SIR Through the Lens of Sir Isaac Newton >>>>> Pondering Parakala at Ghanta's Democratic Platform : Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

 SIR Through the Lens of Sir Isaac Newton

Pondering Parakala at 

Ghanta's Democratic Platform

Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao (July 2, 2026)

Sir Isaac Newton's three laws of motion, formulated more than three centuries ago: inertia, force or acceleration, and action-reaction, serve as a foundational framework for understanding physical systems. These principles offer a metaphor for democratic governance, suggesting that institutions and societies often display similar dynamics of resistance to change and reactionary forces.

They resist abrupt disruptions, respond to powerful interventions, and generate reactions outlasting the original action. This striking parallel emerged while listening to Dr Parakala Prabhakar’s PV Narasimha Rao Endowment Lecture at Dr BR Ambedkar Open University (On July 2, 2026), organised under Professor Ghanta Chakrapani's stewardship. Drawing upon Dr Parakala’s lecture, this article presents his arguments, offering an objective reflection on larger constitutional, electoral, and democratic questions.

At a time when university campuses face a perceptible decline in vibrant socio-political engagement, it is heartening to witness an academic initiative that revives informed public discourse. From the beginning of his tenure as Vice-Chancellor, Ghanta Chakrapani has sought to transform the university by creating platforms for discussion, debate, deliberation, dialogue, critique, and intellectual engagement on public issues. He has reaffirmed the historic role of universities as spaces where ideas are examined rather than merely applauded.

The PV Narasimha Rao Endowment Lecture is one such initiative. It is befitting that an institution named after Dr BR Ambedkar should honour one of India's most scholarly Prime Ministers through an annual lecture devoted to the Republic. This year's choice of Dr Parakala Prabhakar: political economist, public intellectual, and author, to speak on ‘SIR 2025-26: Dismantling the Idea of India?’ was highly contemporary. The lecture deserved careful attention because it invited the audience to examine the constitutional implications of an electoral process that ordinarily remains confined to administrative discussion.

Parakala commenced his lecture with an unmistakable note of concern. Democracies, he observed, seldom experience abrupt constitutional ruptures; rather, they undergo gradual transformations through seemingly procedural or administrative measures whose cumulative impact becomes evident over time. Against this backdrop, he invited the audience to look beyond the technical dimensions of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and examine its larger implications and ramifications for India's constitutional democracy.

He was careful to acknowledge that every democracy requires credible and accurate electoral rolls, as the elimination of ineligible entries is an objective no conscientious citizen would dispute. However, his concern centred on how the exercise was conceived and implemented, urging the audience to distinguish between an administrative purpose and its constitutional consequences.

Newton's first law finds democratic resonance in the idea that extraordinary institutional interventions must rest on compelling, transparent, and publicly defensible reasons. Parakala argues that when established processes are supplemented by exceptional measures, public confidence rests on providing clarity regarding necessity, methodology, and safeguards, as questions strengthen rather than weaken institutions.

Parakala questioned whether the official explanations surrounding SIR adequately addressed the concerns accompanying such an extensive electoral exercise. Referring to public debates on transparency and access to information, he argued that constitutional processes derive legitimacy from both statutory authority and public trust. Wherever opacity overshadows openness, suspicion naturally occupies the space left behind.

A substantial part of his address was devoted to the possible implications of electoral exclusions. His central anxiety was that even if a small proportion of eligible citizens were inadvertently left outside the electoral process, the consequences would extend far beyond election statistics. Universal Adult Franchise is not merely an administrative entitlement, but it is among the most visible expressions of equal citizenship in the Republic. Any process that raises apprehensions regarding inclusion, therefore, deserves the closest constitutional scrutiny.

At this stage, Newton’s second law offered another compelling metaphor. In physics, greater force produces greater acceleration. In constitutional governance, the wider the scope and scale of an institutional intervention, the greater the responsibility to ensure fairness, transparency, and accountability. Whether or not one accepts every inference Parakala drew, his underlying proposition was that large-scale administrative exercises inevitably demand proportionately higher standards of procedural integrity.

Parakala's lecture ultimately transcended the immediate issue of electoral rolls, evolving into a broader reflection on constitutional morality, institutional credibility, and democratic citizenship. His appeal was not directed exclusively at governments or constitutional authorities. Equally, it challenged political parties, civil society, universities, the media, and ordinary citizens to remain attentive to developments that may gradually reshape democratic institutions without attracting proportionate public debate.

Parakala's larger concern extended well beyond the mechanics of electoral revision. For him, SIR represented a point of departure to reflect upon the evolving relationship between the citizen and the State. He repeatedly returned to the foundational values embedded in the Constitution: justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity, not as abstract ideals but as practical assurances that every citizen must experience through democratic institutions. His argument, therefore, was less about numbers and more about principles, less about electoral arithmetic and more about preserving public confidence in constitutional processes.

Viewed through Newton's second law, the larger the institutional force exerted upon the democratic process, the greater the obligation to demonstrate fairness, proportionality, and transparency. Parakala's apprehensions and his central proposition deserve thoughtful consideration. Extraordinary administrative interventions must carry an equally extraordinary burden of explanation. Institutions inspire confidence not merely by exercising authority, but by demonstrating that such authority is exercised openly, consistently, and without leaving room for avoidable suspicion.

Parakala consciously differentiated between constitutional scrutiny and partisan contestation. He repeatedly reminded the audience that the right to vote transcends electoral advantage, belonging equally to every eligible citizen, irrespective of political preference, social identity, or ideological persuasion. This, perhaps, was the most enduring takeaway from his lecture. Democracies are strengthened when institutions remain above political contestation and when citizens perceive electoral processes to be impartial, transparent, and universally accessible.

If, as Parakala apprehended, large sections of eligible voters face exclusion, the responsibility to safeguard democratic participation cannot rest solely upon constitutional authorities. Non-BJP governments, opposition parties, civil society organisations, and voluntary citizen forums must remain equally vigilant. They must assist citizens in protecting their electoral rights and ensure democratic participation does not become hostage to procedural complexities. Constitutional democracy survives not by governmental action alone, but through continuous civic engagement.

The deeply personal note on which Parakala commenced his address was touching. His recollection of PV Narasimha Rao transcended public office or political accomplishment. He spoke with warmth about knowing the former Prime Minister closely, recalling conversations, travels, learning moments, and even badminton games that offered an intimate glimpse into one of modern India's most scholarly statesmen. That personal remembrance lent emotional depth to the lecture and served as a fitting tribute to the statesman in whose memory the Endowment Lecture has been instituted.

If Newton's third law teaches that every action inevitably evokes a reaction, democracies too possess corrective mechanisms. The most meaningful reaction need not be confrontation; it can equally be informed participation, public education, and constitutional awareness. Significantly, during the post-lecture interaction, in response to this writer's question regarding the way forward, Parakala did not advocate despair or passive criticism. Instead, he emphatically suggested forming dedicated citizen teams to educate people about the long-term implications of such institutional developments.

Hence, the ball rests simultaneously in several courts: the Election Commission, constitutional courts, Union and State governments, political parties, universities, civil society organisations, the media, and, above all, the vigilant citizen. Whether that ball is visible or deliberately obscured is itself a matter for public scrutiny. Democracies thrive not because difficult questions are avoided, but because they are confronted with reason, transparency, and constitutional fidelity.

