LEARN FROM THE SUAVE DIPLOMACY TACT EXEMPLIFIED BY LORD KRISHNA : Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

 LEARN FROM THE SUAVE DIPLOMACY TACT

EXEMPLIFIED BY LORD KRISHNA

Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

Hans India (June 7, 2026)

{Through reasoned persuasion, Krishna demonstrated that enduring peace emerges not from domination but from equitable governance and respect for legitimate rights, beyond power and privilege. Krishna said that when truth and righteousness are repeatedly ignored, conflict becomes increasingly difficult to prevent. His appeal reflected a diplomatic principle that remains relevant today: peace is sustained not merely by goodwill but by the timely resolution of grievances} – Editor’s Synoptic Note

Just prior to the Mahabharata battle at Kurukshetra, when peace and destruction were delicately balanced, Krishna undertook what may be regarded as the most profound diplomatic mission recorded in ancient literature. The impending conflict drew together kingdoms and people from vast regions, prompting many scholars to view it conceptually as an ‘Early world-scale war.’

Krishna's mission was not merely an attempt to avert bloodshed. It was a supreme exercise in statesmanship, moral courage, and commitment to reconciliation. Arriving in the Kaurava Court as a peace envoy, Sri Krishna displayed exemplary diplomatic conduct.

He neither asserted authority nor sought privilege, but conducted himself with dignity, restraint, and respect toward all present. His presence transformed the atmosphere of the royal assembly into one of reflection and solemnity. In every aspect, he embodied the ideal diplomat, firm in principles, impartial in approach, and unwavering in commitment to peace. Addressing the Blind King Dhritarashtra, Krishna emphasized that the welfare of both Kauravas and Pandavas rested upon justice, mutual respect, and harmonious coexistence. He reminded the king that leadership carried obligations to preserve unity, fairness, and stability.

Through reasoned persuasion, Krishna demonstrated that enduring peace emerges not from domination but from equitable governance and respect for legitimate rights, beyond power and privilege. Krishna further reminded the assembly that the Bharata Dynasty earned lasting glory through adherence to dharma, truth, compassion, and sacrifice. Throughout its history, personal ambitions were subordinated to collective welfare. Never before had the dynasty contemplated self-destruction for the sake of political power. He questioned why a lineage celebrated for wisdom and restraint should now abandon its noblest traditions and principles.

The peace envoy warned that unchecked ambition and attachment were gradually corroding the ethical foundations of governance. He appealed to Dhritarashtra to rise above familial weakness and act as guardian of justice. His message carried a universal truth, that societies seldom decline because of external threats alone. Instead, they weaken when those entrusted with responsibility fail to act with courage, fairness, and foresight.

Speaking on behalf of the Pandavas, Krishna indicated that opportunities for reconciliation still existed. Yet he also cautioned that indifference toward injustice eventually harms both victims and bystanders.

Krishna said that, when truth and righteousness are repeatedly ignored, conflict becomes increasingly difficult to prevent. His appeal reflected a diplomatic principle that remains relevant today: peace is sustained not merely by goodwill but by the timely resolution of grievances. The great sages present in the court supported Krishna's counsel and urged reconciliation. Their collective wisdom highlighted the grave consequences of allowing pride to overpower reason. Yet despite these appeals, Dhritarashtra remained silent, unable to influence events decisively. Silence in the face of mounting injustice often contributes to the very tragedies it seeks to avoid.

Duryodhana, however, remained unyielding. Rejecting every proposal for compromise, he insisted that no portion of the kingdom would be shared with the Pandavas. His determination reflected absolute confidence in his strength. Yet diplomacy teaches that genuine strength lies not merely in the capacity to fight but in the wisdom to prevent avoidable conflict. He was unaware that, refusal to compromise transforms manageable disputes into irreversible confrontations. Recognizing the futility of further persuasion, Krishna declared that war had become increasingly inevitable.

The sincere counsel of Gandhari also failed to soften Duryodhana's position. This illustrates a timeless lesson: arrogance frequently is mistaken as determination for courage, while history repeatedly reveals that inflexibility can become the architect of destruction. When an attempt was made to detain Krishna, he responded not with anger but with serene confidence. The celebrated revelation of the ‘Cosmic Vishwaroopa (Magnificent Universal Form),’ symbolized the immeasurable power of truth and moral authority. The incident conveyed a profound message that wisdom, justice, and higher principles cannot be confined by force.

Before departing, Krishna made one final effort to prevent war by meeting Karna the ‘Comrade in Arms of Duryodhana’ privately. Revealing the circumstances of Karna's birth, he invited him to join the Pandavas and assume his rightful position. It was a remarkable diplomatic initiative aimed at exploring every remaining avenue for peace.

Even when prospects appear remote, responsible diplomacy seeks solutions until all possibilities have been exhausted. Karna's response was equally remarkable. Though deeply moved by Krishna's revelation, he chose loyalty to those who had nurtured and supported him throughout his life.

