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Sujatha Surepally — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 15:21:52 +0000

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Karimnagar – Poratalagadda

Sujatha Surepally — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 20:21:37 +0000

As expexcted the bomb explosion of “consensus” statement from Delhi once again burned every telangana heart. Deceit, deceit, and deceit again. Deceit by the Congress once again. Was it innocence of our people to trust Congress time and again or the crooked character of the rulers not to respect the aspirations of our people. Anyway, its been a great shock to see Delhi rulers coming up with lame excuses and hollow words of hope for a better solution thats acceptable to the perpetuator and victim of crime! Read Completely

Balagopal’s support for adivasis and people against SEZ

Sujatha Surepally — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 02:08:30 +0000

Dear all,

Many who worked relentlessly for the people, especially for the oppressed, poor and vulnerable left us earlier than expected. We talk of them for sometime and forget or remember occasionally. Just wondering whether anyone, who is associated with Balagopal can forget him. Even today, somewhere the heart refuses to accept that he cannot come back, it feels like he may be busy in some meeting or some tour and would be back again soon that I may see him after sometime or call him.

Thousands of people attended his funeral, saw him for the last time , some more were there in the memorial meet organised by Human Rights Forum at Sundaraiah Vignana Kendram, Hyderabad. Many felt that the hall was too small to accommodate all those who want to attend the memorial meet and share moments of one’s association with Balagopal.

Speakers at the meet, several of them, each one added a different dimension of Balagopal, the great man who was with all of us till the other day and is now gone so far and for ever. One wonders how could a person be so multi-dimensional and so beautiful and so much selfless. It is difficult for those who met him because he looks like what a nice person and what an activist and what a true scholar could be. He looks beyond a normal man. That’s why there is no expression and the tears roll down. One feels difficult to explain why one breaks down because he lived a life that was not normal. Not routine and not like the scores of scholars and leaders that we see today parading with several organizations or political parties. He was not with any of these. Yet he was far beyond all these people.

I was curiously watching all the people. You name the section they were there-.right, left, NGOs, non NGOs, academicians, lawyers, journalists, politicians, spokespersons fo several political parties- .everyone form almost every group. Adivasi representatives form nook and corner of the state, dalits, women, among others in good numbers. What made him to catch the imagination and command respect of so many people? These days its very difficult to satisfy one section of people with whom one works with regularly.

Seshaiah, APCLC, said, Balagopal never used to go to people with a pre-mind set, that he was open to anything new and to learn form anyone. He learned from issues, understood and conceptualized the agony of the people and the nature of forces responsible for the tragedy. Is it the reason for him to become so dear to the people and so much one with the masses? Haragopal said, he was never afraid of anything, fear of death, fear of counters and encounters. Whatever Balagopal wanted to say, he said it openly and it was in unambiguous manner. He said what he believed to be true, told Haragopal. Varavara Rao told that, all his life was bonus to Balagopal, because death couldnt reach him or missed him on many occasions. Mrunalini, his sister said so many nice things about him that he is so caring and used to spend time with family, and how he used to spend time with his son. There were moving songs by Vimalakka and others.

My experience with him is unforgettable. Not a long association. It was last year, friends suggested that Balagopal is the right person to be consulted on Polepally issue for any legal advice. First time I called him and he invited me home. I went with a question mark wondering whether he will give enough time or not as we are not famous or experienced persons, don’t have any big tags or background. All my apprehensions disappeared within minutes. He was friendly and heard everything patiently. He was already well informed of what is happening in Polepally. I took some liberty and asked him whether he will be in the Anti-SEZ committee. He agreed. Adding to my surprise, he also said that we shouldnt depend much on court. ‘They only give us some partial relief and only people’s movement will survive’ he told. I never thought that a famous lawyer would be so frank of things and willing. From there the journey started with him. Many times I phoned him to clear my doubts. He encouraged several activities and we did Public hearing, bhu satyagraham, bhu nirvasitula Ikya Vedika. He always encouraged us, and many times advised that we should fight on the streets, that he will join the dharnas, and that we should block the road or sit in front of the companies etc..

After sometime, we forgot that he is only a lawyer. He was an advisor and we sought his opinion and advice on anything. Whenever we were upset, faced with problems because of police or the politicians, or any other crisis we did call him. We would call him even during the night and say ‘sir, what we have do now that one of the women in Polepally took poison? Or they have arrested our people, or they are not giving us jobs’ Any problem, we would call him if there was need for advice. His answers were clear and crisp. He gave us confidence.
All possible things we did in Polepally, some achieved and some left incomplete for want of resources, time. Finally, people became so strong that now they only inform us of certain issues and they are managing themselves. The struggle is still on.

