Chennai: After nearly four decades in journalism and 27 illustrious years at The Hindu BusinessLine, Vinay Kamath, Senior Associate Editor, steps down today as he officially retires at the age of 60. With a career that has spanned the evolution of Indian media—from the days of bromide paste-ups to the fast-paced digital age—Kamath’s journey reflects both the richness and transformation of the newsroom.
A familiar name in business journalism, Kamath has been synonymous with thoughtful storytelling, incisive profiles, and a deep understanding of India Inc. He is best known for his widely followed column Table Talk, which captured the personal and professional lives of business leaders through candid lunch conversations. One memorable moment: a two-and-a-half-hour interview with HCL’s Shiv Nadar aboard his corporate jet from Chennai to Delhi—an experience most journalists can only dream of.
Kamath’s career began after an economics degree from Vivekananda College and a journalism diploma at the Times School of Journalism in Delhi, under the legendary K. Thomas Oommen. Over the years, he served in editorial roles at The Times of India, Financial Express, BusinessWorld, Economic Times, and TV18, before joining BusinessLine in 1997. He was also a Chevening fellow at the University of Westminster, London.
Throughout his journey, Kamath has worked with some of the stalwarts of Indian journalism, including M.K. Das, Swaminathan Aiyar, R. Jagannathan, T.C.A. Srinivasa Raghavan, and K. Venugopal, the current Chairman of The Hindu Group, who brought him into BusinessLine. Kamath has expressed gratitude for the trust placed in him, hoping to have done justice to that faith.
In addition to his editorial achievements, Kamath authored the bestselling book Titan: Inside India’s Most Successful Consumer Brand, which is now being adapted into a web series starring Naseeruddin Shah and Jim Sarbh. His Table Talk interviews were also compiled into two well-received books published by The Hindu Group.
Though he steps back from full-time duty, Kamath isn’t hanging up his pen. “There’s definitely more books to be written!” he says with conviction. BusinessLine Editor Raghuvir Srinivasan has offered him a part-time role as an editorial consultant, so he expects to keep pegging away at BL for a while yet.
As BusinessLine and the larger media fraternity bid farewell to a towering figure, Vinay Kamath’s legacy of excellence, integrity, and storytelling will continue to inspire generations of journalists to come.