Karna’s decision reflected gratitude, personal honour, and commitment to longstanding relationships. The exchange between Krishna and Karna remains one of the most moving illustrations of the complex interplay between duty, loyalty, identity, and moral choice. Returning from Hastinapura, Krishna informed Pandavas that every proposal for peace was rejected. With reconciliation no longer possible, preparations for war commenced on both sides.

Leaders and commanders were appointed, strategies formulated, and alliances consolidated. Yet even amid military preparations, the significance of Krishna's mission remained undiminished.

The attempt to prevent war became morally as important as the conduct of war itself. The events preceding Kurukshetra War demonstrate that responsible leadership demands exhaustive efforts toward peaceful settlement before resorting to confrontation. Diplomacy does not guarantee success, but its failure after sincere endeavour provides moral legitimacy to subsequent action. Krishna's mission therefore stands both as a historical episode and as a timeless benchmark of ethical statecraft.

In the contemporary world, humanity continues to confront tensions arising from competing interests, mistrust, and the pursuit of power. International institutions, regional forums, and national governments repeatedly encounter challenges that require wisdom rather than confrontation. The world therefore needs diplomats who combine intellectual depth with moral conviction, individuals capable of building bridges where divisions appear insurmountable. The enduring relevance of Krishna's mission lies in its demonstration that diplomacy is not a peripheral activity but civilization's first line of defence against catastrophe.

Before armies march, dialogue must speak. Before conflicts escalate, reconciliation must be attempted. Before humanity accepts destruction as inevitable, voices of wisdom must be heard. In the twenty-first century, humanity possesses unprecedented scientific advancement, yet remains vulnerable to conflicts born of mistrust, competing interests, and failures of communication. The world therefore requires diplomats who embody the qualities demonstrated by Sri Krishna during his peace mission: integrity, neutrality, wisdom, courage, patience, and unwavering commitment to reconciliation.

International institutions, particularly the United Nations, would greatly benefit from cultivating and deploying teams of highly professional diplomats whose allegiance transcends narrow considerations and remains firmly anchored in the larger welfare of humanity. For such individuals, the world itself becomes their sphere of responsibility and peace their highest mission. Their success must be measured not merely by treaties negotiated, but by conflicts prevented and human suffering averted.

Another remarkable lesson emerging from the Mahabharata is the importance of truthful war reporting. Sage Vedavyasa entrusted Sanjaya with the responsibility of narrating the events of Kurukshetra faithfully and without distortion to Dhritarashtra. In a conceptual sense, this may be viewed as one of the earliest examples of systematic war reporting in literature. The principle remains profoundly relevant today.

During periods of conflict, accurate, impartial, and responsible reporting becomes essential for preserving truth, informing humanity, and preventing misinformation from deepening divisions.  Just as ethical diplomacy seeks peace before conflict, ethical reporting safeguards truth during conflict, enabling future generations to learn from history rather than repeat its tragedies.

The legacy of Sri Krishna's peace mission ultimately transcends time, geography, and politics. It reminds that the greatness of civilizations is measured not by the wars they wage but by the conflicts they prevent. In an age that urgently seeks peace, the world needs diplomats with the integrity, courage, vision, and humanity exemplified by Krishna, individuals who place the welfare of humanity above pride, power, and prejudice. Such diplomacy remains one of the noblest pathways toward lasting world peace.

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ప్రజాతంత్ర దినపత్రిక (జూన్ నెల 7, 2026)

         {{సైన్యాలు కవాతు చేసే ముందు, సంభాషణ జరగాలి. సంఘర్షణలు తీవ్రమయ్యే ముందు, రాజీకి ప్రయత్నించాలి. వినాశనం అనివార్యమని మానవాళి అంగీకరించే ముందు, వివేక స్వరాలు వినిపించాలి. ఇరవై ఒకటవ శతాబ్దంలో, మానవాళి అపూర్వమైన శాస్త్రీయ పురోగతిని సాధించినప్పటికీ, అపనమ్మకం, పరస్పర విరుద్ధ ప్రయోజనాలు,  భావప్రసార వైఫల్యాల వల్ల పుట్టిన సంఘర్షణలకు గురవుతూనే ఉంది. అందువల్ల, శ్రీకృష్ణుడు తన శాంతి యాత్రలో ప్రదర్శించిన సమగ్రత, తటస్థత, వివేకం, ధైర్యం, సహనం,  రాజీ పట్ల అచంచలమైన నిబద్ధత వంటి గుణాలను మూర్తీభవించిన దౌత్యవేత్తలు ప్రపంచానికి అవసరం.

          శ్రీకృష్ణుని శాంతి యాత్ర వారసత్వం చివరికి కాలం, భౌగోళికం, రాజకీయాలకు అతీతమైనది. నాగరికతల గొప్పతనం అవి చేసే యుద్ధాల ద్వారా కాకుండా, అవి నివారించే సంఘర్షణల ద్వారా కొలవబడుతుందని ఇది గుర్తు చేస్తుంది. శాంతిని అత్యవసరంగా ఆకాంక్షిస్తున్న ఈ యుగంలో, అహంకారం, అధికారం, పక్షపాతం కన్నా మానవాళి సంక్షేమానికి ప్రాధాన్యతనిచ్చే, కృష్ణుడు ప్రదర్శించినటువంటి నిజాయితీ, ధైర్యం, దూరదృష్టి, మానవత్వం గల దౌత్యవేత్తలు ప్రపంచానికి అవసరం. అటువంటి దౌత్యం శాశ్వత ప్రపంచ శాంతికి దారితీసే అత్యంత శ్రేష్ఠమైన మార్గాలలో ఒకటిగా నిలుస్తుంది.}} – ప్రజాతంత్ర సంపాదకుడి క్లుప్త వ్యాఖ్య.

