October « 2011 « My Telugu Roots

http://www.amazon.com/My-Telugu-Roots-Telangana-Bhasmasura/dp/0984238603

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Rashtra Samaikyatanu Kaapaadudhaam

Thursday, October 20th, 2011

Dear Friends,

I would like to invite you all on behalf of Visalandhra Mahasabha to a media workshop and exhibition titled “Rashtra Samaikyatanu Kapaadudaam”. The event will showcase the history of Telugu people, it depicts how separatists are using tools of hatred to incite people against one another, it highlights the economic progress achieved in each region since the state formation, and lastly our view on why division of the State is not in the regional, state and national interest.

The event is being held at Jubilee Hall, Public Gardens. I can assure you, that the event is going to impress you beyond your expectations. I am looking forward to seeing you all there.

Here is the link to the invitation in pdf format: http://www.myteluguroots.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Vishalandhra_Invitation.pdf

Here is the schedule:

Day-1: Saturday, October 22^nd

Media workshop 1: 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM

Exhibition: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Day-2: Sunday, October 23^rd

Media workshop 2: 12:30 AM – 2:00 PM

Exhibition: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Save Andhra Pradesh!

Nalamotu Chakravarthy

http://www.amazon.com/My-Telugu-Roots-Telangana-Bhasmasura/dp/0984238603

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Kudos to the Parents of Nallakunta Narayana College

Friday, October 14th, 2011

I went to the Narayana College in Nallakunta yesterday and met the parents. I told them that I was visiting them as a fellow parent and to show solidarity. These parents are real heroes and role models for rest of us who are victims of the ongoing strike. They’ve shown why it is important to stand up for individual rights.

The parents of the college were very reluctant to come into the media. However, this is what I gathered from my interactions with them.

Last weekend, parents of Narayana College spoke to each other over the phones and told themselves enough is enough. On Monday morning they went to the college with their kids. The principal of the college refused to open the gates. When pressed for a reason, he said he received threatening phone calls from some people. The parents immediately went to the local police station and lodged a complaint seeking protection for the college.

Local police were forced to respond and give security to the college. Parents went back and had the college doors open. Classes started, but the parents refused to leave fearing trouble the moment they leave. By now, TV channels were running scrolls about the developing situation and the media was camped outside the college.

However, there was no trouble and the classes went on without interruption. When the parents got home, they got a call from the college principal that he is receiving tremendous pressure from different quarters and he will not be able to open the college on Tuesday. When the parents pressed, he said that he got a threatening call that separatist protestors will arrive at 5 AM in the morning to prevent the classes from starting.

On Tuesday a group of about 30 parents went to the college at 5 AM and forced the management to open the gates. The classes started as scheduled. Around noon they received a tip off that there is a group of people in the principal’s office and were having an argument. The parents got up and dashed into the principal’s office. The three guys who came in were in a state of shock with the aggression, and almost all the parents were women. The parents demanded to know what was happening there. Separatists immediately noticed the crowd’s mood and backed off. They said that they were reacting to the scroll on TV and wanted to know what was going on. Without creating much fuss they left.

Later in the evening principal came to the parents pleading them to allow for the college to be shut. He said he found a secret house in some colony. He will move the furniture there and without anyone finding out conduct classes. Parents refused to budge.

By Wednesday, parents got better with their planning. They compiled a list of all the students’ parent’s names and phone numbers. They’ve divided the list into groups and started guarding the college in turns. They created a time-table and allocated each group a few hours slot.

On Wednesday they again received a tip off that someone is in the principal’s office. They all again dashed into the principal’s office to the separatist leader’s surprise. They demanded to be part of the conversation that was going on. The separatist leader demanded that the institute be closed till October 15th and that all indications were that the strike will be called off at that point.

Parents refused and said that their children are in Intermediate second year and they can no longer risk their kids losing classes. They then asked him if he made a similar attempt to close Ramaiah’s institution. The separatist leader responded saying Ramayya’s is a coaching center, whereas this is a recognized intermediate college. In the end he said, as a compromise he will agree for the college to run till noon every day. The parents didn’t want to get into a shouting match. After the separatist leader left, they immediately found a local printer. They got a big banner printed that said IIT Coaching Center. They put the banner up on the college gate. They went back to the principal and said, we are now a coaching center and you now have to run full day classes.