Newton's laws have endured for centuries because every generation of scientists examined, tested, and refined humanity's understanding of them. Democracies deserve no less. Constitutional processes must withstand scrutiny, invite correction, and emerge stronger from informed public engagement. If Parakala's lecture serves a lasting purpose, it should not be to deepen political divisions but to stimulate constitutional introspection. His concluding response during the interaction was perhaps the afternoon's most constructive message.

Citizens must organise into informed teams, educate one another about the long-term implications of institutional developments, and participate responsibly in safeguarding democratic processes. That advice transforms anxiety into action. Perhaps the real democratic equivalent of Newton's third law is this: every institutional action should evoke an equal measure of informed civic participation. If that happens, optimism will always prevail over apprehension, constitutional values over transient expediency, and the Republic over every challenge confronting it. 

Sixth Job as Faculty in Dr MCR HRD Institute-2 >>>>> Systematic Approach to Training (SAT) Essential Principle >>>>> Professions, Checkered Career, and Lessons-11 : Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

 Sixth Job as Faculty in Dr MCR HRD Institute-2

Systematic Approach to Training (SAT) 

Essential Principle

Professions, Checkered Career, and Lessons-11

Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao (July 2, 2026)

During the period, working in Dr MCR HRD Institute, I was closely associated with the training of nine consecutive batches of IAS probationers allotted to the (Erstwhile AP) State, coordinating their district training and institute attachments. Many of these officers now occupy senior leadership positions, and the enduring professional bonds formed during those years remain a source of quiet satisfaction. I was similarly involved in foundation and thematic programs for Group I and II officers, heads of departments, and even the entire State Cabinet, which underwent a three-day orientation program after the 1999 elections, an initiative of the then CM Chandrababu Naidu, that was unprecedented at the time.

Equally enriching was the opportunity to work with a constellation of distinguished administrators and training professionals, where hierarchy rarely overshadowed collegiality. The collective energy, intellectual openness and shared commitment to public purpose created an environment where learning was continuous and contribution was valued over position.

Looking back, my years at Dr MCR HRD Institute were far more than a job or an assignment. They were a period of sustained learning, purposeful contribution, and institutional belonging. I witnessed how vision, when matched with leadership, systems and trust, can transform an organization and the people within it. The Institute’s journey from an obscure administrative training center to a globally recognized apex institution mirrored, in many ways, my own professional evolution.

These memories are recalled not merely as a record of the past, but as a source of reassurance and encouragement, for myself, and for those close to me, in times of uncertainty as well as achievement. They reaffirm my enduring belief that institutions grow when people are trusted, learning is nurtured, and purpose remains larger than personal ambition. The lessons gathered during this phase continue to guide me, quietly and consistently, in every walk of life.

This narrative is a comprehensive, chronological, and institution-centric account of the Dr Marri Channa Reddy Human Resource Development Institute, consciously rewritten to strengthen structure, depth, sequencing, and clarity. It places the Institute at the center, highlights the decisive roles of PVRK Prasad, N Chandrababu Naidu, Urmila Subba Rao and M P Sethy, and situates my association only where contextually necessary, avoiding self-repetition. The intent is to present a full, flowing history of institutional transformation, free of redundancy, rich in programs and outcomes, and entirely positive in spirit.

The origins of the Dr MCR HRD Institute lie in the early national recognition that administration, governance, and development depend fundamentally on the quality of human resources. Acting on recommendations made at the national level to strengthen training for civil and technical services, the Government of India advised States to establish dedicated administrative training institutions. Accordingly, the Institute of Administration was established in March 1976 in the then undivided Andhra Pradesh.

In its formative decades, the Institute functioned primarily as a conventional administrative training center, organizing rule-based, classroom-oriented programs with limited infrastructure, modest budgets and no systematic linkage between training inputs and governance outcomes. By the mid-1990s, the need for a fundamental shift, from routine administrative training to structured capacity and capability building, was becoming increasingly evident.

It was during this period that the Institute entered a phase of gradual but decisive transition. When I joined the Institute on September 5, 1995 as Faculty, under the leadership of Dr V Chandra Mouli, it was still widely known as the Institute of Administration. Training programs were repetitive, participation was limited to familiar groups of officers, and the Jubilee Hills campus was relatively unknown even within government circles. Yet, this phase also marked the beginning of introspection and preparation for change.

A critical catalyst in this transition was the role played by Urmila Subba Rao, who, as Additional Director General and later In-charge Director General, initiated the earliest steps towards professionalizing training. She recognized that training could no longer remain episodic or ceremonial and began aligning the Institute with the emerging framework of the National Training Policy. During this phase, the conceptual groundwork for systematic training, training needs analysis and institutional expansion was laid.

Her engagement with the Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, and always her meetings with the CM accompanied by me, reflected his growing interest in positioning training and capacity building as central to governance reform. The transformation acquired decisive momentum with the assumption of charge by PVRK Prasad as Director General in the late 1990s. PVRK brought to the Institute a rare combination of administrative experience, moral authority, and strategic vision. His career had already demonstrated his ability to leave behind strong, self-sustaining institutions, and Dr MCR HRD Institute became one of his most enduring legacies.

At the time PVRK took charge, the Institute was still functioning largely as a traditional training establishment. Within a short span, he re-imagined its role as the Apex Human Resource Development Institution of the State. One of his earliest and most consequential contributions was redefining the Institute’s mandate itself. The Institute was renamed as Dr Marri Channa Reddy Human Resource Development Institute, symbolizing a shift from administrative instruction to holistic human resource development, aligned with the present and future needs of the State Government.

This institutional redefinition coincided with the reform-oriented governance philosophy of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. A strong believer in systematic training, technology-driven governance and accountability, the Chief Minister took personal interest in the Institute’s evolution. As Chairman of the Board of Governors, he consistently emphasized that training must be purposeful, measurable, and linked to outcomes. His concept of SMART Governance, Simple, Moral, Accountable, Responsive and Transparent, found practical expression through the training architecture developed at the Institute.

One of the most path-breaking initiatives of this phase was the Systematic Training Needs Analysis of State Government employees using Optical Mark Reader technology. Conceived to operationalize the National Training Policy’s vision of ‘Training for All’ this exercise covered several lakh employees across cadres, from Junior Assistants to Heads of Departments. It was among the first such large-scale, data-driven training needs assessments undertaken in the country and marked a decisive departure from intuition-based program design.

The findings of this exercise became the foundation for the State Training Initiative (STI), an ambitious and structured program aimed at ensuring a minimum quantum of training, approximately sixty hours, for every State Government employee. The STI represented a fundamental shift from sporadic capacity building to sustained capability building. Training was no longer viewed as an event, but as a continuous process embedded within administrative life.

Institutional infrastructure expanded rapidly to support this transformation. The Institute’s thirty-three-acre campus at Jubilee Hills was developed into a modern, state-of-the-art learning environment. New floors were added, training halls and auditoriums were modernized, conference and mini-conference halls were created, and residential facilities, sports infrastructure and support services were strengthened. What emerged was not merely a training campus, but a comprehensive ecosystem for learning, reflection, and professional interaction.

A landmark achievement during this period was the establishment of the Centre for Good Governance within the Institute campus. Conceived as a hub for identifying best practices, promoting administrative reforms, and developing replicable governance models, the Centre soon gained national and international recognition. Its inauguration by the then UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, and his extended engagement with the Chief Minister on the campus, symbolized the global relevance the Institute had attained.