‘Bbhunivrvasithula ikya sanghatana’, was organized recently with several struggle groups from Andhra Pradesh, right from Araku to Bhupalapalli, open casts, dams, minings, SEZs. Balagopal was main speaker for the event. That day, as usual he came early to the meeting hall with his HRF publications, pamphlets and sat alone near the gate, people came late. Many activists wanted to see him and talk to him. He was listening to everyone. He told in the meeting that he was trying to organise such event/ process since a long time, and that all displaced people coming together is good sign for movements. Fortunately we had Vanaja and another friend to record the whole process.

That time we thought of polavaram, first meeting is planned with Balagopal, VB Rawat, Ratnamala akka, Dr. Madhavi. Just two days before the meeting bandh was declared by Maoists, but balagopal didnt compromise, asked me to inform local police and i did. Meeting day we were told that roads were blocked, he said lets go and see.. we moved to Kunta of Chattisgarh on the borders of Chintur (Bhadrachaam). We found one huge mango tree and sat there..I was embarrassed with the situation, with problems of police permission and also delayed trickling of people joining the meeting. I was worried about Balagopal, what he will think about the programme, poor arrangements and planning etc. But as he said that number is not important, lets wait for some more time. Slowly people gathered and he gave wonderful speech. He also promised them that whenever they call he will come.

For the next meeting he asked me to invite P. Trinadha Rao, advocate and friend of Balagopal. That meeting was organised in V.R. Puram, Bhadrachalam. It went on well, local people cooked food, Balagopal had very late lunch. During the meeting a man came from out side and spoke to him that someone was arrested and they need his help. Immediately, Balagopal went along with Trinadha Rao and Madhavi . With his guidance, support and some other friend’s advice ‘Polavaram Vyathireka Ikya sanghatana’ was formed..

Balagopal’s dream is to organise one big rally in Bhadrachalam with large number of tribal masses. We tried and are still trying. But, suddenly he left without seeing his dream. He used to say that “how can we keep quite when lives of lakhs of adivasis are submerging, something we must do”

We will definitely fight these problems. We will definitely fulfill his dream. And why not, Friends, with all your support

Salute to our dear Balagopal!

Regards

Sujatha Surepally

Telangana’s unending battle

Sujatha Surepally — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:08:01 +0000

‘The book ‘Telangana- The State of Affairs’ is indeed a very timely effort brought out by M. Bharath Bhushan and N. Venugopal. Over all, the book is worth reading because it is not only informative but also goes beyond examining the usual ‘what happened’ narratives with events of merger of Telangana into Andhra Pradesh and series of violations of safeguards reiterated in chronology of Telangana from Nizam period to the current day. It is refreshing to see it attempting to explain ‘why’ of the Telangana tragedy. Further, interesting analysis from varied dimensions presented to clarify certain issues which are disturbing intellectual circles and masses on the issues of Telangana. It attempts to answer many queries like whether Telangana could be achieved through elections, why TRS has been growingly disappointing and how it is distanced from people’s aspirations. One can draw clear picture of the utility or sheer lack of ‘election’ strategy in Dean E. McHenry Jr’s article “Do Elections Foster Separatism”. Venugopal’s paper calls for wider and open approach to understanding regional imbalances and backwardness and the demand for autonomy as it tries to explain rationale for separate state movement. It is focused on ‘half a century of incompatibility between the integrated state of AP and the expectations of Telangana region’ and on general definition of ‘development’. Venugopal’s score card of TRS is critical. TRS failure is traced from its misguided view of means as end. How Telangana is depicted in cinema, and how it distorts Telangana culture is discussed by Srinivas in detail. Tradition of unique theme and narrative in the art of Telangana is also discussed by Radhika Rajamani.

Bharath Bhushan’s paper ‘Telangana Imbroglio’ is worth mentioning as it tries to explore the main question of Telangana- ‘when will it materialize?’ from a different perspective. Although it dwells on varied aspects of marginalization of Telangana, its main focus seems to be why and how demand for separate state in general and TRS party in particular failed the cause. It offers Gadi approach to explain how TRS hijacked the Telangana issue and sidelined the movement. Conflict between the interests of people and the elite of Telangana is shown as another important factor in explaining why the demand remains live over the decades but is not resolved yet. Similarly Allam Rajayya’s story ‘Bhoomi’ provides an interesting dimension on what keeps the Telangana people under subjugation from time to time. Title of the story is very symbolic.

One book really can’t capture entire history and background of any region or culture. However, it attempted to address several key issues and also raises important questions for further debate on the movement for separate Telangana. One should acknowledge the attempt has been effective.

Literature on Telangana issue in English helps to reach more readers and popularize the cause among non-Telugu sections across the country and abroad. This small initiative partly fills the gap in meeting the needs of activists around the world who like to know more about the historic struggle of Telangana.

