India, July 19 -- Born in Travancore in 1894, Kavalam Madhava Panikkar was the first editor of the Hindustan Times. In an interview with Somya Lakhani, Narayani Basu, the author of the recent book, A Man For All Seasons: The Life Of K.M. Panikkar, sheds light on the academic, politician, diplomat, author and administrator. Edited excerpts: In 1924, a 30-year-old Panikkar landed up in Bombay to check the credentials of a newsroom job and met social reformer CF Andrews, who he knew since his Oxford days. Instead of advising him about the job, Andrews - who was close to Mahatma Gandhi - suggested to Congress president Mohammad Ali that Panikkar go to Amritsar as Gandhi's emissary to the Akalis. This was a great chance for Panikkar to meet Gand...