Parallel to infrastructural expansion was a deliberate effort to professionalize training design and delivery. The Institute pioneered the use of video, and DVD-based learning, satellite-supported programs, and computer-based training modules. Large-scale trainer development initiatives were undertaken, and the Institute achieved ISO certification within a record period, reinforcing its commitment to quality systems and processes. Collaborations with national and international institutions, including the Department of Personnel and Training, UNDP, and leading academic bodies, further strengthened its professional credibility.

A crucial contributor to this professional depth was MP Sethy, one of the country’s foremost Master Trainers and a key figure in shaping India’s Trainer-Training Ecosystem. Brought to the Institute through determined institutional effort, Sethy’s presence elevated the quality of Trainer Development, Module Design and Pedagogical Rigor. His association significantly strengthened the Institute’s capacity to design and deliver high-impact programs and contributed to its reputation as a national leader in training innovation.

Another distinctive feature of this phase was the emphasis on leadership ownership of training. To institutionalize this principle, the Orientation to Management of Training program (OMOT) was conceptualized and implemented for senior IAS, IPS and non-cadre officers, including Heads of Departments. This program underscored that training effectiveness depends as much on leadership commitment as on content or methodology. The model was later adopted by training institutions across the country.

The Institute also played a central role in developing change leadership within the State through programs such as Governing for Results, Core Group Development initiatives and sector-specific interventions in areas including land reforms, tribal welfare, forest development, human rights, disaster management, child labor elimination, and citizen-centric administration. Innovative strategies, such as influencing key stakeholders and opinion leaders, were employed to ensure wider societal impact.

Training of successive batches of IAS probationers allotted to the State, foundation programs for Group I and II officers, and thematic programs for a wide range of services further consolidated the Institute’s role as the State’s apex training institution. A defining moment in this journey was the conduct of the first-ever structured training program for the entire State Cabinet after the 1999 elections, reflecting the Chief Minister’s conviction that learning and governance must progress together.

Over time, the Institute evolved from a little-known administrative training center into an internationally respected center of excellence in human resource development. This transformation was not the result of isolated initiatives, but of sustained vision, leadership continuity, professional commitment, and institutional trust. The imprint of PVRK. Prasad’s institution-building leadership, the reform-driven governance philosophy of CM N Chandrababu Naidu, the foundational contributions of Urmila Subba Rao, and the professional rigor introduced by MP Sethy remain deeply embedded in the Institute’s DNA. I was part of every phase of this transformation and did my best.

This account is offered as a comprehensive institutional memoir that fits naturally within my sixth professional engagement, while keeping the focus firmly on the Institute, its leadership, and its programs. It stands as a reminder that when training is treated as a strategic priority, institutions can be transformed, governance strengthened and public service elevated. The legacy of Dr MCR HRD Institute during this period continues to affirm the enduring value of vision, patience, professionalism, and faith in institutional growth.

This long and fulfilling phase at the Institute not only enriched my professional capabilities but also reinforced my belief that institutions grow when people are trusted, learning is continuous, and purpose remains larger than position. These lessons, quietly accumulated over nine years, continue to guide me in every sphere of life. What this period gradually revealed to me was that meaningful work seldom announces itself loudly, and that the most enduring contributions are often the result of patience, shared effort, and an unwavering commitment to processes rather than personalities.

I came to appreciate that real satisfaction in professional life flows not from titles or tenures, but from being part of something that steadily outlives individual roles and momentary recognition. The confidence gained from having witnessed and participated in such institution-building is deep, unspoken, and self-sustaining, requiring neither validation nor explanation. What followed thereafter was yet another phase of varied engagements and transitions, which I touch upon later, with as much detail as memory permits, carrying forward these convictions not as learned theories, but as quietly internalized companions that continue to shape choices, responses, and perspective.

{{From my Forthcoming Book

PROFESSIONS, CHECKERED CAREER, AND LESSONS

(From Librarian to CPRO to CM KCR)

A Journey from Khangi School to Center for Excellence}} 

‘The Code We Lived by Before We Coded’ >>>>> ‘Microsoft VP’ Ravi Vedula’s ‘Hyderabad Days’ Book : Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

 ‘The Code We Lived by Before We Coded’

‘Microsoft VP’ Ravi Vedula’s 

‘Hyderabad Days’ Book

Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

My nephew, Dr Aitharaju Bharat Babu, a dental specialist by profession but a litterateur by volition, walking in the footsteps of his illustrious father, the late Dr AP Ranga Rao, is a voracious reader and a passionate book lover. He constantly surrounds himself with a vibrant circle who include among others, doctors, civil servants, social activists, political leaders, journalists, high-profile software experts etc. as well as authors of highly acclaimed books.

Bharat makes it a point to purchase works at his own expense, generously gift them to friends and relatives to spread the joy of reading. One such remarkable 350-page book that Bharat recently gifted me is ‘Hyderabad Days: The Code We Lived by Before We Coded,’ authored by Ravi Vedula, his teenage days friend, when their families lived as neighbours in the government accommodations of the Panjagutta Junior (PJ) Officers’ Colony in Hyderabad. Their friendship has beautifully endured the test of time.

Bharat fondly recounted his memories with Ravi Vedula, who is a lifelong engineer and a storyteller at heart. Today, he serves as Corporate Vice President at Microsoft, residing in Seattle, USA. Ravi has spent there for over twenty-five years making munificent contributions across various technological domains. Beyond his impressive academic credentials, his journey to the upper echelons of Microsoft is a testament to resilience, advancing from a barefoot boy chasing cricket balls down the dusty lanes of Hyderabad’s Panjagutta of yester years, to a global tech executive.

Coming from a modest middle-class background, Ravi uses this memoir, as beautifully captured in the ‘About the Author’ note, as a metaphorical return home. It is a nostalgic pilgrimage not just for him, but for anyone who fondly remembers a simpler world that fundamentally shaped who they became. A fascinating aspect of this book is its publication in the USA by ‘8080 Books,’ a unique publishing imprint of Microsoft Corporation, the very company where Ravi Vedula has built his career.

Adding immense weight to the volume is an immaculate foreword penned by Greg Shaw, an extraordinary individual who, three decades ago, worked closely with industry titans Bill Gates and Peter Rinearson. Gates is the legendary pioneer of the microcomputer revolution of the 1970s and 1980s who co-founded Microsoft in 1975. Rinearson is a distinguished American journalist, author, entrepreneur, and former Microsoft Vice President who famously won the Pulitzer Prize.

The foreword opens with a compelling reminiscence of his role in publishing epoch-making literature. He highlights his experience with The Road Ahead, a seminal work that famously heralded the personal computer and internet revolutions. Shaw also reflects on his later experience collaborating with Microsoft’s current CEO, Satya Nadella, on the critically acclaimed book Hit Refresh. That work anticipated the massive, ongoing shifts defining modern technology, namely cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality, and quantum computing.

Shaw astutely observes that in both of these landmark books, the authors revealed critical glimpses of their personal back-stories. He then draws upon a few more historical instances to illustrate how an individual's formative years invariably shape their grandest professional achievements. Drawing a brilliant parallel between those landmark tech manifestos and Ravi Vedula’s Hyderabad Days, Greg Shaw characterizes this memoir as an elegantly written testament to a unique human phenomenon.

Greg Shaw opines that, it explores the unwritten ‘Code’ that Ravi, much like an entire generation of Indian-American software developers, assimilated within their childhood colonies and neighbourhoods long before they ever learned to program a computer. Ultimately, Shaw hails the book as both a literary triumph and an illuminating lecture. Capturing the very soul of the memoir, he highlights a poignant quote from the author: ‘This isn’t a story of how I made it. It’s the story of where I was made.’  With this, Shaw aptly concludes that inside each of us live those foundational memories and reminders of where we were made, and of the people who taught us how to live.