On Friday, a bunch of 8 activists came to the college in the afternoon. Police allowed only three of them into the Principal's room. The activists demanded to know why the college was running. Principal replied that they already explained to one Narayana faculty Upendra Reddy, a Telangana Lecturers Forum leader and he 'permitted' them to run. They shouted at the principal and said who is Upendra Reddy to permit. They demanded why the principal didn't take their permission. In the meantime, the Inspector got to know about this, he came and arrested the activists.

At this point all hell broke loose. Phones started ringing from the head of Narayana institutions downwards asking the principal to go to the police station and get them released. The principal went and pleaded but the police did not budge. They were arrested and later released on bail.

Parents don't know what lies ahead. But they are determined to stay put and fight. Their resolve is getting stronger with each attempted disruption. I was told that the TLF leaders who were there yesterday in fact were Narayana faculty of other campuses.

Here is the moral of the story. The freedom that few societies enjoy is not a divine gift given by god. Why does Pakistan live under constant tyranny while Indians enjoy reasonably sound personal freedoms? Why do Americans have more personal freedom compared to Indians? Answer lies in “We the people”.

Indians have fought hard for their individual freedom and fundamental rights. For example, when Indira Gandhi became a dictator, the country rose up in unison against her. However, Pakistanis haven’t fought back as hard and we all know the plight of well-meaning Pakistani people. Americans fight harder for their freedoms than Indians do. Fighting for freedom is in the DNA of that nation.

The parents of Nallakunta Narayana College are a ray of hope for all the parents who are hesitating to come out and fight for their right to give their kids the education of their choice. My hats-off to them!

Save Andhra Pradesh!

Nalamotu Chakravarthy

http://www.amazon.com/My-Telugu-Roots-Telangana-Bhasmasura/dp/0984238603

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School Closings – Press Meet

Wednesday, October 12th, 2011

On Tuesday October 11^th 2011, Visalandhra Mahasabha organized a press meet at the Somajiguda Press Club to give our point of view on the ongoing school closings. Almost all the print and electronic media representatives were in attendance.

Speakers invited to the event were prominent freedom fighter Narra Madhav Rao, Frmr DGP Anjaneya Reddy, Dr. Parakala Prabhakar, Hyderabad Parents’ Association Secretary Subramanyam, Chellagulla Narasimha Rao, Kumar Chowdhary Yadav, Kudicherla Venkataiah, Sunkara Venkateswar Rao, Dr. Syed Faheem, Chegonti Ramajogaiah, and Nalamotu Chakravarthy.

Sri Anjaneya Reddy garu kicked off the press meet. He said Visalandhra Mahasabha has been working relentlessly for nearly a year to keep the State united. He introduced the VMS working members to the media.

Nalamotu Chakravarthy spoke about both the government’s and parents’ apathy with regards to the closing of the schools. He commended the parents of NRI college students in Kukatpally and the parents of Narayana college students in Nallakunta for a bold and courageous stance they’ve taken. Chakravarthy expressed his disappointment with NRI college being closed despite parents’ valiant effort. He accused the Chief Minister of the state for not doing enough to keep the schools and colleges open. Chakravarthy urged the parents to take charge of the situation and pressure the school managements to keep the schools open.

Sri Kumar Yadav talked about the importance of why our State should be united. He said our State came into existence with the sacrifices made by the people of all regions. He said a lot of young men have sacrificed their lives in the name of Telangana. He asked if any of those young men are children of the politicians? He accused KCR of running the separate State movement for his own benefit and said that division of Andhra Pradesh will destabilize the nation.

Hyderabad Parents Association Secretary Subramanyam spoke eloquently on the issues being faced by the students. He said students of 10^th, Intermediate, and the final year degree studies stand to lose the most. He said, nationwide entrance exams like IIT and the international admissions won’t stop for anyone. He criticized Prof. Kodandaram’s “KG to PG” statement as irresponsible and reckless. He also said that the movie halls are running without interruption. Wine shops are open and are registering hundreds of crores of rupees revenue. He said it is utter nonsense to let the entertainment industry work normally while preventing education institutions from operations. He said parents and kids are tired of this uncertainty about their future. Subramanyam stated that the Government of India made primary education a fundamental right. Though the law is passed, he accused the government of not doing enough to even run primary schools smoothly. He further said while the world is moving towards border-less globalization, we are stuck in the medieval age regionalism.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Parakala Prabhakar pleaded with the separatist organizations to not involve young children in the separatist movement. He said “wars are where old men talk and young men die”. He urged all the intelligent minds to think over the madness of closing down the schools. He asked all those involved in the strike to not make young children sacrificial animals for the sake of differences between adults. He urged all educational institutions to open their schools and colleges for the sake of students’ future.