          కురుక్షేత్రంలో జరిగిన మహాభారత యుద్ధానికి ముందు రోజు, శాంతి, వినాశనం మధ్య పెను ప్రమాదం పొంచి ఉన్న వేళ, శ్రీకృష్ణుడు ప్రాచీన సాహిత్యంలో నమోదైన అత్యంత గొప్ప‌ దౌత్య యాత్రగా పరిగణించబడే ఒక కార్యాన్ని చేపట్టాడు. జ‌ర‌గ‌బోయే ఈ సంఘర్షణ సువిశాల ప్రాంతాలకు చెందిన రాజ్యాలను, ప్రజలను ఏకతాటిపైకి తెచ్చింది. దీనితో చాలామంది పండితులు దీన్ని ఒక ‘తొలి ప్రపంచ స్థాయి యుద్ధం’గా భావించారు. కృష్ణుని కార్యచరణ కేవలం రక్తపాతాన్ని నివారించే ప్రయత్నం మాత్రమే కాదు. అది రాజనీతిజ్ఞత, నైతిక ధైర్యం మాత్ర‌మే కాదు. సయోధ్య పట్ల నిబద్ధతకు ఒక అత్యున్నత నిదర్శనం. శాంతికోసం రాయబారిగా కౌరవ సభకు వచ్చిన శ్రీకృష్ణుడు ఆదర్శప్రాయమైన దౌత్య వ్య‌వ‌హార‌శైలిని ప్రదర్శించాడు.

ఆయన అధికారాన్ని ప్రదర్శించలేదు. ప్రత్యేక హక్కులను కోరలేదు. కానీ, అక్కడ ఉన్నవారందరి పట్ల గౌరవంతో, సంయమనంతో, మర్యాదతో ప్రవర్తించాడు. ఆయన రాకతో రాజసభ వాతావరణం సాలోచ‌న‌గా, గంభీరంగా మారిపోయింది. ప్రతి విషయంలోనూ, ఆయన ఆదర్శ దౌత్యవేత్తగా నిలిచారు;  దృఢ‌మైన సిద్ధాంతంతో,  విధానంలో నిష్పక్షపాతంగా, శాంతి పట్ల నిబద్ధతతో అచంచలంగా ఉండేవారు. అంధరాజు ధృతరాష్ట్రుడిని ఉద్దేశించి కృష్ణుడు మాట్లాడుతూ, కౌరవ పాండవుల ఇద్దరి శ్రేయస్సు న్యాయం, పరస్పర గౌరవం, సామరస్య సహజీవనంపై ఆధారపడి ఉంటుందని నొక్కి చెప్పారు. ఐక్యత, న్యాయం, స్థిరత్వాన్ని కాపాడాల్సిన బాధ్యత నాయకత్వానికి ఉంటుందని ఆయన రాజుకు గుర్తు చేశారు.

స‌హేతుక‌మైన రీతిలో ఒప్పించ‌డం ద్వారా, శాశ్వత శాంతి ఆధిపత్యం వల్ల కాకుండా, అధికారం, విశేషాధికారాలకు అతీతంగా, స‌మ‌పాల‌న‌, చట్టబద్ధమైన హక్కుల పట్ల గౌరవం నుండే ఉద్భవిస్తుందని కృష్ణుడు నిరూపించాడు. ధర్మం, సత్యం, కరుణ, త్యాగానికి కట్టుబడి ఉండటం ద్వారానే భరతవంశం శాశ్వత కీర్తిని సంపాదించిందని కృష్ణుడు సభకు గుర్తు చేశాడు. దాని యావ‌త్తు చ‌రిత్ర‌, వ్యక్తిగత ఆశయాలు, సామూహిక సంక్షేమానికి లోబడి వున్న‌ది. రాజకీయ అధికారం కోసం ఆ వంశం ఇంతకు ముందెన్నడూ ఆత్మవినాశనం గురించి ఆలోచించలేదు. జ్ఞానం, సంయమనానికి ప్రసిద్ధి చెందిన ఒక వంశం ఇప్పుడు తన అత్యున్నత సంప్రదాయాలను, సూత్రాలను ఎందుకు విడిచిపెట్టాలని ఆయన ప్రశ్నించాడు.