Ravi Vedula’s preface is deeply electrifying, masterfully framing his life’s trajectory as a journey between two distinct worlds: India gave him his roots, and America gave him his wings. Reflecting on this profound duality, Ravi notes that while the dusty lanes of Hyderabad taught him resilience, the value of five rupees, and Jugaad, the art of resourceful, frugal innovation under strict constraints, the high-stakes conference rooms of corporate America demanded absolute clarity, expansive vision, and global scale.

This juxtaposition inspired his memoir, a creative spark ignited during a personal meeting with General Colin Powell. Ravi was struck by how Powell, the legendary first Black US Secretary of State and a decorated military leader, drew upon boyhood anecdotes to guide his statesman leadership. Mirroring Powell’s own biographical approach to life and leadership, Hyderabad Days stands as Ravi's personal testament to those enduring early lessons.

Structured chronologically, Hyderabad Days comprises seventy-six distinct topics distributed across six thematic sections: ‘The World Within the Gates; Kitchen Politics, Cricket Wars, and Other Neighbourhood Truths; Stories That Raised Us; Growing Up, Drifting Apart; Voices from the Outside; and finally, The Colony Without Borders:and the Day It Stood Still.’ In an enthralling opening piece aptly titled ‘Nostalgic Lead,’ Ravi Vedula candidly reveals that his book was never meant to be a grand project.

Instead, wrote Ravi that, it blossomed from a simple, deep-seated desire to preserve fleeting sensory memories: the unique aroma of his mother’s Upma, the raw feel of gravel under bare feet during neighbourhood cricket matches, and the distinct, grainy taste of Gokul Chat enjoyed under neon lights after hunting for second hand comics. Yet, as he committed these vivid memories to paper, Ravi arrived at a profound realization. These childhood chronicles were far more than mere nostalgia, but they were the raw human circuits and cognitive algorithms, the foundational building blocks, that shaped his entire way of thinking.

In his opening topic, Ravi Vedula masterfully clarifies the cultural definition of an Indian ‘Colony,’ explaining that it signifies a vibrant, deeply interconnected neighbourhood rather than a sterile settlement. Reflecting on the spirited atmosphere of Panjagutta, he vividly illustrates this shared ecosystem by writing: ‘Everyone knew everyone. If you sneezed in your bedroom, someone in three houses down would send you Haldi Milk. If your cricket ball smashed a window, the news reached your mother before you got home, and if you tried to date someone, five uncles and six aunties were already following the drama.’

Capturing the true essence of the city’s past, Ravi writes: ‘It's about Hyderabad in the 1980s and 1990s: not the Hyderabad of Biryani brochures or tech parks, but the one with drain-covered gullies, open gates, and neighbours who all knew your nickname.’ Yet, he candidly admits that the memoir does not shy away from life's harsher realities. Some chapters carry the heavy, unmistakable weight of grief and longing, evoking images of love letters never sent or a cricket bat never returned.

Even amidst these shadows, Ravi beautifully concludes that the community offered an enduring solace: There was always a kind of light. That is what the colony gave us, a net of belonging, strong enough to hold both joy and pain.’ From the day Ravi Vedula moving into PJ-4 to fond memories of Gokul Chat, Pesarattu (Crisp, Green Moong Crepe), Milk Cards, Morning Sleep, and the IAS Lane, Bhel Puri and Tick-Ticket Toys, every single chapter is captivating.

In his final reflections, Ravi grows deeply nostalgic, writing: ‘The PJ Colony is no longer the same ... My family home has been demolished ... But its spirit lives in me.’ Well, Hyderabad, a city that managed small colonies and neighbourhoods, now governs global aspirations. Hyderabad Days is a masterpiece: an evocative, must-read book that beautifully honours a lost world.

(Article Writer: Former CPRO to Former Telangana Chief Minister KCR)

Moral Storm After the Calm >>>>> Simplified and faithful rendering of the Adi Kavya-29: Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

 Moral Storm After the Calm

Simplified and faithful rendering 

of the Adi Kavya-29

How One Moment of Celebration Turned into a

Test of Human Weakness and Divine Design

Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

            In the previous article of Ayodhya Kanda, we witnessed a kingdom at peace, Ayodhya glowing with joy, harmony, and hope. King Dasharatha’s decision to crown Sri Rama as Prince Regent was welcomed not merely as a political act, but as a moral assurance to the people. Yet history, and life itself, often reminds that, moments of greatest happiness are also moments of greatest vulnerability. This chapter marks that sudden turning point, where human emotions such as jealousy, insecurity, manipulation, and misplaced affection collide with destiny and divine will. What unfolds here becomes the foundation for Valmiki’s deeper philosophical journey in the chapters ahead.

The precise reason for the moral storm that followed the calm, as narrated earlier, arose from the spontaneous joy of the people of Ayodhya. They celebrated King Dasharatha’s decision to crown Rama, the eldest son of his eldest queen Kausalya, as Prince Regent. Citizens spoke among themselves about Dasharatha’s noble heart, Rama’s wisdom, humility, righteousness, compassion, and his habit of enquiring about the well-being of everyone without discrimination. This collective joy reflected a society that valued character over power and virtue over birthright. Unfortunately, this very scene caught the wicked eye of Kaikeyi’s maid, Manthara (a hunchbacked maidservant), who happened to witness it by chance. Even today, public appreciation of goodness can unknowingly provoke hidden insecurities in others, reminding that, not all observers rejoice in another’s happiness.

From the balcony of Kaikeyi’s palace, Manthara observed Ayodhya a day before Rama’s coronation. The city was beautifully decorated, roads sprinkled with water, walls freshly whitewashed, and musical instruments filling the air with celebration. Curious and puzzled, she wondered what great event was unfolding. Dasharatha, cautious of Kaikeyi’s unpredictable temperament, had deliberately ensured that the news reached her only through him. As a result, even Manthara remained unaware until that moment. This deliberate postponement of communication, though well-intentioned, subtly hints at how avoidance can sometimes create space for greater misunderstandings.

Manthara then noticed a palace maid moving about joyfully, adorned in silk garments and radiant with happiness. She questioned the maid about the reason for such celebration and whether the king was performing some extraordinary deed. Unaware of Manthara’s poisonous intent, the maid innocently revealed that Sri Rama was to be crowned Prince Regent the next morning under the auspicious Pushyami star. Hearing this, Manthara’s heart burned with envy and rage. She rushed to Kaikeyi and narrated the news, twisting it according to her malicious imagination. Often, truth itself is not dangerous, but what proves destructive is the lens of selfish intent through which it is presented.

Manthara began by expressing shock at Kaikeyi’s peaceful sleep, declaring that she was in the midst of a grave crisis. She claimed Kaikeyi was no longer Dasharatha’s beloved queen and mocked her ignorance. Startled and disturbed by these words, Kaikeyi anxiously asked Manthara why she spoke so harshly. Manthara, now revealing her vicious agenda, warned Kaikeyi that her silence and inaction would lead to her ruin. Here Valmiki subtly warns that fear-driven counsel, when accepted without reflection, can override one’s natural wisdom.

