar retired as Chief of Bureau of The Hindu’s Mumbai Bureau.
Even before the Hyderabad edition, The Hindu maintained footholds in Andhra Pradesh through reporters based in Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam. Late R.J. Rajendra Prasad, who retired as Chief of Bureau, A.P. was one among the most notable faces of The Hindu in Andhra Pradesh. He had the distinction of serving as the team leader for over three decades, a record. Among the pioneers was veteran journalist V. Ramachandran, who worked in Kurnool during the period when it served as the capital of the Andhra State carved out of the erstwhile Madras State. These early journalists laid the foundation for what would eventually become one of the strongest district reporting networks among English-language newspapers in the State.
The real expansion occurred during the 1990s. Responding to growing readership and the increasing importance of district-level news, The Hindu began appointing correspondents across almost every district of united Andhra Pradesh. By the early 2000s, dedicated representatives were present in nearly all districts. Their influence often extended beyond journalism. Some correspondents jokingly recalled being regarded as third in importance after the District Collector and Superintendent of Police. Politicians frequently preferred to begin major interactions only after the arrival of The Hindu correspondent, a reflection of the newspaper’s credibility and standing.
This network transformed the newspaper. District correspondents brought rural concerns into the mainstream, reporting on governance, agriculture, education, health care, irrigation projects, social movements and grassroots politics. Their work helped bridge the gap between villages and policymakers, ensuring that voices from Telangana, Rayalaseema and Coastal Andhra found a place in a newspaper known for its national outlook.
The evolution of district reporting was accompanied by rapid technological change. In the early years, stories were dictated over trunk-call telephone lines, sent through telegrams or dispatched by post. Filing a report could be a cumbersome and time-consuming exercise. Coverage itself remained largely centred on district administration, official announcements, major crimes and political visits.
Technology dramatically altered that landscape. Computers replaced typewriters, while fax machines, email, mobile phones and digital photography transformed the speed and efficiency of reporting. For district correspondents, these innovations represented a revolution. This writer, then posted in Nizamabad, was among the first two district correspondents in The Hindu to receive a Wipro Acer laptop in 1997, then a rare and prized possession. Stories could now be filed directly from remote locations using public STD booths. By connecting the laptop’s modem to a telephone line, reports could be transmitted to the newsroom within seconds. What once took hours or even days could now be accomplished almost instantly.
The Hyderabad edition played a crucial role in this transformation. For the first time, district journalists had a nearby editorial centre. Instead of routing stories through Madras, they could work directly with editors in Hyderabad. The result was quicker decision-making, stronger coordination and more contextual coverage of the State affairs.
The 1990s are often remembered as the golden age of district reporting in united Andhra Pradesh. Correspondents were no longer confined to covering official events. They became chroniclers of social and economic change, documenting droughts, agrarian distress, irrigation projects, rural development programmes, education initiatives and shifting village economies.
The period also coincided with the rise of the Naxalite movement across Telangana and parts of north coastal Andhra. Reporting from districts such as Warangal, Karimnagar, Adilabad, Khammam and Nizamabad demanded courage and balance. Correspondents frequently travelled into remote, conflict-prone regions to understand the reality. behind the headlines. Their reports helped readers comprehend not only incidents of violence but also the social and economic conditions that fuelled the insurgency. This writer himself went into the forests six times to interview the outlawed People’s War Group (now CPI -Maoists) naxalite leaders including three key Central Committee members.
District correspondents also played a pivotal role during the Telangana movement and the years leading to the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. Long before the issue dominated national politics, correspondents were documenting changing public sentiment in villages, universities, government offices and public gatherings across the region. The history of The Hindu in united A.P. cannot be told solely through headlines, editorials or bureau exclusives. It is equally a story of district correspondents who travelled on dusty roads, attended village meetings, covered disasters and conflicts, reported elections and social movements, and chronicled the changing fortunes of a State.
(ravi.reddy@thehindu.co.in)
Published – September 04, 2026 05:30 am IST
