అంతర్మథనం

(Tribute to PV Narasimha Rao on his birth centenary)

డిసెంబర్ 2004
ఇంక నా జీవితం ముగుస్తోంది. వచ్చిపోయే వారిని గుర్తుపట్టడం కష్టం గా వుంది. పెరిగిపోయిన కోర్టు కేసుల్ని ఎదుర్కోవడానికి అప్పోయింట్ చేసిన మా ప్లీడర్ గారు ధరించిన నల్లని కోటు లో నలుపు మాదిరి ఒక కారు చీకటి ఎప్పుడూ కమ్మేస్తోంది నా ఆలోచనల్ని. కేసులు అంటే గుర్తుకి వచ్చింది. ఇంకా ఎన్ని కేసులు మిగిలాయి? అవి నేను గెల్చానా? ఓడిపోయానా? గుర్తుకి రావట్లేదు.  ఆలోచనలు పరిపరివిధాల పోతున్నాయి. అసలు ఏది ఆరంభం? ఏది అంతం!
ఎక్కడ మొదలైంది ఈ ప్రయాణం? ఎన్ని మజిలీలు? త్రిపురీ సభ లో పండిట్ నెహ్రు గారి ప్రసంగం విని నైజం ప్రభుత్వం పై కదం తొక్కింది నేనే నా? అది త్రిపురీ సభా? హరిపూరీ సభా? గుర్తుకి రావట్లేదు. హై కమాండ్ ఉద్దేశాన్ని పూర్తిగా తెలుసుకోలేక, భూ సంస్కరణలు ప్రవేశపెట్టి, పదవి కోల్పోతే, ఆహా, ఒక ముళ్ళ కిరీటం తల మీంచి తీసినట్టు అయింది. అది 1971 ఆ ? 1973 ఆ ? గుర్తు లేదు....

భాషలు నేర్చుకునేకొద్దీ మౌనం లో వున్న మాధుర్యాన్ని, నియంతృత్వ పోకడలు కల్గిన నాయకుల తో మెలిగిన కొద్దీ consensus decision making లో వుండే అందాన్ని, inevitability ని సుకుమారంగా గ్రహించాను. నూతనోత్తేజం నిండింది 80 వ దశకపు భారతావని లో, నా సన్యాసానికి ఇంకా మార్గం సుగమమైంది. కానీ విధి విచిత్రం. నవ్వినా నాప చేనే పండింది. ఏమి తెలుసు నాకు ఆర్ధిక  వ్యవస్థ గురించి - ఆర్ధిక శాస్త్రాన్ని ఎప్పుడూ లెక్కకట్టలేదు. లెక్కకట్టాల్సిన అవసరం వచ్చింది. పది మంది సభ్యుల మద్దతు లేక ఎప్పుడు పడిపోతుందో తెలీని నా హయం లో సంస్కరణలు అసలు ఎలా జరిగాయి? అది ఒక అబ్భుతమా? అందున, నా పాత్ర నామమాత్రమేనా? రాజ్యంగ నిర్మాత డా.అంబెడ్కర్ గారు అభివర్ణించినట్టు, మన దేశం నిజం గా ఒక Indestructible Union యేనేమో.  తూర్పు వైపు చూడమని, అగ్రరాజ్యాల వాంఛలకు తలొగ్గకుండా, పొరిగింటి వారికి పాఠాలు చెప్తున్నప్పుడు ఎంతో హాయిగా అనిపించింది. ఢిల్లీ రాజా వీధుల లో పంజాబ్ కార్యకర్తలు 'పీవీ నరసింహ రావు కి జై' అని జై జైలు పలుకుతువుంటే, వేరెవరైనా పులకరించిపోయేవారే - కానీ అట్టి పొగడ్తలు, భౌతిక శుఖాలు నా లో అంతర్మథనాన్ని ఆపలేకపోయాయి.

అది 1996 ఆ ? 1998 ఆ ? గుర్తు లేదు - టికెట్టు కేటాయించలేదు నాకు. రోజులు మారాయి. మనుషులు వస్తారు, పోతారు,వ్యవస్థే శాశ్వతం! నమ్మిన వారు నట్టేట ముంచారు. ఇంకెంతకాలమో జీవితమనే ఈ వ్యధ . నా పాత్ర ముగిసింది. కానీ నా లో ఇంకా ఆ అంతర్మథనం ఆగలేదు!

అంతర్మథనం - Tribute to PV Narasimha Rao on his birth centenary (Telugu)

Maheeth Veluvali, 

Monday, 28th of June, 2021

16 Saladi Jamindar Street, Palakollu.

Dhoni - A Tribute

Dhoni in action - ICC CWC Final, 2011 - Credits to Sportstar, The Hindu

 

April  2005 - Pakistan were touring India, and the stage was set for the second ODI at Vizag's ACA-VDCA Stadium (Much later, the stadium was renamed as Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy Stadium). During the first innings i.e, Indian innings - at one down, the new wicket-keeper was promoted. The only problem I had that day, as with many other people who watched the game, was with the name. It must be Tony, I heard as my junior class boys raved about his batting. It was the beginning of a cult - Mahendra Singh Dhoni! Cricket in India is a sacrificial arena where new Gods are born and old Gods whither - the eleven Gods were expected to entertain and perform every single day. Heroic exploits on field were cherished but winning games - something that we lagged then, didn't seem to bother us. But the new boy was exhilarating. His carefree batting did not confirm to bookish standards and that was all that mattered, or so it seemed...