Manthara revealed Dasharatha’s decision to coronate Rama next day morning for which all the arrangements were in progress, and argued that Rama’s lineage would rule for generations, erasing Bharata’s name from royal succession. She accused Dasharatha of deceiving Kaikeyi with sweet words while favoring Kausalya. Urging immediate action, Manthara claimed delay would only worsen the situation. This moment illustrates how selective reasoning and imagined future losses can overshadow present harmony and trust.

Contrary to Manthara’s expectations, Kaikeyi responded with joy upon hearing the coronation news. Rising happily from her bed, she gifted Manthara a precious jewel, stating that no news could be more delightful. She affirmed that Rama and Bharata were equal in her eyes and that Rama’s coronation brought her as much happiness as Bharata’s would have. Manthara, however, remained dissatisfied. Kaikeyi’s initial purity of thought reminds that, human nature is not inherently flawed, but it is vulnerable to corruption when repeatedly assaulted by doubt.

Kaikeyi went on to praise Rama’s virtues and potentials, declaring him worthy of kingship due to his age, character, and righteousness. She questioned Manthara’s pain and accused her of possessing a venomous nature. Kaikeyi firmly stated that this was a time for celebration, not sorrow. This exchange shows that wisdom often speaks first, but persistence of negativity can still overpower it.

Kaikeyi further asserted that even if Rama ruled for a hundred years, Bharata would eventually succeed him the way Rama succeeding Dasharatha. To her, Rama was no different from Bharata, and perhaps even dearer. Rama, she said, treated all equally and loved his brothers as himself. These words deeply disappointed Manthara, who continued her manipulative efforts until Kaikeyi’s resolve weakened. Repeated exposure to cunning words can gradually erode even the strongest convictions, a lesson relevant in every age.

Eventually, Manthara succeeded. With her counsel Kaikeyi got thoroughly convinced. Her face burned with anger, and she sought Manthara’s advice to permanently stop Rama’s coronation and secure the throne for Bharata. She promised full cooperation if a suitable plan was suggested. Manthara proposed sending Rama into forest exile and immediately crowning Bharata. Once the mind surrenders to fear, even unthinkable actions begin to appear justified.

Manthara reminded Kaikeyi of the ancient battle between gods and demons, when Dasharatha aided Indra. She recalled how Kaikeyi accompanied the king to the battlefield near Vaijayanta city which belonged to Demon Shambhara in the southern direction of Dandaka forest, and saved his life twice when he was gravely wounded. Grateful, Dasharatha had granted her two boons, to be claimed whenever she wished. Past sacrifices, when remembered without gratitude but with calculation, can become tools of manipulation.

Having said like this and having reminded of the two boons that were in reserve for exploiting, Manthara briefed her wicked plan of action to Kaikeyi. She advised Kaikeyi to demand those two boons immediately. The first, to cancel Rama’s coronation and crown Bharata instead. The second, to exile Rama to the forest for fourteen years. During this time, Bharata would gain the people’s affection and firmly establish his rule. This reflects a dangerous mindset where power is prioritized over fairness, and impatience over natural succession.

Manthara further instructed Kaikeyi to dramatize her anger by entering the chamber of rage, discarding ornaments, lying on the bare floor, and refusing comfort. The moment Dasharatha comes to her, she should pretend sorrow and keep weeping. She should extract a solemn promise from Dasharatha before revealing her demands. Emotional manipulation, when staged deliberately, can overpower even the strongest moral resolve.

Manthara also cautioned Kaikeyi that, Dasharatha alternately might offer several things and she should not agree. Praising Manthara’s intelligence, Kaikeyi removed her ornaments and entered the chamber of anger. She vowed not to eat, drink, or accept comfort unless Rama was exiled. Thus, the queen fully surrendered herself to the path of obsession. Here Valmiki shows how unchecked desire transforms dignity into self-destruction.

After reviewing coronation arrangements, Dasharatha came to inform Kaikeyi personally. Finding her absent, he learned she had gone to the chamber of rage. Distressed and fearful, the king hurried there. Even powerful leaders become helpless when emotional storms erupt within their own homes. Dasharatha found Kaikeyi lying on the floor and was overwhelmed with grief. He told her that, he felt very bad to see her resting in this way on the bare floor.

Dasharatha gently touched her and anxiously enquired about her health, offering Royal Physicians and every comfort imaginable. True affection often expresses itself through helpless concern rather than authority. He repeatedly asked who had offended her and assured her that he would rectify any mistake, even at the cost of his life. Promises made in emotional vulnerability often ignore long-term consequences.

Feigning consolation, and intending to put up her proposal of asking two boons, Kaikeyi harshly declared that she was neither sick nor insulted but desired fulfillment of a wish. And it was he who had to fulfill certain desire of her. She demanded a prior promise from Dasharatha who readily agreed and assured Kaikeyi that, as she was aware, there was nobody on this earth dearer to him than her except Rama. This moment reflects how emotional leverage can coerce even the wise into dangerous commitments.

Dasharatha further told her that, despite knowing his mind very well, she was asking him to promise to fulfill her desire. He assured her, swearing upon Rama himself, declaring that, he could not live without him. He vowed to fulfill her desire unconditionally. He wanted to know as early as possible as to what her desire was. If he fails to fulfill his promise, said Dasharatha that, let his entire auspiciousness be destroyed. Ironically, the very oath meant to affirm love became the instrument of impending tragedy.

Delighted, Kaikeyi reminded Dasharatha of the two boons granted to her by him, during the ancient battle and demanded them now. Without reflection, the king urged her to state them. Memory, when selectively invoked, can alter the course of destiny. Kaikeyi demanded Bharata’s coronation in Rama’s place and Rama’s exile to the forest for fourteen years as an ascetic. She insisted this would secure a peaceful kingdom. Power gained through injustice, however, rarely brings peace.

Dasharatha was shattered. Shocked and anguished by the strange wishes of Kaikeyi he was greatly disturbed and hurt badly. He collapsed, regained consciousness, and sat grief-stricken on the floor. With eyes blazing in anguish, he spoke harshly to Kaikeyi, consumed by sorrow. Thus begins the irreversible unfolding of divine design, where human weakness becomes the instrument of cosmic purpose.

This chapter stands as one of the most crucial turning points in the Valmiki Ramayana. It teaches timeless lessons: not to let jealousy overpower joy, not to listen blindly to cunning counsel, not to misuse love as leverage, and not to postpone righteous action out of emotional attachment. Above all, Valmiki reveals that behind every human flaw operates a divine intention, guiding events toward a greater moral order. Rama’s exile is not merely a punishment, but it was the pathway through which dharma will illuminate the world.

>>> Photographs courtesy Rama Bhakta Vijaya Raghava Dasu

{{From my Published Book ‘Simplified and Faithful Rendering of the Adi Kavya’

Valmiki Ramayana: The Greatest Epic (Bala and Ayodhya Kandas)}}

(This Book is free of cost for all those who are interested to read the English Version of Valmiki Ramayana, provided they collect it from me in person preferably. Mobile: 8008137012)

‘హైదరాబాద్ గోల్కొండ వ్యాపారి సంక్షేమ సంఘం’ >>>> రజతోత్సవ, సావనీర్ ఆవిష్కరణ వేడుకలలో కొద్దిసేపు : వనం జ్వాలా నరసింహారావు

 ‘హైదరాబాద్ గోల్కొండ వ్యాపారి సంక్షేమ సంఘం’

రజతోత్సవ, సావనీర్ ఆవిష్కరణ వేడుకలలో కొద్దిసేపు

వనం జ్వాలా నరసింహారావు

చరిత్ర కేవలం కాలగర్భంలో కలిసిపోయే సంఘటనల సమాహారం కాదు అది సమాజ గమనాన్ని సంస్కృతీ సాంప్రదాయాలను భావితరాలకు అందించే ఒక సజీవ వంతెన. సమాజ వికాసంలో భాగస్వాములవుతూ తమదైన ముద్రను వేసుకుంటూ సాగిపోయే సంస్థల ప్రయాణం ఎందరికో స్ఫూర్తిదాయకం. అటువంటి ఒక విశిష్టమైన చారిత్రక నేపథ్యం కలిగిన సంస్థ జరుపుకున్న రజతోత్సవ వేడుక సాహిత్య సాంస్కృతిక సమ్మేళనంగా సాగిన తీరు అభినందనీయం.

హైదరాబాద్ గోల్కొండ వ్యాపారి సంక్షేమ సంఘం అత్యంత అద్భుతంగా జరుపుకున్న రజతోత్సవ వేడుకలకు అలాగే ఆ సందర్భంగా రజతోత్సవ దీపికగా వెలువడిన సావనీర్ ఆవిష్కరణకు నన్ను ముఖ్య అతిథిగా ఆహ్వానించడం ఒక మరువలేని అనుభూతి. శ్రీచక్ర ప్రింటర్స్ సౌజన్యంతో తమ్మిరాజు శేషు శ్రీదేవి దంపతుల ఔదార్య నైపుణ్యాలతో అత్యంత ఆకర్షణీయంగా ప్రచురితమైన రజత దీప్తి జ్ఞాపకాల వెలుగులు సావనీర్ ఆవిష్కరణ సభలో నిర్వాహకులు నాకు ఊహించని గౌరవాన్ని కలిగించారు. దీనిని జూన్ నెల 28, 2026 నాడు నేను చేసుకున్న పుణ్యంగా అదృష్టంగా భావిస్తున్నాను. ఈ సావనీర్ పేజీలను తిరగేస్తూ కనీసం కొంతమేరకైనా చదివితే ఈ సంఘం ఆవిర్భావ నేపథ్యం దాని ఆరోహణ క్రమం అలాగే ఈ శాఖకు చెందిన కొందరు మహనీయుల విశేషాలు స్పష్టంగా అవగతమవుతాయి. అదంతా సమకాలీన నడుస్తున్న చరిత్ర అని తెలుసుకోవడానికి ఎంతో సమయం పట్టదు.

ఈ కారణంగా ప్రప్రథమంగా అభినందించాల్సిన వ్యక్తి సావనీర్ ను అత్యంత ఆకర్షణీయంగా, విలువకట్టలేని విజ్ఞాన జ్ఞాపికగా తీర్చిదిద్దిన ప్రధాన సంపాదకుడు పున్నమరాజు ఉమామహేశ్వరరావు, ఆయన నిబద్ధత గల బృందం. సంఘం అధ్యక్షుడు బచ్చు పట్టాభి రామప్రసాద్, కార్యదర్శి అవసరాల ఏఎస్ రామారావు, మునుగంటి వెంకటరావు, బచ్చు ఎస్వీ పార్థసారథి, అవసరాల వేంకటరావు, మునుగంటి బీవీ రామకృష్ణతో పాటు మరొక ఇద్దరు ముగ్గురు రాసిన కవితలు మినహా దాదాపు సావనీర్ లోని వ్యాసాలన్నింటినీ ఒంటిచేత్తో రాసిన వ్యక్తి ప్రధాన సంపాదకుడు పున్నమరాజు. తన ‘మనసులో మాట’ అనే పరిచయ వాక్యంతో మొదలుపెట్టి సుమారు ఏడెనిమిది వ్యాసాలు ఆయనే స్వయంగా రాశారు. సంపాదక బాధ్యత అంటే అలా-ఇలా ఉండాలి అని ఆయన సోదాహరణంగా నిరూపించారు.

సావనీర్ లోని కొన్ని అంశాలు విజ్ఞానపరంగా ఆసక్తికరంగా ఉన్నాయని చెప్పడానికి కొన్ని ఉదాహరణలు ప్రస్తావించుకోవాలి. ఆరువేల నియోగులు అనే నియోగి బ్రాహ్మణులలో గోల్కొండ వ్యాపారులు ఒక శాఖ అన్నది వాస్తవమని బ్రౌణ్య నిఘంటువులో బ్రౌన్ పేర్కొన్న అంశాన్ని గోల్కొండ వ్యాపారుల పుట్టుపూర్వోత్తరాలు అనే శీర్షికన రాసిన వ్యాసంలో బచ్చు ఎస్వీ పార్థసారథి పేర్కొన్నారు. మరిన్ని చారిత్రిక ఆధారాలను ఉటంకిస్తూ ఆరువేల నియోగులలో కొందరు పన్నెండవ శతాబ్దం తరువాత గోల్కొండ ప్రాంతానికి వలసవచ్చి స్థిరనివాసం ఏర్పరచుకుని ప్రభుత్వ లెక్కలు చూసేవారని ఆయన రాశారు. గోల్కొండ వ్యాపారులు కాలానుగుణంగా స్మార్త సంప్రదాయం నుండి వైష్ణవ సంప్రదాయానికి మారారని కూడా ఆయన అభిప్రాయపడ్డారు.

మరొక ఆసక్తికరమైన విషయాన్ని కూడా బచ్చు ఎస్వీ పార్థసారథి తన వ్యాసంలో ప్రస్తావించారు. బ్రాహ్మణులలో వివిధ శాఖలు వారి వృత్తిని బట్టి, వారు నివసించే స్థలాన్ని బట్టి ఏర్పడ్డాయని ఆయన వివరించారు. వేదాధ్యయనం చేసి వైదిక సంప్రదాయాన్ని తరతరాలుగా పాటించిన బ్రాహ్మణులు వైదీకులు కాగా కరణాలుగా మంత్రులుగా సేనాపతులుగా నియోగి బ్రాహ్మణులు మరియు గోల్కొండ వ్యాపారులు రాణించారని పేర్కొన్నారు. అలాగే తమిళనాడు నుండి వచ్చి ఇక్కడ స్థిరపడిన వారిని ద్రావిడ బ్రాహ్మణులు అంటారని మహారాష్ట్ర ఉత్తర ప్రదేశ్ కర్నాటక మూలాలు కలిగిన వారిని దేశస్థ బ్రాహ్మణులు అని అంటారని ఆయన తన వ్యాసంలో స్పష్టం చేశారు.

ప్రధాన సంపాదకుడు పున్నమరాజు సావనీర్ వ్యాసాల పరంపర గోల్కొండ రాజ్య వైభవ నిర్మాతలు అక్కన్న మాదన్నలు అనే వ్యాసంతో ఆరంభమైంది. కాలగర్భంలో ఎందరి పేర్లో మరుగున పడినప్పటికీ తమ కార్యదీక్షతో ప్రజాహిత సంకల్పంతో రాజ్యాభివృద్ధికి చేసిన అసాధారణ సేవలతో అక్కన్న మాదన్నలు చరిత్రలో శాశ్వత స్థానాన్ని సంపాదించారని ఆయన అద్భుతంగా రాశారు. గోల్కొండ వైభవ గాథలో వారి పేరు ఒక అధ్యాయం కాదు ఒక యుగం అని కొనియాడారు. అలాగే దాసభక్తికి నిదర్శనం భక్త రామదాసు అని అంటూ తన అచంచల విశ్వాసంతో శ్రీరాముడి కరుణను సాక్షాత్కరించిన మహాభక్తుడు భద్రాచల రామదాసు మనందరికీ ప్రాతఃస్మరణీయుడు అని పేర్కొన్నారు. చిరస్మరణీయ మహనీయుడు తూము లక్ష్మీనరసింహదాసు అని కూడా ఆయన అభివర్ణించారు.

ఒంటిమిట్ట రామదాసు వాసుదాసు అన్న శీర్షికతో ఆంధ్రవాల్మీకి వావిలికొలను సుబ్బారావు గారి గురించి ఆయన చక్కగా వివరించారు. వాసుదాసు గారు వాల్మీకి రామాయణాన్ని నూట ఎనిమిది సార్లు నియమనిష్ఠలతో పారాయణం చేశారని పేర్కొన్నారు. అలాగే మందరం పేరుతో ఇరవై నాలుగు వేల పద్యాలుగా ప్రతిపదార్థ తాత్పర్య సహితంగా వాల్మీకి సంస్కృత రామాయణాన్ని యథావాల్మీకంగా తెలుగులోకి అనువదించిన విషయాన్ని గుర్తుచేశారు. టెంకాయ చిప్ప చేతపట్టుకుని భిక్షాటన చేసి ఆ ధనంతో ఒంటిమిట్ట రామాలయాన్ని పునరుద్ధరించిన వైనాన్ని వివరించారు. ఆయన జీవితమంతా ఆధ్యాత్మిక మార్గంలోనే గడిపారని చెబుతూ తెనాలి సమీపంలోని అంగలకుదురు నడిగడ్డపాలెంలో ఆయన స్థాపించిన వాసుదాస ఆశ్రమం ఉన్న విషయంతో పాటు ఇలా ఎన్నో విశేషాలను ఆయన గురించి ఈ వ్యాసంలో ప్రస్తావించారు.

సావనీర్ లోని ఇతర ఆలోచనాత్మక, పరిశోధనాత్మక, ఆసక్తికరమైన వ్యాసాల గురించి కూడా చెప్పుకోవాలి. అందులో ‘గానకళా కిరీటి మునుగంటి’ ‘ద్విగళ జ్యోతి సీత సత్యవతి’ ‘బహుముఖ కళాతృష్ణ భానుమతి రామకృష్ణ’ ‘ఆయన కలం వజ్రాయుధం’ అంటూ అవత్స సోమసుందర్ గురించి పున్నమరాజు రాసిన వ్యాసాలు ఉన్నాయి. వీటితో పాటు ‘రేడియో అన్నయ్య రేడియో అక్కయ్య’ ‘అక్షరశిల్పి అవసరాల’ ‘వాయులీన స్వర విహారి అవసరాల కన్యాకుమారి’ ‘గానకోకిల పి సుశీల’ ‘సంగీత వారధి డాక్టర్ వైజర్సు బాలసుబ్రహ్మణ్యం’ ‘అద్వితీయ కళాకారుడు పున్నమరాజు,’ ‘గోల్కొండ వ్యాపారుల చరిత్ర అభివృద్ధి’ వంటి ఎన్నో వైవిధ్యభరితమైన వ్యాసాలు ఇందులో చోటు సంపాదించుకున్నాయి.

ఆహ్లాదభరితంగా, రసవత్తరంగా, ఆత్మీయ పలకరింపుల మధ్య ఆనందదాయకంగా, నిర్వాహకుల నిబద్ధతకు పర్యాయపదంగా, సుమారు రెండు గంటలపాటు జరిగిన సభా కార్యక్రమానికి పూర్వరంగంలో అద్భుతమైన కూచిపూడి నృత్యం మధురమైన సంగీతాలాపన, సంఘం ఆవిర్భావ వ్యక్తుల జ్ఞాపకాల పరంపరల చతురోక్తులు ప్రత్యేక ఆకర్షణలుగా నిలిచాయి. అనేకానేక కార్యక్రమాలలో, అనేకానేక వేదికలపై తెలుగు రాష్ట్రాల వ్యాప్తంగా లెక్కలేనన్ని సాంస్కృతిక సాహిత్య సంగీత వివాహ వేడుకలలో ప్రేక్షక మహాశయులను అలరిస్తూ ‘వ్యాఖ్యాన కళారత్న’ బిరుదును సొంతం చేసుకున్న పున్నమరాజు ఉమామహేశ్వరరావు సావనీర్ ప్రధాన సంపాదక బాధ్యతలే కాకుండా సభా నిర్వహణ కూడా చేస్తూ ద్విపాత్రాభినయం చేశారు.

వేదిక మీదకు సంఘం అధ్యక్షుడు బచ్చు పట్టాభి రామప్రసాద్ గారిని, కార్యదర్శి అవసరాల ఏఎస్ రామారావు గారిని, డాక్టర్ వైజర్సు బాలసుబ్రహ్మణ్యం గారిని, తదితర పెద్దలను, వారి సరసన నన్నూ ఆహ్వానిస్తూ ‘శ్రీ వనం రాసిన అక్షరాలు మాట్లాడతాయి. ఆయన మాటలతో మన ఆలోచనలు వికసిస్తాయి. ఆయన నడవడికలో సంస్కారం తొణికిసలాడుతుంది. ఆయన బోధనల్లో ప్రేరణ ప్రతిబింబిస్తుంది. వేలాది మంది విద్యార్థుల జీవితాల్లో జ్ఞానదీపాలు వెలిగించి తన కర్తవ్యనిష్ఠతో అందరి మన్ననలు పొందిన ఆదర్శ గురువు ఆయన. రచయితగా, వ్యాసకర్తగా, తెలుగు సాహిత్యానికి విశిష్ట సేవలందించిన సాహితీ విరాణ్మూర్తి ఆయన’ అని ప్రశంసించారు.

ఇంకా ఇలా అన్నారు: ‘సార్వజనీనమైన సర్వకాలీనమైన రామాయణ భారత భాగవత గ్రంథ సారాంశాన్ని ఔపోసన పట్టి, సనాతన ధర్మ ధ్వజం చేతబట్టి, అనుభవాలే అధ్యాయాలుగా, అనుభూతులే అక్షరాలుగా, ఆంధ్ర వాల్మీకి రామాయణ రసరమ్య గాథలు, మందర మకరందం, అనుపమ గీతాలతో సహా, అనేక అమూల్య సాహితీ జ్వాలా తోరణాలు, వెలయించిన విద్యా వైతాళికులు, వినయ విభూషణులు, సంస్కార సింధువు, సాహితీ బంధువు, తెలంగాణ తొలి ముఖ్యమంత్రి కేసీఆర్ కు ప్రధాన ప్రజా సంబంధాల అధికారి, మాన్యశ్రీ వనం జ్వాలా నరసింహారావు గారిని వినయపూర్వకంగా మన గోల్కొండ వ్యాపారి సంక్షేమ సంఘ రజతోత్సవ స్మరణిక ఆవిష్కరణోత్సవ సభకు గౌరవ అతిథిగా వేదిక మీదకు ఆహ్వానిస్తున్నాం’ అని సభనుద్దేశించి పేర్కొన్నారు. (ఏమీ నా అదృష్టం!!!)

వేదిక మీద నేను కూర్చున్న తరువాత మళ్లీ పున్నమరాజు గారే ఇలా కొనసాగించారు: ‘ఈ రోజు మన గౌరవ అతిథిగా విచ్చేసిన మహానుభావులు శ్రీ వనం జ్వాలా నరసింహారావు గారి గురించి ఒక్క మాట చెప్పాలి ప్రత్యేకంగా మనకు సంబంధించి మన సంఘ పూర్వీకుల్లో గొప్పవాడైన ఒక మహనీయుడి చరిత్రను భావితరాల కోసం నిక్షిప్తం చేశారు ఆయన. నేను తప్పక ఆ విషయం చెప్పాలి. మనం ఆయనకు ఎంతైనా రుణపడి ఉండాలి. భద్రాచలం రాముడి వైభవానికి కారణం ఎవరని అడిగితే తడుముకోకుండా భక్త రామదాసు అని చెప్పేస్తాం. కంచర్ల గోపన్న మన కుటుంబీకుడే అని చెప్తారు’ అని సభకు వివరిస్తూ మరిన్ని విషయాలు చెప్పారు.

‘కానీ ఒంటిమిట్ట రాముడికోసం, తన జీవిత సర్వస్వాన్ని అర్పించిన ఒక మహానుభావుడు మన గోల్కొండ వ్యాపారి కుటుంబీకుడు. చాలా మందికి ఈ విషయం తెలియకపోవచ్చు.  ఆయన్ని ఒంటిమిట్ట రామదాసు అంటారు. ఆయనే వావిలకొలను సుబ్బారావు ‘వాసుదాసు.’ ఆయనకి ఆంధ్ర వాల్మీకి అని బిరుదు. ఎందుకంటే, వాల్మీకి మహర్షి వ్రాసిన 24000 శ్లోకాల రామాయణాన్ని, మందరం  వేరుతో 24000 తెలుగు పద్యాలుగా, ప్రతి పద్యానికి టీక, ప్రతిపదార్ధం, ఎంతో వివరంగా తాత్పర్యం   వ్రాసి   చరిత్రలో నిలిచిపోయినా మహానుభావుడు వాసుదాసు గారు. వాసుదాసు గారు వ్రాసిన 24000 పద్యాలకి మందర మకరందం  పేరుతో అధ్భుతమైన వ్యాఖ్యానాన్ని వ్రాసారు, ఈ నాటి మన గౌరవ అతిథి శ్రీ వనం జ్వాలా నరసింహా రావు గారు. వారు ఈ రోజు మన వెండి పండుగలో పాలు పంచుకోవడం  మనకి నిజంగా ఎంతో గర్వ కారణం.’ అన్నారు పున్నమరాజు.

వాసుదాసు గారితో సహాయ ఆయన లాంటి ఎంతో మంది గొప్ప వ్యక్తుల జీవిత విశేషాలు ఈ స్మరణీ (సావినీర్)క లో పొందుపరచె ప్రయత్నం చేశామని, అద్భుతంగా గోల్కొండ వ్యాపారి సంక్షేమ సంఘ రజతోత్సవ స్మరణిక ఆవిష్కరణోత్సవ పూర్వాపరాలను ఆవిష్కరించారు. ముఖ్యంగా సంచిక వెలువడడానికి కారణభూతులను జ్ఞప్తికి తెచ్చుకున్నారు. ప్రత్యేకంగా ఇద్దరి, ముగ్గురు  వ్యక్తుల అవిశ్రాంత కృషిని ప్రశంసించారు. వారే: డాక్టర్ శ్రీ బచ్చు పార్ధసారధి, కార్యదర్శి అవసరాల రామారావు, వారి సతీమణి శ్రీమతి మాలతి, శ్రీచక్ర ప్రింటర్స్ అధినేతలు శ్రీ తమ్మిరాజు శేషు, శ్రీదేవి దంపతులు, డిజైనర్ నరేష్, పున్నమిరాజు శ్రీమతి రాధిక తదితరులు.

‘సాయంకాలం ఇళ్ళకి వెళ్లేటప్పుడు జ్ఞాపకాలతో పాటు ఈ పుస్తకాన్ని కూడా పట్టుకెళ్లి, వీలు చేసుకుని చదవండని, గోల్కొండ కుటుంబీకుల్లో తెలియని వారందరి గురించీ తెలుసుకోండని, ఆ సమాచారాన్ని భద్రపరచండని, భావి త రాలకు అందించండని, ఇది మన తరానికి చెందిన చరిత్రని, ఇది మన  వారసత్వ సంపదని,’ చక్కగా స్ఫూర్తినిస్తూ మాట్లాదారాయన.  

పున్నమరాజు చెప్పినట్లు, ‘గోల్కొండ వ్యాపారి సంక్షేమ సంఘం ఆధ్వర్యవంలో ప్రచురింపబడిన సావనీర్ కేవలం ఒక 68  పేజీల రంగుల పుస్తకం మాత్రమేకాదు. అది ఇరవై ఐదు సంవత్సరాల సంఘం ప్రయాణాన్ని తన గుండెల్లో దాచుకున్న చరిత్ర. అనుభవాలు, అనుబంధాలు, అంకితభావాలు, ఆత్మీయతలు, జీవిత చరిత్రల కు చిరునామా. ఒక చరిత్రగా నిలబెట్టగలిగే అక్షరాలతో నిండిన పుస్తకం. తరాల మధ్య వారధి. సావనీర్ క్షుణ్ణంగా చదువుతే: ఇందులో కేవలం గతం మాత్రమే కాదు, భవిష్యత్తుకు మార్గదర్శనం  ఉంది. ఇందులో కేవలం సంఘ చరిత్ర మాత్రమే కాదు, సంఘ సంస్కృతి ఉంది. ఇందులో కేవలం జ్ఞాపకాలు మాత్రమే కాదు, ఎన్నో జీవిత పాఠాలు ఉన్నాయి. ఇందులో కేవలం నిశ్చల చిత్రాలు మాత్రమే కాదు, ఆ చిత్రాలు చెప్పే చిత్రవిచిత్రాలూ  ఉన్నాయి.’

గోల్కొండ వ్యాపారి సంక్షేమ సంఘం అధ్యక్ష, కార్యదర్శులకు, ఇతర కార్యవర్గ సభ్యులకు, ముఖ్యంగా అవసరాల రామారావుగారికి ధన్యవాదాలు. అన్నిటికన్నా ఆనందకరమైన విషయం: మామూలుగా సభలకు, సమావేశాలకూ రమ్మని పిలిచేవారు, సభ జరిగేరోజు వరకు మాత్రమే ఉత్సాహం కనబరిచే నేపధ్యంలో, దానికి భిన్నంగా అవసరాల రామారావు గారు, వారి సతీమణి మాలతి గారు, పున్నమరాజు గారు సభ జరిగిన మర్నాడు (అంటే ఈ రోజు ఉదయ౦) ప్రత్యేకంగా మా ఇంటికి వచ్చి మళ్లీ ధన్యవాదాలు చెప్పి పోవడం.  

హైదరాబాద్ గోల్కొండ వ్యాపారి సంక్షేమ సంఘం రజతోత్సవ వేడుక, పూర్వీకుల వైభవాన్ని భావితరాలకు అందించిన అద్భుత సాహిత్య సాంస్కృతిక వేదిక. రజత దీప్తి సావనీర్ ద్వారా తమ జాతి మూలాలను గ్రంథస్థం చేసిన నిర్వాహకుల శ్రమ, మహనీయుల చరిత్రను స్మరించుకునేలా చేసిన ఈ వేడుక నాకు కూడా మరువలేని మధురమైన జ్ఞాపకం.