Some observations of the authors need further examination, for instance Duncan B Forrester’s (in his paper “Sub regionalism in India: The Case of Telangana”) view that the caste system is less modified by modernizing influences or that landless agricultural labour- more numerous in delta than in Telangana – are very open to communist influence. Some views as these are more like the stereotypes like Telangana is backward educationally due to Nizam rule, Andhra region is more forward as they are in Madras presidency and under British rule. There is need to question and substantiate some of the widely held misconceptions of Telangana which tend to be derived from excessive importance to statistics (limited in their scope, and government generated data) of education, budgets, irrigation etc of modern techniques and economic growth substituting ‘development’.

Many scholars, writers and artists clearly brought out the cultural significance of Telangana. One shouldn’t forget the contribution of Nizam to this area particularly tolerance and inter-faith amity and cultural fusion. Telangana culture stands out today with their nature of imbibing other cultures into their life, the ‘dil dar’ nature, cosmopolitan culture, Hindu- Muslim amity and helping each other. One can see it today, at the time of crisis, communal riots, bomb blasts, in the festivals of ‘bonalu and bathukamma’ Telangana exclusive festivals. Folklore, festivals and culture are the spirit of Telangana and essence of its uniqueness.

To mention some flaws, the book ignored local struggles and legends inseparable from the struggles of this land- Chakali AiIamma, Komaram Bheem, Bandagi etc. Land struggle is nothing but Telangana. The book also seems to portray a picture that only communists and TRS are the key actors in Telangana. Communist struggles that drew attention of the world and the current TRS may be organized and visible but one cannot sideline the non-communist and non-TRS forces for their invaluable role in the struggles in small or big way. Unfortunately, in spite of saying that elections alone cannot bring separate state, the book talked more about political parties and their role. There are many groups and organizations, working relentlessly for several years even before the formation of the TRS. Telangana Martyr’s day celebrations, for instance, since 1969 is done by non political groups and honest individuals. Similarly several non-TRS groups have contributed immensely in building Telangana identity. Its important to also note some struggles, without any support or clear opposition from TRS, like Anti-SEZ Polepally agitation fighting TRS and all pro-SEZ political parties, have been popular in the recent years. All these non-TRS movements and efforts by several groups highlight that people are even today able to challenge the powerful rulers and also prove their strength in electoral politics without any monetary strengths or opportunistic poll alliances.

There are also crucial issues like Hindu Muslim identity, their role in fighting against landlords, deshmukhs and razakars. Police Action killed lakhs of people including communists and the Muslims alike. Lot more research is needed to answer whether Police Action was against the Razakaars or the people of Telangana, did entire Telangana people hail Indian army or was it a cruel act of Central Government. It is also necessary to assess the role of communist party in the fight against Nizam and the struggle for separate state. There are different voices on these issues. One needs to look into and acknowledge all these views to get the larger reality of Telangana. There is no need to emphasize the need to do serious research into these issues as we all know how Telangana history is marginalized, including the recent 1969 movement. We need to document untold histories to know more about Telangana otherwise, we will fail to go beyond the mainstream or major trends.

This interesting book could have accommodated some more important aspects of current Telangana like today’s artists and recent upsurge in folk songs and short stories.

Finally, I appreciate the editors, who have taken lots of pains in compiling such issues and highlighting the need for critical debate on Telangana by raising some serious questions boldly and answering some.

స్నేహ హస్తం

Sujatha Surepally — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:08:32 +0000

నిజమే కావొచ్చు
నీ చిరు దరహసం,
స్నెహపూరిత కరాచలనం
నన్ను మత్తులో ముంచివేయొచ్చు
ఆలొచితంగానో అనాలొచితంగానో
నువు పొరపటున గీసిన గీతల్లో
నా తెలంగాణ బొగ్గుట్టలై ఉండొచ్చు
ఎన్నో జీవితాలు రింగురొడ్డుల్లో మెలికలు తిరిగుండొచ్చు
అడవి బిడ్డలు అంతులేని ఆశలకు బలై ఉండొచ్చు
అయినా..
నీ ఒక్క ప్రాణం ముందు
అన్నీ దిగదుడుపే
నీ నవ్వు చాలు జీవితాలని అర్థంచేసుకొవడానికి
ద్వంధ నాలుకలని, నీతిని
విప్లవ, సార్వజనీన ఆలొచలని చేధించడానికి
స్నేహ హస్తమా నీకో సలాం!

బాల గోపాల్ నువ్వెక్కడ

Sujatha Surepally — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:19:39 +0000

బాల గోపాల్ నిన్ను ఎట్లా అర్థం చేసుకోవాలో
కాస్త చెప్పవా!