 

September 2007 - The 50 over World Cup was a disaster for India. After a tragic but necessary turn of events, Dhoni was made the Captain of the T-20 World Cup team. And the era of captain cool had just begun! This was when I truly learnt that all the aggression, rage, intent in the world is nothing when you don't possess a cool and calming brain - the ability to remain level headed and be dictated by logic rather than emotions. And how would I forget the final with the arch-rivals - I was in my Intermediate - AP residential junior college at Nagarjuna Sagar. We got to listen to the dying moments of the game, thanks to the cell phones and radios of our lecturers, and as Ravi Shastri started shouting 'Andd there is Shreeshaaaant....!', we went berserk with joy. What calculated gambles that man behind the stumps took that day! And something strange happened - his calmness rubbed off - we started winning games big time. I'm not an expert to discern if India really had the right balanced team at that point of time, but some if not the greater part of the credit goes to the Captain cool. From 2008 till 2011, Team India had a steady rise. And, the new hero, thanks to the nerves of steel,  marked himself with distinction as a finisher sharing the likes of Michael Beavan - a desperate role India needed in ODIs. 

April 2011 - It was the World Cup Final. I've had to work that day, and for the greater part of the Indian innings (Night), I was in a buss that took me from my work place Vijayawada to my home town Palakollu. I missed most of the Mahi magic that went on at Wankhade, on live. But, what a day it was as India lifted the cup! And again, those riveting words of Ravi Shastri, 'Dhooni finishes it off in style' still ring in my ears. Life came a full circle for the hard core Indian cricket fans. And the man of the moment didn't hog any limelight - a lesson in class!

 

August 2020 - Dhoni went on to lift the 2013 Champions Trophy on behalf of India - the only captain till date to hold all the three ICC trophies - World Cup, T-20 World Cup and Champions Trophy. Over time, he became more cautious in his batting - a usual trait of a senior middle order batsman. He became the poster boy of IPL. His performance behind the wickets however got better. And one fine day in Manchester, as India was simply outclassed by New zealand, his cautious but valiant efforts ended in a heart breaking run-out. I was passing through the city  (Vijayawada)  where I missed Dhoni's exploits of 2011 World Cup Final, when a quick check on twitter confirmed the news that was doing rounds as a rumour since so long - the retirement of Dhoni. And a whiff of nostalgia descended upon me. 

 

Thank you Dhoni!

 

 

 

Maheeth Veluvali, 

Monday - 17th of August, 2020.

Palakollu,.

 

Always the People's President

(Reminiscence/Memory - APJ Abdul Kalam)

"

One of my greatest bragging right is that I have seen him. I had the pleasure of listening him speak inspiring words. It was during the 93rd National Children's Science Congress, held in January, 2006 at Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University, Hyderabad. And he was his excellency, the then President, Sri APJ Abdul Kalam. As a 16 year old kid, I was enthralled as he spoke endearingly to us all, eagerly taking questions, very humble and patient.

Sample this question. Someone asked him why he had chosen Science over other subjects. He explained how one day, he asked his Science teacher about how birds fly and the later took him to a beach, elucidating the principle of aerodynamics and practically showing him birds in flight. Then he said, quite famously, to a roaring audience, slowly , - 'And, then I fell in Love with Science'. 

Dubbed as the 'Missile Man of India', this Scientist turned Statesman is a classic & rare role model for the youth of the country. And, as I read his 'Wings of Fire', I understood and admired great qualities of the man himself, mostly his respect of elders & seniors (Vikram Sarabhai, Satish Dhawan), the way he dealt with failure (SLV-3 Launch). And as President of India, I remember with awe the way he reacted during the infamous Indian Ocean Tsumani of 26th of December, 2004 (defining them as 'Shock Embedded Tidal Waves'), and his principled opposition to the Office of Profit bill during the first term of UPA rule. And who would not remember his inspiring speeches (like the one at the European Parliament, where he quoted extensively from 'Tirukkuraal'.)

It is not an irony that one of India's greatest sons is remembered as People's President!   

"

References (If any)

1. Place and Date -

@ - Home Sweet Home, # 16-7-16, Sree Bhramara, Saladi Jamindar Street, Palakollu, West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh - 534 260

On -27th of July, 2017

2. Subject - "Always the People's President"- Remniscense/Memory - APJ Abdul Kalam

Two years ago this day, his excellency, the 11th President of India, Sri APJ Abdul Kalam passed away. He was  a towering personality in his own right - a great, patriotic Indian, a scientist and brain behind India's 2nd nuclear tests, the man who made 'Agni missile' possible, and a true and never before/never after kind of People's President of the Republic of India. 

Wherever you are sir, rest in peace!

Please click - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._P._J._Abdul_Kalam

3. Picture -"Always the People's President"- Remniscense/Memory - APJ Abdul Kalam

By Lijesh K (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons