K.V. Mathew, who died on Friday, leaves behind a vast library at his house and generations of book lovers.

The man who nurtured the Madras Book Fair from its initial days breathed his last at his house in Luz on Friday afternoon.

On February 4, Mr. Mathew had celebrated his 87th birthday, said his nephew George, a school headmaster.

“His passion for books was unimaginable and he would encourage youngsters to read,” he said. Mathew was responsible for starting the now famous Chennai Book Fair in 1977, and later the Student’s Book Fair.

Born in Mavelikkara in Alappuzha, Kerala, Mr. Mathew began his career in 1945 as a salesman with Christian Literature Society (CLS), and became its sales manager.

After 25 years at CLS, he joined BI Publications as its regional manager in Chennai. He retired from BI at the age of 83, after which, along with three other friends, he started the Ecumenical Book Services, a publishing house for nursing textbooks.

He was founder secretary of the Ecumenical Fellowship in Madras, which organised the Human Christmas Tree. His wife Mariamma Mathew was former nursing superintendent at CSI Kalyani Hospital.

He also penned an autobiography, You Turned My Wailing into Dancing , and a book on jokes, Chuckle Till You Buckle .

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Special Correspondent / Chennai – February 15th, 2015