నువు లేకపోతే ఉద్యమాలు
బెంగపెట్టుకుంటాయనిపిస్తుంది
సిద్దంతాలు రాద్దాంతాలు
అర్దాంతరంగ ముగుస్తాయెమో

నిన్ను నాయకుడుగా చూద్ధామంటే
ఎక్కడ విగ్రహాలకి, జన్మ దినాలకి
పరిమితమౌతావోనని,

దేవునిగ చిత్రిద్దామంటే
నువు ఏ సిద్దాంతాలకి
పరిమితం కాలేదు కదా,
మతాలకి కట్టుబడ లేదు కదా
కవిగా కథకుడిగా మలుద్దామంటే
కేవలం ఒక మూల కుచొని రాయలేదు

వాస్తవాలని పచ్చిగా ,నిక్కచ్చిగా చెప్పి
నిద్ర పోతున్న లోకాన్ని మేలుకొలుపుతావు

అయ్యా !
ఎక్కడని వెతకను
ఒపెన్ కాస్ట్ తవ్వకాల్లోనా,
పొలేపల్లి పోరాటం లోనా
పోలవరం అదివాసీ గుండెల్లోనా
అన్నల ఆర్థనాదాల్లోనా
కాలుష్యపు కోరల్లోనా
ఆవేదనా, అర్ద్రతా, ఆలోచనా
మిళితమైన అక్షరాల్లోనా
నీతోనె హక్కుల ఊపిరి ఆగిపోతుందా
భయంగా ఉంది ..
విప్లవాలకి అర్థాలు వెతుకుతూ
అంతులేని దూరాలకి వెళ్ళావా
కుచించుకు పోయిన మనసులతో
స్వార్దం   నిండిన మనుష్యులతో
నడిచి నడిచి అలసి పోయావా
నువు వేసిన అడుగులలొ
నీవెంటే నడుద్దామంటే
గమ్యం చేరకుండానే
మాయం అయ్యావే

ఇక్కడ కూడా
నిన్ను నువ్వు నిలబెట్టుకుందామనా
ఎవరి దారి వారే వెతుక్కోవాలని
అన్నిదార్లు
మానవ మనుగడ వైపే అని !

Is Telangana a mirage or this yaagam at least will bear fruit?

Sujatha Surepally — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 16:02:03 +0000

Two interesting things are happening in Telangana. Mr. KCR, the Chariot of Telangana is doing ‘yaagam’ to achieve Telangana. On the other side Mr. Devender Goud with Andhra Prajarajyam’s Yuvaraj Pavan Kalyan is having a ‘samajika Telangana’ meeting, and another ‘yaagam’ in Arts College . Now it is Yaagams to achieve Telangana!

Each one has their own coteries, intellectuals, artists, youth wings, spokespersons. Common man of Telangana wonders which Goddess / God will give Telangana. Political cinema season started in Telangana, rich sections only will have chance. Poor chaps they are highly worried whether their seats or roles are guaranteed. After all they don’t want to lose their chance to serve the people

TRS and PRP+NTP each is busy giving shape to their dramas, allies, star cast, casting heroes, side heroes and supporting actors. Several producers are there these days. Desperate search for winning seats/ seat sharing/ alliances irrespective of party, ideology & region and past enmity or friendship with them

Political parties are too busy in this ‘chakkar’ having open/secret meetings with every one, whether its ‘right’ or ‘left’ or yesterday’s choicest enemy or otherwise

Telangana is ‘bangaru baathu’ (golden goose). Every politician talks of it now. Those who banned the very word & those who opposed it tooth & nail for decades and those who opposed TRS candidates in May 2008 by-polls & those who did not complete a scientific study on Telangana issue yet are also busy. TRS is also busy to see if there is any change of heart for good in Congress YSR & his madame so that one more time Telangana could be promised for this election too. Telangana is enchanting to the enemy & friend as well.

Last 5 years, Telangana has seen terrible nightmares. Discrimination and exploitation increased hundred fold. Everywhere ‘vidvamsam’ in the name of open cast mining, uranium, Polavaram, Pulichintala projects, wildlife sanctuaries metro rails, airports. Lakhs of tribals/ people were displaced and more are to be displaced. Lakhs of acres we already lost into new disastrous projects like SEZs in Polepally, Warangal , Ranga Reddy, Medak etc. No one knows where they will go. No political party or their spokespersons talk about the post displacement & post pauperization of Telangana

No jobs in the land of Telangana, even if there are jobs we dont get them, we dont send off / repatriate the outsiders who enjoy salaries promotions and power for years making mockery of those who talk of the movement.

We now love to maintain good relationship with outsiders and compete to get their approval. We are ‘aimless’, we seek blessings of settlers and we talk now SAMAIKYA TELUGU BOTHERHOOD in place of SAMAIKYAANDHRA. As somebody told we don’t have any enemies there. Its just an empty ‘battlefield’!

So we hear one shouting louder than the other. One claiming as more true Telangana champion than the other. Andharni kalpukocchinamu. Shatruvutho kooda chetulu kalipaanu, shatruvu sahakaaram kooda tecchinamu. Inka naake votleyyandi ani okarini minchi inkokaru vaagdhaanaalu guppistunaru

TDP Chandrababu, CPM Raghavulu, PRP Chiranjeevi have Telangana ‘leaders’ as mouth pieces. Telangana leaders do everything in the name of achieving Telangana. Their aim is only winning seats on conditions laid down by their big bosses & bigger allies from whom they beg for a better deal

Now a new thing is making rounds like we did hear every time there was voting season.. ‘Lets get first Telangana’ than we talk about rest of things. We heard the same thing in the debate about Polepally, Polavaram, Pulichintala, Metro Rail, Airport any other project that left painful history of great tragedies taking place at the time when there is movement for separate state!!