మితిమీరిన దురాశ‌,  మమకారం పరిపాలన  నైతిక పునాదులను క్రమంగా క్షీణింపజేస్తున్నాయని ఆ శాంతి రాయబారి హెచ్చరించాడు. కుటుంబ బలహీనతలకు అతీతంగా ఎదిగి, న్యాయ సంరక్షకుడిగా వ్యవహరించాలని ఆయన ధృతరాష్ట్రుడికి విజ్ఞప్తి చేశాడు. కేవలం బాహ్య ముప్పుల వల్ల సమాజాలు అరుదుగా క్షీణిస్తాయనే సార్వత్రిక సత్యాన్ని ఆయన సందేశం తెలియజేసింది. దానికి బదులుగా, బాధ్యత అప్పగించబడిన వారు ధైర్యం, న్యాయం, ముందుచూపుతో వ్యవహరించడంలో విఫలమైనప్పుడు అవి బలహీనపడతాయి. పాండవుల తరపున మాట్లాడుతూ, రాజీకి అవకాశాలు ఇంకా ఉన్నాయని కృష్ణుడు సూచించాడు. అయినప్పటికీ, అన్యాయం పట్ల ఉదాసీనత చివరికి బాధితులను చూస్తూ ఊరుకునేవారికి కూడా హాని చేస్తుందని ఆయన హెచ్చరించాడు.

సత్యాన్ని, ధర్మాన్ని పదేపదే విస్మరించినప్పుడు, సంఘర్షణను నివారించడం మరింత కష్టమవుతుందని కృష్ణుడు చెప్పాడు. ఆయన చేసిన విజ్ఞప్తి, నేటికీ ప్రాసంగికంగా ఉన్న ఒక దౌత్య సూత్రాన్ని ప్రతిబింబించింది: శాంతి కేవలం సద్భావనతోనే కాకుండా, మనోవేదనలను సకాలంలో పరిష్కరించడం ద్వారా కూడా నిలుస్తుంది. సభలో ఉన్న మహర్షులు కృష్ణుని సలహాను సమర్థించి, రాజీపడమని కోరారు. అహంకారం వివేకాన్ని అధిగమించడం వల్ల కలిగే తీవ్ర పరిణామాలను వారి సమ‌ష్టి జ్ఞానం స్పష్టం చేసింది. అయినప్పటికీ, ఈ విజ్ఞప్తులు చేసినా, ధృతరాష్ట్రుడు సంఘటనలను నిర్ణయాత్మకంగా ప్రభావితం చేయలేక మౌనంగా ఉండిపోయాడు. పెరిగిపోతున్న అన్యాయం ఎదుట మౌనం వహించడం, త‌ర‌చుగా విషాదాలకే దారితీస్తుంది.

అయితే, దుర్యోధనుడు మాత్రం లొంగలేదు. రాజీ కోసం చేసిన ప్రతి ప్రతిపాదనను తిరస్కరిస్తూ, రాజ్యంలో ఏ భాగాన్నీ పాండవులతో పంచుకోబోమని పట్టుబట్టాడు. ఆయన దృఢ సంకల్పం తన బలంపై ఉన్న సంపూర్ణ విశ్వాసాన్ని ప్రతిబింబించింది. అయినప్పటికీ, నిజమైన బలం కేవలం పోరాడే సామర్థ్యంలోనే కాకుండా, సంఘర్షణను నివారించే వివేకంలోనూ ఉంటుందని దౌత్యం బోధిస్తుంది. రాజీకి నిరాకరించడం, పరిష్కరించగల వివాదాలను కోలుకోలేని ఘర్షణలుగా మారుస్తుందనే విషయం అతనికి తెలియదు. ఇకపై నచ్చజెప్పడం వ్యర్థమని గ్రహించిన కృష్ణుడు, యుద్ధం అనివార్యమైందని ప్రకటించాడు.

గాంధారి  నిష్కపటమైన సలహా కూడా దుర్యోధనుడి వైఖరిని మెత్తబరచ‌లేక‌పోయింది.  ఇది ఒక శాశ్వతమైన పాఠాన్ని తెలియజేస్తుంది: అహంకారాన్ని తరచుగా ధైర్యంగా పొరపాటుగా భావిస్తారు, అయితే మొండితనం వినాశనానికి దారితీస్తుందని చరిత్ర పదేపదే వెల్లడిస్తుంది. కృష్ణుడిని నిర్బంధించడానికి ప్రయత్నం జరిగినప్పుడు, ఆయన కోపంతో కాకుండా ప్రశాంతమైన విశ్వాసంతో స్పందించారు. ప్రసిద్ధమైన ‘విశ్వరూపం’  ఆవిష్కరణ, సత్యం, నైతిక అధికారం యొక్క కొలవలేని శక్తికి ప్రతీకగా నిలిచింది. జ్ఞానం, న్యాయం, ఉన్నత సూత్రాలను బలంతో బంధించలేమనే లోతైన సందేశాన్ని ఈ సంఘటన స్ప‌ష్టం చేసింది.

