Archive for December, 2011

Saturday, December 31st, 2011

Visalandhra Mahasabha on December 29th achieved an important milestone. After months of setbacks, we've eventually achieved our goal of conducting an integrationist event in Hyderabad. It is the first of its kind.

When we asked for our right to freely express our opinion: the State government instead of coming to our rescue stifled our voices. The police have turned their back on us when we asked for protection. The "so-called" integrationists and community leaders of Hyderabad refused to come to our rescue as they felt expressing a point of view would be provocative. Our political parties and leaders said it is in VMS’ best interest that they don't stand by us as it would hurt our organization's image of an apolitical organization. When our venue was denied to us, as a last resort, when we approached the judiciary, the court system failed us. The High Court sided with the government and dismissed our most basic fundamental rights case. I was dumbfounded by the courts decision. The judiciary in our country lost course.

The essential ingredient for a free society to survive is people's ability to freely express their opinions. When a society cannot tolerate such freedoms, it gradually degenerates into a dictatorship, where only might will win.

The fight for integration is important. However, the fight for individual freedom is far more important. Alas, it is lost on the intellectuals of our state why we should stand for our fundamental rights, while risking fears of provocation. Every time you fear to freely speak your mind, the society moves one step closer to an autocracy. Need evidence? Look at how the separatist movement became violent as years went by. This has happened because integrationist voices decided to stay quiet.

VMS about a month ago lost trust in the judiciary process as the High Court kept on adjourning our petition week after week after week. We have decided to go ahead and conduct our event in a private venue instead of a government facility like the Jubilee Hall or Ravindra Bharathi. We’ve also decided not to give anything in writing to police seeking protection, as they will use it to deny our most basic rights. Technically, we did not need permission from the law enforcement to conduct an indoor event.

December 29th 2011 exhibition and media workshop was a phenomenal success. We had several freedom fighters from the Nizam region that rallied to our cause and dared to stand with our organization. They are Sri Narra Madhav Rao, Smt. Shakhamuri Suguna, Sri K.S. Mehaboob, Sri Laxman Rao, and Sri Naganna. The former two are also members of VMS executive committee.

As the session began, when Sri C. Anjaneya Reddy garu was speaking, a journalist kept on interfering demanding to name the five Chief Ministers from Telangana mentioned in our charts. Anjaneya Reddy garu insisted on allowing him to finish his speech and the answer will be given later. He eventually clarified that they are JVR, PVNR, MC, and TA. The reason for five is the two terms held by MC.

When Sri Narra Madhav Rao spoke, some of the journalists took exception to his comments and demanded an apology. 90 year old native Hyderabadi, Madhav Rao garu refused to apologize and with police intervention things returned to normalcy. Freedom fighter Suguna garu, despite her frail physical condition, took on the journalists head-on. She said, nobody can stop the event from happening that day. From that point on, the event went on smoothly. Professor and former Vice Chancellor R.V.R. Chandhra Shekhar Rao, MCPI leader Thandra Kumar and MCPI Secretary Marreddy Venkat Reddy spoke. After which Prabhakar garu did a powerpoint presentation. It was highlight of the day and his presentation was carried live on most TV channels and it was simply spectacular.

We’ve also put up an exhibition at the venue. In the lobby area we put a photo gallery of the violent activities that have happened during the course of this agitation. Some of the journalists pulled those charts down. We quickly put them back up.

The media workshop ended as planned at 2.00 PM.

Police came in around 2:30 PM and said they have protected us to the best of their ability throughout the day. In reciprocation, they requested us to conclude the exhibition early due to security concerns.  We took the exhibition down at 3:30 PM an hour and half earlier than planned. I now regret agreeing to end the exhibition early. The media completely distorted the story and declared the event was disrupted by the separatists.

Today, I am very proud of the Visalandhra Mahasabha team. There are too many names to mention. Our brave team has worked hard for weeks and never did their spirits wane. We stuck together through thick and thin. I am proud to be associated with such spectacular group of team players.

Our cause is noble, our fight is just. The fight for Telugu unity will go on.

Nalamotu Chakravarthy

President

Visalandhra Mahasabha

http://www.visalandhra.org
http://www.facebook.com/visalandhra

Tuesday, December 27th, 2011

Visalandhra Mahasabha is holding an exhibition and media workshop on December 29th 2011 at the Sundarayya Vignana Kendram in Bagh Lingampally.

·       Exhibition will open at 11.00 AM in the morning. The exhibition will showcase:

o   History of Telugu unity

o   Socio-economic indicators by region

o   Separatists’ changing tunes on Telugu unity

o   Why Telugus should stay united

o   Photo gallery

 ·     11:30 AM, a book titled “Rashtra Samaikyatanu Kapaadudhaam” will be released

·        At noon, the media workshop will commence. Prominent intellectuals and freedom fighters will participate in the session.

The exhibition will end at 5.00 PM

Wednesday, December 14th, 2011

Dear Friends,

Tomorrow December 15th is Potti Sriramulu’s varthanthi. Visalandhra Mahasabha is going to garland the statue of Amarajeevi and pay homage to the gandhian who made the ultimate sacrifice for the cause of a Telugu state.

Visalandhra Mahasabha Executive Committee members C. Anjaneya Reddy, Parakala Prabhakar, Challagulla Narasimha Rao, Kumar Chowdhary Yadav, Chegonti Ramajogaiah, Prof. Atluri Murali, Sunkara Venkateswar Rao, Dr. Syed Faheem, freedom fighters Sugunamma and Narra Madhav Rao and others will participate in the event.

Please join us on Thursday December 15th at 11.00 AM at the Potti Sriramulu statue that is near Secretariat.

I am looking forward to seeing you all.

Save Andhra Pradesh!

Nalamotu Chakravarthy

http://www.visalandhra.org
http://www.facebook.com/visalandhra
http://www.myteluguroots.com
http://www.facebook.com/people/@/226703252445
http://twitter.com/nalamotu
http://www.amazon.com/My-Telugu-Roots-Telangana-Bhasmasura/dp/0984238603