How does Telangana change overnight to become the panacea for farmers committing suicides, dying weavers, uprooted villages, unemployed youth? sort of queries our politician and intellectual friends say is not supposed to be asked for a few months till the ballot boxes are counted in the next elections. Why should one raise that blasphemous query and disappoint the friends. I will not ask till the ban on such questions is lifted ever.

How does the Telangana parties asking for one or two slices with TDP+CPM+CPI or plus or minus of CBN’s combinations or from the other camp PRP+NTP+xyz of Chirnajeevi’s of scientific recipe ensure our Telangana leaders to get the voice to stand for Telangana separate state? Do they get so many seats and different situation than one saw in 2004

Telangana, oh Telangana where is it available? who are its distributors? Hundred days BJP? Scientific research Chirnajeevi, old Samaikyaandhra gang leader CBN?

What’s YSR confidence? Some say its money. Well, where does that money come from? Why didnt we stop so many illegal and inhuman projects that feed YSR’s election machine why dint we challenge a singe project that is the secret of his wealth and might? Two Rs. kilo rice, 108 services, Arogya shree, 25 paisa loans to women, Indira Awas Yojana, job notifications, minorities interests etc make believe that his govt cares which the opposition parties fail to tell the people in crisis that they are concerned of sircilla weavers’ suicides, Polavaram displacement, Polepally farmers’ deaths. TRS leaders need map to reach our districts and locate where Polavaram or Polepally is. Its shocking to know that Mahbubnagar alone had 14 lakh laborers going out in search of jobs, many of them are dying in work place. No one knows where and how they are. We haven’t even touched the burning problems in Telangana, how do we get votes is the big question in front of every one. Even now its not too late. If we build a peoples movement and take up issues of livelihoods of the people and stop all projects that are looting our resources, then Telangana is not far. But that busy leaders running after Andhra bosses don’t seem to see.

Now the Telangana leaders pose one final query. Know who is asli and not so asli Telangana leader. How does Telangana Thalli know that? Both KCR and Goud are shouting a lot, both are speaking of only Telangana & a little better samajika Telangana, both are friends of one time samaikyaandhra hero and just changed Andhra cinema star, both are long members of NTR and his son-in-law led TDP, and to make things more difficult both are making yaagams. Even mother cannot find the real from the imposter!

Poor voters if they fail to identify who is asli, looks like the history will repeat.

We may end up in seeing our leaders performing one more yagnam every year till 2020.

Lets Join hands to save Telangana!

Jai Telangana

Sujatha Surepally

Social Justice :

Sujatha Surepally — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 01:27:22 +0000

Social Justice : The new song of all Telugu political parties !

Electoral politics are taking different shapes day by day in the state, beats all serial stories of fiction and entertainment. Politics, ideology, history, philosophies and legendary figures are given new turns by anybody and everybody.

Today every party is talking about ‘Social Justice’ including Chiranjeevi and YSR. Interestingly Chiranjeevi party’s slogan is Social Justice. Every one joining him is referring to Chiranjeevi’s 26 August promise of social justice and the new messiah’s quota for more seats. Recently ChandraBabu Naidu added 40% seats to youth, what he can do poor chap! not many elderly persons in TDP now, so many valasalu to ‘Chiru’ party.

Now even school kids will tell which party is for more justice by just counting number of seats offered by each of them. Its so simple. Why not the seasoned political coverts justify their new love for the sake of social justice?

After all what it is all this social justice which has become so freely available these days? Fans as well as the experienced politicians who are joining and looking for alliance with Chiranjeevi type social justice seem to be working on a fashionable short dialogue- SJ (social justice) or samajika nyayam.

How does social justice become a reality like in a self help cuisine book? What are its ingredients and how it should be concocted? All that was so enigmatic or complex and required movements for decades for some parties across the country has become simple suddenly thanks to DIY approach of new politicians and new approaches by today’s politicians of all shades.

Does discrimination and exploitation between sections of society go in a moment like TV ads on headaches or stains in a sink because now some politician ‘promised’ to bring SJ? Because (s)he invented the formula of SJ? At what percent quota do Equity, Equality, Fraternity, Self Respect and Self Rule become mantras from mere words of vote hungry politicians is interesting issue. You may jump to say the answer, of course at 33% or more!