As usual, the separatists in the guise of journalists desperately tried to pick a fight during the press conference with their standard shenanigans. A few advocates also descended on the press club but were prevented by the police from coming in.

I would like to thank all the media houses that have covered our event extensively.

Come what may, the fight to keep our State united will go on.

Save Andhra Pradesh!

Nalamotu Chakravarthy

http://www.amazon.com/My-Telugu-Roots-Telangana-Bhasmasura/dp/0984238603/

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A Call to Parents – Rise Up!

Sunday, October 9th, 2011

JAC Chairman Professor Kodandaram called upon private educational institutions to cooperate with their strike. He took objection to some educational institutions’ plans to reopen schools and colleges on Monday. He urged the managements of educational institutions to keep their facilities closed till the JAC goals are achieved [source: Eenadu, Sunday Oct 09]

Our state has been reeling under incessant bandhs and strikes for many months. Our kids have lost too many school days. Daily wagers have lost employment. Small businesses have suffered immensely. IT companies are moving projects and offices in droves. New IT investments are not coming to Hyderabad. Real estate is in a state of slump. Engineering colleges are in doldrums. Students from Nizam region are taking admissions in Kosta based engineering colleges. Power cuts are crippling industries.

My haircutter told me today that his family stayed home for Dasara as his earnings have come down due to bandhs. He was dejected by the fact that he could not afford to take his children to the usual Dasara outing. Though he bought new clothes for his kids, for the first time in many years he couldn’t afford to buy himself a new pair of Dasara clothes.

Participating in a bandh or strike voluntarily is an individual right. However, what is happening in our state is very different. Bandhs are being imposed on people. Schools are being shut forcefully. Same applies to many businesses- petrol bunks, restaurants, grocery stores. The few who want to work in Singareni collieries are being stopped from going to their duties. Buses plying between Hyderabad and Vijayawada are being stopped and stoned. There is another threat of Rail Rokho- which is an illegal activity and not an individual right. Separatists are at liberty to refrain from travelling in the trains, but they don’t have a right to stop others from travelling. Alas, our activists don't get this simple distinction.

According to 2010 Statistical Abstract, There are 1.3 crore school students in the State. Out of these 62 lakhs are in the Nizam region. Similarly, there are over 15 lakh students pursuing intermediate in the state, out of which over seven lakhs are in the Nizam region. Add degree and professional college students to this count and the number reaches staggering proportions. Now multiply nearly 30 school days lost to that number and what you get is a criminal waste of human resources.

It is time for all the parents to think hard about their students’ future. Another month of similar shutdowns will have disastrous consequences on our children’s future. Especially, those who are in intermediate and final year of degree studies will suffer immensely as the entrance exams conducted at the all-Inida level will not stop for them.

A good friend of mine has a child who is studying Intermediate. He got phone numbers of eight other parents from his daughter and called them up today. He was surprised with the kind of response he got back. Practically 8 of the 8 parents he called said they will accompany their children to college tomorrow. They are going to talk to the principal and stand guard against those that will come to close the college.

I have talked to several school managements over the last few days. They are getting immensely pressured by the separatist organizations to not reopen the schools. Government is trying to do its part, but it is awfully inadequate. Minister Parthasarathy has announced that the government will provide security to any school that asks for it.

As a parent, it is your solemn responsibility to protect your children’s future. Please do your part. Call up other parents from your children’s school and you will be surprised how supportive they will be. Form a parent group and on Monday go meet the school management. Urge the management to keep the school open. Tell them you will stand guard against those that forcibly close schools and colleges.

Please forward this email to all the parents of school going children. Starting today, VMS will do its part in highlighting this issue extensively in the media.

Save Andhra Pradesh!