బయలుదేరే ముందు, కృష్ణుడు ‘దుర్యోధనుడి సహచరుడు’ అయిన కర్ణుడిని ఏకాంతంగా కలవడం ద్వారా యుద్ధాన్ని నివారించడానికి చివరి ప్రయత్నం చేశారు. కర్ణుడి పుట్టుక పరిస్థితులను వెల్లడించి, పాండవులతో చేరి తన న్యాయమైన స్థానాన్ని స్వీకరించమని అతన్ని ఆహ్వానించారు. శాంతి కోసం మిగిలి ఉన్న ప్రతి మార్గాన్ని అన్వేషించే లక్ష్యంతో ఇది ఒక అద్భుతమైన దౌత్యపరమైన చొరవ. అవకాశాలు దూరంగా ఉన్నట్లు కనిపించినప్పటికీ, బాధ్యతాయుతమైన దౌత్యం అన్ని మార్గాలు మూసుకుపోయే వరకు పరిష్కారాలను అన్వేషిస్తుంది. కర్ణుని ప్రతిస్పందన కూడా అంతే విశేషమైనది. కృష్ణుని ప్రకటనతో ఎంతగానో చలించిపోయినప్పటికీ, తన జీవితాంతం తనను పెంచి, ఆదుకున్న వారి పట్ల విధేయతను ఎంచుకున్నాడు.

కర్ణుని నిర్ణయం కృతజ్ఞతను, వ్యక్తిగత గౌరవాన్ని,  చిరకాల సంబంధాల పట్ల నిబద్ధతను ప్రతిబింబించింది. కృష్ణుడు, కర్ణుని మధ్య జరిగిన సంభాషణ, కర్తవ్యం, విశ్వాసం, గుర్తింపు, నైతికతల మ‌ధ్య వుండే సంక్లిష్ట‌మైన ప‌ర‌స్ప‌ర క్రియాశీల‌త‌ను హృద‌యానికి హ‌త్తుకునే రీతిలో వెల్ల‌డించే ఉదాహ‌ర‌ణ‌ల్లో ఒక‌టిగా నిలిచిపోయింది. హస్తినాపురం నుండి తిరిగి వచ్చిన కృష్ణుడు, శాంతి కోసం చేసిన ప్రతి ప్రతిపాదన తిరస్కర‌ణ‌కు గురైంద‌ని పాండవులకు తెలియజేశాడు. రాజీ కుదరకపోవడంతో, ఇరుపక్షాలూ యుద్ధానికి సన్నాహాలు ప్రారంభించాయి. నాయకులు, సేనాధిపతులు నియమించబడ్డారు, వ్యూహాలు రూపొందించబడ్డాయి, పొత్తులు పటిష్టం చేయబడ్డాయి. అయినప్పటికీ, ఈ సైనిక సన్నాహాల మధ్య కూడా, కృష్ణుని కర్తవ్యం  ప్రాముఖ్యత ఏమాత్రం తగ్గలేదు.

యుద్ధాన్ని నివారించే ప్రయత్నం, యుద్ధం చేయడంతో సమానమైన నైతిక ప్రాముఖ్యతను సంతరించుకుంది. కురుక్షేత్ర యుద్ధానికి ముందు జరిగిన సంఘటనలు, బాధ్యతాయుతమైన నాయకత్వం ఘర్షణకు దిగడానికి ముందు శాంతియుత పరిష్కారం కోసం విస్తృతమైన ప్రయత్నాలు చేయాలని స్పష్టం చేస్తాయి. దౌత్యం విజయానికి హామీ ఇవ్వదు, కానీ చిత్తశుద్ధితో చేసిన ప్రయత్నం విఫలమైనప్పుడు, అది తదుపరి చర్యకు నైతిక చట్టబద్ధతను కల్పిస్తుంది. అందువల్ల కృష్ణుని కర్తవ్యం ఒక చారిత్రక ఘట్టంగానూ, నైతిక రాజనీతికి ఒక శాశ్వతమైన కొలమానంగానూ నిలుస్తుంది.

సమకాలీన ప్రపంచంలో, పరస్పర విరుద్ధ ప్రయోజనాలు, అపనమ్మకం, అధికార దాహం వల్ల తలెత్తే ఉద్రిక్తతలను మానవాళి నిరంతరం ఎదుర్కొంటోంది. అంతర్జాతీయ సంస్థలు, ప్రాంతీయ వేదికలు, జాతీయ ప్రభుత్వాలు ఘర్షణకు బదులుగా వివేకం అవసరమయ్యే సవాళ్లను పదేపదే ఎదుర్కొంటున్నాయి. అందువల్ల, అద్వితీయ మేధ‌స్సును నైతిక విశ్వాసంతో మేళవించిన దౌత్యవేత్తలు, అసాధ్యమైన విభేదాలు కనిపించేచోట వారధులు నిర్మించగల వ్యక్తులు ప్రపంచానికి అవసరం. దౌత్యం అనేది ఒక అప్రధానమైన చర్య కాదని, అది విపత్తు నుండి నాగరికతను కాపాడే మొదటి రక్షణ కవచం అని కృష్ణుని మిషన్ నిరూపించడంలోనే దాని శాశ్వత ప్రాసంగికత ఉంది.