Why Congress party that’s older than oldest fellows in any camp or the comrades shivering with new SJ? Why they are rushing to convert Kapus into BCs and offering 33.3% seats to BCs? How come the practice of TRS, TDP and CPI or CPM did not display any SJ all these years if the Chiranjeevi formula is so appealing to them now? Who stopped all these parties to ignore or deny social justice till now?

Past 60 and more years witnessed the struggles for freedom from Britishers, liberation for self rule, freedom from exploitative Nizam rule, freedom from castiest oppressive structures and gender discrimination, self respect and autonomy for regions and communities among other struggles of varied classes. All that is well captured by political parties who started the culture of posters with figures of the legendaries. Poster culture has captured it very well

These struggles and movements have transformed our society and have still long way to go. There are layers of inequalities and different worlds within us now with one fighting for the roti and ganji while the other is fighting for the variety in burgers. Now the towns are full of branded international goods priced in dollars and the million of Telugu people are struggling for survival.

There is so much of development today here & now. We need not go far to buy the world’s latest fashion. Here’s the mall for designer shopping and all the Netas displaying at least a dozen foreign goods on their bodies are full of pity for the hungry & farmer suicides and helpless Telangana

Development, economic growth, foreign education avenues, closure of local government schools, infrastructure and roads eating the villages and millions of poor and growing social unrest in the country are two sides of the coin. One shouldn’t forget the relation between them, which is taken as Great Indian Dream. All the parties in Telugu land are talking of doing best whatever earlier CMs have done. Implement same policies and if possible implement effectively!

All that is fine. vaanikante ghanudu veedu. But how did the social justice that was buried ten layers below the ground by the old parties will be now brought out and live with the same old policies put into perfect practice, nobody seems to ask. We have become fascinated by silly numbers.

Numbers! Numbers of all sorts. Numerology to start the parties and decide the number of seats to bargain or contest. Date of birth of ally party’s owner as basis of forging alliances. Percentage of votes and % of seats and percentage of philosophies. Numbers for the amounts to be spent & amount to be looted & used to buy votes. Everything is numbers and money! How does samajiika nyayam fit in this?

Modern politicians are not like ‘old’ leaders having philosophy, ethics and foresight and selflessness for social justice. Modern Telugu political messiahs are armed with numerologist, share brokers, fund raisers, match makers, match fixers and pundits who give new justifications like dalals in the share market talk with the help of numbers. This party will get so many seats and so we join at so and so date and so many and so much money and equivalent to so much of our seats. Therefore so much social justice for so and so cause. So we meet this party and we leave that party and yesterdays enemy is today’s first best choice. Oh yeah, our politicians have become intellectuals for doing the maths perfectly!

Anyone having any problem in understanding this truth, may consult horoscopes and numerology and fixers and take a calculator with the help of bright kid of tenth class if no Telugu intellectual is freely available around. You do it once or twice on your own, you will realize you have figured out how the formula works. Lets agree on basics before getting to complex things. Is eight better than six or not. Is 33% better than 20% or not? Once basics are agreed, one could see how numbers bring well being.

Imagine the parliament scene on Indo US Deal day or any other deal in any state why some opposition party leaders pretend to be blind to all mega projects that continue to be built with glory. Our politicians were tight lipped till the voting day. But everyone got the benefited. So if 33.3% is given, then is there any extra benefit for the particular group? We are not denying the proportionate representation demand though.

When there are more numbers there is more justice. When there is less, correspondingly, there is less justice. It seems this fundamental truth our politicians, both old and new, have come to understand so well now. That’s why they are competing with each other to have alliance with the party that’s going to spend more or reap more. Its just numbers

Social justice is made simple :

What is nature of any movement for justice in India? After all why Telugu politics have become like number and rupee mania? Will more seats be panacea to our society that becoming increasingly criminal, inhuman and poor and poisoned? Just increasing numbers may not bring social justice. We already have some percentages of all the communities, but are they leaders ever of their own community or the region?

Now Telugu parties seem to have evolved to having no party structures and philosophies and cadres and movements. They are like companies owned or sold or merged in accordance with market laws. They however need some promises (like dialogues in cinema) that seem to be better commodities. Parties now need dialogue writers, actors and some numbers. If possible some shaastreeya adyayanam and if time permits a bit of medho madhanam to ensure success at box office

Is it another ploy, for five more years? One actor is now dedicated to the role playing politics. Other politicians have already dedicated to play the role of actors. There are fans of all types. Oh yes, there is also head count of fans. Do ‘fans’ bring new breeze in the politics?

One knows that more raddhi paper to kabaadiwallah will get more money. But more numbers of BCs or more ladies or more Dalits or more OCs mean anything. Somehow politicians don’t seem to be as true as raddhi paper in the taraaju of social justice.

Jai Telangana,

Sujatha Surepally

New spirits in telangana movement-NTTP 27th August meeting

Sujatha Surepally — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 17:08:01 +0000

After Chiranjeevi’s filmi release of ‘Praja Rajyam‘ to the cheers of youth or fans in lakhs in open air theatre at Tirupathi watching a real live show without retakes, there was another meeting next day of a different kind in Hyderabad.