Nalamotu Chakravarthy

http://www.amazon.com/My-Telugu-Roots-Telangana-Bhasmasura/dp/0984238603/

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President’s Rule – A Pseudo Dictatorship

Saturday, October 8th, 2011

I got up in the morning and there was a note in my mailbox written by APNRI, one of the organizations I was affiliated with in the past. The letter is addressed to the President of India urging President’s rule be imposed in AP. The gist of why they are demanding President’s rule is this:

· Separatists are violating fundamental rights and creating public nuisance via bandhs, million march, strikes etc.

· Police forces hands are tied down by the government hence they have become ineffective in protecting people

· Much of the state government is paralyzed by the strike

· The judiciary is not functioning either

· MLAs, MPs have submitted their resignations to the speakers and are not performing their public duties

· Electricity, Schools, and Buses are all severely hampered by the strike

According to APNRI, the above reasons clearly show that the state machinery has shut down and hence President’s rule is required.

Article 153 of Indian constitution requires that a Governor be appointed by the President of India. Article 154 says: “The executive power of the State shall be vested in the Governor and shall be exercised by him either directly or through officers subordinate to him in accordance with this Constitution.”

India should amend its constitution to make the Governorship either a true democratic executive branch of the state or eliminate it all together.

Today the system of Governors has become a big nuisance for the country. It gets misused by the central governments to create trouble for the democratically elected state governments.

The system of Governors is a big drag on the economy. They take in too much money and provide little to no utility in return. Sarojani Naidu once said about her governorship as being a “bird in a golden cage”. Pattabhi Sitaramayya once said that “he had no public function to perform except making the fortnightly report to the President [source: Mainstream, March 1, 2008].

The Governors played insignificant role when Congress party was the dominant party at the centre and in the states. However, as opposition parties gained strength in India, Governors have become agents of the central government to undemocratically meddle in the state government affairs. Janata Party in 1977 used its Governors to dismiss Congress Governments in 9 States. When Indira Gandhi came back to power she imposed President’s rule in 9 Janata Party ruled States. It is very well known how Governor Ram Lal denied N.T. Ramarao his constitutional right to become the CM despite having a landslide majority.

The system of Governorship is being used by central government to reward their loyal party workers. Former CM Rosaiah was rewarded with a Governor position for being a loyal party worker and for making way to CM Kiran Kumar Reddy. Governorship has also become a good retirement plan for the older generation that served their parties. N.D. Tiwari took that retirement plan to a new level. These retirement plans are a big burden on the tax payers.

Unfortunately, the problem of Governers meddling in State’s affairs is still going on unabated. For example, the rift between former CM Yedyurappa and Bharadwaj and the ongoing public spat between Narendra Modi and Governor Kamla Beniwal which is offering news papers ample fodder.

There are only few instances when the role of Governor is needed. When the State government loses majority-support in the legislature, Governors have a role to play. Even in those cases, their impartiality is often questioned. Even when the government loses confidence, typically the existing CM is asked to run the show till the next elected government is sworn-in. We don’t need a full time Governor to manage such affairs. The Chief Justice of High Court is well equipped to handle uncommon situations such as these.

So, either eliminate the system of Governorship altogether and delegate the duties of Governor to the Chief Justice of High Court or replace it with an elected executive branch.

Now to the issue of President’s rule in our state. Demanding President’s rule is like asking for a pseudo-dictatorship. Despite all its defects, the democratic government that is currently in power is better equipped to maintain law and order and to understand people’s desires than an unelected central government imposed ruler. In fact, during the Jai Andhra movement, when Indira Gandhi removed P.V. Narasimha Rao and imposed President’s rule, the violence actually went up significantly.

I don’t think Congress Party will be inclined to impose President’s rule in the state. TRS is currently in a relatively strong position in the Nizam region and feels that they will fare well if the elections were to be held today. YSR-Congress would love to have elections now to capitalize on YSR’s name before his popularity starts to diminish. Of course Jagan thinks he can also play a victim card.

There is a possibility of imposing the President’s rule for a few months and then restore Congress government back to power. However, I think that scenario is quite unlikely too.

So, it is time for the Chief Minister to step up and do what the constitution requires him to do. Ensure law and order is maintained. Empower police to stop the miscreants that indulge in attacks on people and property. Create an environment where separatists and integrationists freely voice their opinions. Respect people’s right to do “voluntary” bandhs and strikes. However, stop hooligans that “impose” bandhs by shutting down schools, stopping buses and trains, and closing down businesses.

Save Andhra Pradesh!

Nalamotu Chakravarthy