సైన్యాలు కవాతు చేసే ముందు, సంభాషణ జరగాలి. సంఘర్షణలు తీవ్రమయ్యే ముందు, రాజీకి ప్రయత్నించాలి. వినాశనం అనివార్యమని మానవాళి అంగీకరించే ముందు, వివేక స్వరాలు వినిపించాలి. ఇరవై ఒకటవ శతాబ్దంలో, మానవాళి అపూర్వమైన శాస్త్రీయ పురోగతిని సాధించినప్పటికీ, అపనమ్మకం, పరస్పర విరుద్ధ ప్రయోజనాలు,  భావప్రసార వైఫల్యాల వల్ల పుట్టిన సంఘర్షణలకు గురవుతూనే ఉంది. అందువల్ల, శ్రీకృష్ణుడు తన శాంతి యాత్రలో ప్రదర్శించిన సమగ్రత, తటస్థత, వివేకం, ధైర్యం, సహనం,  రాజీ పట్ల అచంచలమైన నిబద్ధత వంటి గుణాలను మూర్తీభవించిన దౌత్యవేత్తలు ప్రపంచానికి అవసరం.

అంతర్జాతీయ సంస్థలు, ముఖ్యంగా ఐక్యరాజ్యసమితి, సంకుచితమైన వాటికి  అతీతంగా మానవాళి విస్తృత సంక్షేమానికి కట్టుబడి ఉండే అత్యంత వృత్తిపరమైన దౌత్యవేత్తల బృందాలను పెంచి, నియమించడం ద్వారా ఎంతగానో ప్రయోజనం పొందుతాయి. అటువంటి వ్యక్తులకు, ప్రపంచమే బాధ్యతా క్షేత్రం అవుతుంది.  శాంతి వారి అత్యున్నత కర్తవ్యం అవుతుంది. వారి విజయాన్ని కేవలం చర్చల ద్వారా కుదిరిన ఒప్పందాలతోనే కాకుండా, నివారించిన సంఘర్షణలు,  మాన‌వుల‌ను బాధ‌ల‌నుంచి విముక్తి క‌లిగించిన సంద‌ర్భాల ద్వారా కూడా కొలవాలి.

మహాభారతం నుండి వెలువడే మరో విశేషమైన పాఠం, సత్యసంధమైన యుద్ధ నివేదన  ప్రాముఖ్యత. కురుక్షేత్ర యుద్ధ సంఘటనలను ధృతరాష్ట్రునికి యథాతథంగా, వక్రీకరణ లేకుండా విశ్వసనీయంగా వివరించే బాధ్యతను వేదవ్యాస మహర్షి సంజయుడికి అప్పగించారు. భావనాత్మకంగా, దీనిని సాహిత్యంలో ఒక క్ర‌మ పద్ధ‌తితో యుద్ధాన్ని గురించి వివ‌రించిన  తొలి ఉదాహరణలలో ఒకటిగా చూడవచ్చు. ఈ సూత్రం నేటికీ అత్యంత ప్రాసంగికంగా ఉంది. సంఘర్షణ సమయాల్లో, సత్యాన్ని పరిరక్షించడానికి, మానవాళికి సమాచారం అందించడానికి, తప్పుడు సమాచారం విభేదాలను మరింత పెంచకుండా నిరోధించడానికి కచ్చితమైన, నిష్పక్షపాతమైన, బాధ్యతాయుతమైన నివేదన అత్యవసరం అవుతుంది.

నైతిక దౌత్యం సంఘర్షణకు ముందు శాంతిని కోరుకున్నట్లే, నైతిక నివేదన సంఘర్షణ సమయంలో సత్యాన్ని కాపాడుతుంది. తద్వారా భవిష్యత్ తరాలు చరిత్ర విషాదాలను పునరావృతం చేయకుండా, దాని నుండి పాఠాలు నేర్చుకునేలా చేస్తుంది. శ్రీకృష్ణుని శాంతి యాత్ర వారసత్వం చివరికి కాలం, భౌగోళికం, రాజకీయాలకు అతీతమైనది. నాగరికతల గొప్పతనం అవి చేసే యుద్ధాల ద్వారా కాకుండా, అవి నివారించే సంఘర్షణల ద్వారా కొలవబడుతుందని ఇది గుర్తు చేస్తుంది.

శాంతిని అత్యవసరంగా ఆకాంక్షిస్తున్న ఈ యుగంలో, అహంకారం, అధికారం, పక్షపాతం కన్నా మానవాళి సంక్షేమానికి ప్రాధాన్యతనిచ్చే, కృష్ణుడు ప్రదర్శించినటువంటి నిజాయితీ, ధైర్యం, దూరదృష్టి, మానవత్వం గల దౌత్యవేత్తలు ప్రపంచానికి అవసరం. అటువంటి దౌత్యం శాశ్వత ప్రపంచ శాంతికి దారితీసే అత్యంత శ్రేష్ఠమైన మార్గాలలో ఒకటిగా నిలుస్తుంది.