It was a great live entertainment show, if not anything. But it was a nightmare for some gambler type politicians who saw a threat to their own vote fortunes in some measure or the other. The Chiranjeevi show was a great ‘fill in the blank’ that any one ready for conversion found it a great reason to divorce old vaadhe and flirt to a new tune.

Many Telangana politicians who were tight lipped as the indecisive Chiranjeevi and his funny shaastreeya adyayanam were saved by one more postponement of a one word answer Yes or No to Telangana. Good enough silence to drag the show till interval and end by another five years.

Speculations rife about the NTTP meeting on 27th August, 2008 at Nizam college a day after the Chiranjeevi drama. As ever, Telangana people never discourage any party meeting, their hopes and desires, interest reflect in their participation. People came in large number, ground was full. People from different districts, leaders, activists, sympathizers in large numbers.

NTTP stage had huge size pictures of martyrs along with Ambedkar, Gandhi , Komaram Bheem, Chakali Ailamma, Kaloji and others. Our own Telugu people and from our own struggles so close to our world of emotion and sentiment.

Meeting was a celebration of our folk culture, tribal culture, art and songs. Programme started with tribal dances and baby Manjulatha inspiring Telangana songs. It was a great welcome heartening and touching by all communities of Telangana – communities from rural and tribal pockets and Muslims- in support of Devender Goud. People interested in people’s Telangana is a beautiful celebration to remember.

The huge dias was also occupied with all leaders of small states from nook and corner of the country – Poorvanchal, Jammu, Gorkhaland, etc. Thanks to Niroop Reddy for bringing them all the way in support of Telangana and making it nation wide struggle with several small states activists who are willing to make a platform named as ‘National Federation of Small States’ with its office at Delhi and Niroop as the Co-Convenor.

Telangana issue is everywhere in and out the country since Nizam rule.

NTTP’s agenda? It’s clear that the party is not only looking into ‘vote politics’, its going to concentrate on ‘people’s movement’. Its not geographic Telangana and sharing a piece of the Telugu map for a new set of rulers.

Only people can bring Telangana, not votes and parties. Water, land grabbing, castes and reservations were discussed as party’s main agenda. However, there was no mention of women, not surprising ditto ditto with all earlier Telangana leaders or their advisors.

Most significant thing of Devender Goud’s approach was that We Shall Take Our Own Telangana and not just receive it from somebody. It’s the problem of other parties if they do not become sensible. We declare it is Telangana and let nobody dare stop it, he told. We start it by 2nd October and will have our own name in place of Andhra Pradesh, all name plates will be changed. No place for Andhra Pradesh any more in Telangana

By November 1st, we take to streets, villages, peace protest, come up with candle lighting, Telangana stickers in our houses and many more to tell the world that this is Telangana and its for people of Telangana only.

Let’s start our own way to bring our Telangana, a politician giving such a call will definitely make the difference in Telangana. All activists, forums must collaborate and make it a big success. Free Telangana from Andhra virus. But disappointing thing is Devender Goud’s praise of Chiranjeevi. Why people still plan to liberate Telangana with outsiders help?

Is it a signal for alliance with Chiranjeevi?, NTTP must be careful with such alliances, once again if we collaborate with Andhra politician, that too person like Chiranjeevi, who doesn’t even know ABCD of our Telangana people and politics.

Alliance with Chiranjeevi will undoubtedly put Telangana agenda into cold storage. Many political parties are bending towards Chiranjeevi only to have bite of vote bank.

How Telangana leaders forget Chranjeevi’s anti-Telangana cinemas, his own films like Bunny and other films. And his thirty years character that made fun of Telangana language in the films and kept selfish silence on the abuse of Telangana in film industry. Why doesn’t he have any shaastreetya adyayanam on the abuse and exploitation of Telangana in film industry?

After all what is he? His party boasts of Marpu (change). Only ‘change’ of a name or photograph, can’t be more than that. All issues like Telangana, categorization of SCs, Naxalism for him are sensitive and he can’t take a decision alone and wants ‘consensus’ and scientific study to tell him what these issues are. He even wants a scientific study on ‘madhya paana nishedham’. He is not against SEZs but only against grabbing arable lands, doesn’t mind them in barren lands. Any man with common sense, who understands the consequences of SEZs would never say yes to SEZ. That means he will not only have all the same policies of CBN and YSR but also that we are going to lose entire land for more SEZs and there will be no land left for poor in future. Chiranjeevi will implement effectively all the mad policies of the erstwhile governments!! And we have some Telangana leaders waiting to shake hands with him!!

I also felt uneasy with the way a filmy kind of song was presented for NTTP, aping chiranjeevi style?