(నా ఆంగ్ల వ్యాసానికి ప్రజాతంత్ర పత్రిక స్వేచ్చానువాదం. సంపాదకుడికి ధన్యవాదాలు)

>>>The English original of this article is published in Hans India on June 7, 2026 and available in this blog also >>>

Public Service, Leadership, and Legacy >>>>> The Seventeenth Friday Evening at Press Club Hyderabad With Dr PV Ramesh and Dr J Purnachandra Rao : By Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

 Public Service, Leadership, and Legacy

The Seventeenth Friday Evening 

at Press Club Hyderabad
With Dr PV Ramesh and Dr J Purnachandra Rao

Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao 

(June 5, 2026)

The Seventeenth Friday Evening Gathering at the Press Club Hyderabad marked another significant milestone in this evolving journey of conversations, reflections, and shared learning. If earlier meetings drew largely from journalism, public affairs, social movements, and institutional memory, this evening expanded the canvas further through the presence of two distinguished former civil servants whose careers have left a lasting imprint on public administration and public life: former IAS officer Dr PV Ramesh and former IPS officer Dr J Purnachandra Rao.

Joining them were former CEO of HMRI (Health Management and Research Institute) Dr U Balaji and entrepreneur Jogesh, each adding a distinct perspective to the discussions that unfolded through the evening. The gathering was further enriched by the first-time participation of senior journalists S Nagesh Kumar and Srinivas U, whose observations and contributions blended seamlessly into the free-flowing exchange of ideas that has become the hallmark of these meetings.

Also present were Amar Devulapalli, Bhandaru Srinivasa Rao, VJM Divakar, Mallepally Lakshmaiah, Lalita Iyer, Attaluri Aruna, Uma, A Saye Sekhar, and myself. With a rich mix of experience drawn from journalism, governance, public policy, healthcare, entrepreneurship, and social engagement, the evening promised not merely conversation, but a meaningful exploration of ideas shaped by decades of lived experience.

Despite the occasional ‘auditory intrusion’ from the adjoining table, where a lively and cheerful gathering was evidently enjoying its own exchange, the spillover of animated conversation frequently competed with our own discussions. A few observations and clarifications sought by participants were inevitably lost in the ambient noise. Yet, such interruptions are perhaps part of the character of any vibrant club environment, where multiple conversations coexist under one roof.

If anything, the experience served as a gentle reminder that meaningful dialogue flourishes best when accompanied by mutual consideration and an awareness that every table may have its own story worth listening to. Notwithstanding these minor distractions, the Seventeenth Friday Evening proved, like its sixteen predecessors, to be a thoroughly engaging, intellectually stimulating, and rewarding experience. Listening to the narratives of our two guests, particularly PV Ramesh, was both enlightening and thought-provoking, combining lived experience with insights of considerable academic and practical value.

Dr PV Ramesh drew our attention through the breadth of his experience and the candour of his reflections. A physician by education and an international development professional by practice, his professional journey spans nearly four decades across diverse domains, including public policy, public health, financial management, governance reform, organisational strategy, and sustainable development. Much of his service was spent in tribal regions, where administration often demands not merely official authority but sensitivity, patience, and a deep understanding of local realities.

Participants listened with keen interest as he recalled being the first Sub-Collector of both Utnoor and Mulugu after they were constituted as separate sub-divisions, assignments that offered him a unique opportunity to engage closely with tribal communities and grassroots governance. One revelation from Dr Ramesh’s narrative came as a surprise to many around the table. Despite a distinguished career that saw him occupy several important positions in government and public institutions, he disclosed that he had never served as a District Collector.

While much of the evening’s conversation revolved around the experiences shared by Dr PV Ramesh, nevertheless, the presence of former IPS officer Dr J Purnachandra Rao added an equally significant dimension to the gathering. During a distinguished police career spanning more than three decades, he rose to the highest rank in the service, that of Director General of Police (DGP).

Over the years, he held several important assignments, including Director General, Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Telangana, and later Director General, Vigilance and Enforcement, a position he held until his retirement. He also chaired the Police Recruitment Boards of both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana at different points in time and served as Inspector General of Police for the Warangal Range.

Dr Purnachandra Rao earned a reputation for handling sensitive and complex responsibilities with professionalism and composure. Among the most challenging assignments of his career was his role as Deputy Inspector General in the Special Intelligence Branch, where he was closely associated with critical peace talks involving Naxalite groups. Beyond policing, he also demonstrated administrative capability as Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC), where his tenure was widely regarded as efficient and result-oriented.

His contributions to public service were recognised through several distinguished honours, including the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service, the Indian Police Medal for Meritorious Service, and the Police Medal for Gallantry. Following his retirement from the police service, Dr Purnachandra Rao continued his engagement with public affairs, including a stint as Head of Airport City Administration in the GMR Group.

Subsequently, he entered social and political life with a focus on issues relating to social justice and the empowerment of Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes, and minority communities. Presently serving as the National Coordinator of the All India Bahujan Samaj Party (AIBSP), he remains actively involved in public causes. Although he spoke only briefly during the evening, the experiences he shared reflected a lifetime of service across law enforcement, administration, and public engagement, adding another valuable perspective to the rich exchange of ideas that characterised the seventeenth Friday gathering.