Don’t know how far this party keeps up the promise but it was great to listen for the first time a Telangana party saying that We Will Take Our Telangana instead of begging somebody to give us our Telangana and waiting endlessly and knocking door after the door. Adukkune pratyeka Telangana nunchi swaavalambhanaku pilupu (from begging to self rule).

Jai Telangana,

Sujatha Surepally.

Chiranjeevi politics and social identities

Sujatha Surepally — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 21:08:40 +0000

Andhra Pradesh is not only battle ground for many social movements but also the laboratory for many a political party to come, sink and keep floating for a while

Interestingly several seasoned politicians are looking towards ‘The Mega Star’. So many leaders who would not have touched a cinema character with a barge pole yesterday are seeing a messiah in him because of vote maths, magic of fans and the music of coins.

One can’t ignore the ‘caste’ factor and his regional background. Certainly the ‘star’ is bound to shine in Andhra Pradesh for a while.

A politician was expected to have hands on experience of working with people, understanding, knowledge of ideologies and philosophical vision and life dedicated for a cause. But here is one who doesn’t know of these and has been comfortably ignorant of everything a political leader ought to be knowing and doing and leading the people.

Politics have changed in Andhra Pradesh with Political parties launching much easier than a corporate body or pan shop. One can start it anytime on any date and run it in any manner one likes or dislikes

It was different context when ‘heroes’ like MJR, Jayalalitha, NTR entered politics. When they came, it was political vacuum in the country and there were not many parties or issues to contend with. Money didn’t flow from different corners like today.

Today looks like everyone wants to support Chiranjeevi. NRIs want him and some dalit bahujan leaders want him. Youth are fans of his ‘masala’ mass movies.

Question is why suddenly so much of ‘havoc’ in current politics? What are the issues involved in new party? Is it really going to make a difference? Does it transform and reform social system in Andhra Pradesh or bring social justice in coming days? Especially Telanganites, who are supporting Chiranjeevi must answer a few more questions.

Senior politicians are jumping into ‘Chiru’ party thinking that he is going to be a big man. Hari Rama Jogaiah, resigned congress and joined Chiranjeevi. What made him to join this just born politician? In his own words, one who entered politics only yesterday. If one is upset with existing policies and political party, they can think of fighting within or join any other better proven alternative party. What is Chiranjeevi who doesn’t have any policy or stand on anything yet? And who cannot invent any tomorrow. Why anybody should join Chiranjeevi today who is nothing but a film star, or a man from Andhra

Today several NRIs joined Chiranjeevi party in HITEX, Madhapur. Wondering how come suddenly our NRIs got so much love towards politics and country. Can anyone answer what is the reason behind it?

Interesting thing is Kathi Padma Rao, Goutham, Naragoni joined Chiranjeevi. Mahajana Party, the party that came into existence to question castiest politics and bring social justice is buried. You think these people who threw away social justice agenda are going to achieve their avowed dreams in the shadow of Chiranjeevi where the other day there were atrocities against dalits in Pottilanka in the name of Jai Chiranjeeva??? Mahajan party is planning to merge with Chiranjeevi. What a historic moment! What a shame!

How come years of experience, ideologies withered away in one go. ‘Political key is the master key to change the system‘, as Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar said. May be these leaders thought Chiranjeevi is the gateway to the master key. Now all these leaders are blind to Caste, Class and Region. Of course gender never mattered to most of them. What ‘filmi politics’ will change the entire society that these mahajan ‘leaders’ have believed is to be seen down the lane months later.

Telangana, an ever burning issue, without taking its name no party or individual survives. Many Telangana leaders are also waiting for a rising star. They didn’t decide yet, confused and waiting for ‘His Excellency’ to make just one ‘statement’ on Telangana. It can be anything like the congress whispered to the TRs five years ago, or the one like TDP said or the variant of anything that could be circulated as a promise for the time being for a lovely alliance and justify once jumping into the bandwagon of Chiranjeevi. Even after five decades, Telangana leaders love to be salesmen and faithful juniors in parties started, owned and run by non Telanganites. Tomorrow, he will announce a few words that would be yet another debatable thing like Mona Lisa’s smile would be discussed or like the promise of congress to TRS in 2004. And all our leaders would like to join him. Why they will again have alliances with outsiders and wait for one more elections.

If Chiranjeevi comes from Telangana, how will be the situation? Can’t imagine right now as no Telangana party will have so much of planning, schemers, sound technicians and script writers as Chiranjeevi has. Celebrations are going on in some Telangana areas too.

Its time to introspect, rethink and act. All those who are eagerly waiting and longing to join a party that doesn’t even have a name that doesn’t have any idea on anything have to be complimented for the strength of their characters!

What these people could not do for years in their respective parties are expecting to join the party and sell a new dream from Chiranjeevi party that is likely to become the biggest victims of every virus that can’t be booted or reformatted ever with so many put together in one system. One has to see what saves Chiranjeevi who is destined to be affected so early with so many unwanted elements.

Jai Telangana !