Among the many experiences shared by Dr PV Ramesh during the evening, the most Interesting one, was literally a heart touching real life learning story to the next generation of civil servants. This happened when he got his first posting as first Sub-Collector Mulugu, after it was transformed as a Sub Division from the revenue Division. Serving as a Sub-Collector is an IAS officer's critical first independent test, granting them vital Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) powers.

They wield the authority to conduct the magisterial inquests into suspicious deaths or custodial casualties. This particular incident at the very beginning of his administrative career held the gathering spellbound amidst ‘auditory intrusion’ from the adjoining table. More than the event itself, it was the manner in which he narrated it, with clarity, humour, and remarkable attention to detail, that brought the episode alive. The story dates back to his first day as Sub-Collector, Mulugu, a newly created subdivision, when he was 25 years old and afresh in public service.

That first day happened to be a Sunday. Having just arrived and possessing little knowledge of the locality, he had neither official accommodation nor a clear idea about the whereabouts of the newly established Sub-Collector’s office. Faced with limited options, he arranged temporary stay in the residence of an Electrical Engineer, much of which was covered by a zinc-sheet roof. After the journey and the formalities of arrival, he looked forward to some much-needed rest. However, events had other plans.

No sooner had he settled down than there was a knock on the door. On opening it, he found a police constable who appeared rather urgent and requested him to accompany him immediately to meet the District Superintendent of Police. Assuming it to be a routine courtesy call, Dr Ramesh readily agreed, expecting the meeting to be somewhere nearby. He was escorted into a vehicle and the journey began. As the vehicle continued to move farther and farther away from the town limits, curiosity gave way to concern.

Repeatedly he asked the accompanying personnel where they were headed. The response remained unchanged: ‘Nearby... nearby... almost there... reached, reached.’ As the journey progressed, daylight began to fade. The surroundings gradually transformed into forest terrain, unfamiliar and increasingly isolated. By the time they finally arrived at their destination, darkness had almost set in. There, he was received by the district’s top police officer, who appeared visibly relieved at his arrival.

Surrounded by a sizeable police contingent, the Superintendent greeted him warmly and, in Dr Ramesh’s recollection, said words he remembers to this day: ‘Welcome, Ramesh. You are the only available Magistrate now.’ Until that moment, he had little idea why he had been brought there. The purpose soon became clear. He was requested to conduct an inquest on a dead body. Neither the precise circumstances nor the location had been disclosed to him earlier. Drawing upon the legal training received during probation, Dr Ramesh politely declined, pointing out that he had been specifically instructed never to conduct an inquest after sunset.

The officers persisted, requesting that he at least come and see the body. Eventually, he agreed to have a look. What followed was an unexpected trek through paddy fields and difficult terrain in near darkness. After covering a considerable distance, fatigue began to set in. At one stage, when he expressed his inability to proceed further, those accompanying him literally supported him by holding him on their shoulders so that the journey could continue. What happened thereafter, as Dr Ramesh himself observed with characteristic restraint, is a different story.

The police achieved their immediate objective by ensuring his presence at the required location, and the necessary legal formalities were eventually completed the following day. The return journey proved no less memorable. Once again, he had to be physically assisted over parts of the difficult terrain before reaching the point from which the vehicle journey resumed. By the time he finally returned to Mulugu, it was around three o’clock in the morning. Sleep had barely begun when another knock disturbed the silence.

Opening the door, he was astonished to find a senior police officer, above even the district chief, waiting to invite him to breakfast as a gesture of gratitude for his assistance. Barely six weeks later, Dr Ramesh would be transferred as the first Sub-Collector of the newly created Utnoor Sub-Division following the Allampally encounter and the declaration of Adilabad as a ‘Model District.’

What began as an unexpected Sunday adventure thus became one of the earliest and most unforgettable lessons in the unpredictability of public service. Adding a touch of humour to the recollection, Dr Ramesh revealed that only a few days later, before his transfer from Mulugu, he discovered that the destination to which he had been painstakingly led through fields and difficult terrain was not the four kilometres he had been made to believe at the time, but less than a quarter of a kilometre away.

The disclosure evoked considerable amusement around the table, not merely because of the distance involved, but because it perfectly captured the gentility of a young officer encountering the realities of field administration for the first time. Indeed, much of the seventeenth Friday Evening unfolded through such engaging narratives, stories that combined experience with insight, humour with reflection, and personal memory with larger lessons in public service and governance.

Equally intriguing was the story behind what might have been. In 1994, orders were issued posting him as Collector of Medak district. However, circumstances took an unexpected turn when political leaders from different parties reportedly appealed against the posting, leading the Government headed by NT Rama Rao to withdraw the appointment. What appeared, at least on the surface, to be a missed opportunity became instead a turning point in his career.

Ramesh was subsequently appointed Director of Tribal Welfare and Ex-Officio Secretary to Government, a position that enabled him to contribute to policy and institutional development on a much wider scale. In retrospect, the episode offered a telling illustration of how public careers are often shaped as much by unforeseen circumstances as by personal choice, and how apparent setbacks can sometimes open the door to larger responsibilities and lasting contributions.

Beyond his extensive experience in several Integrated Tribal Development Agencies (ITDAs), established to deliver public services, welfare programmes, and development initiatives to Scheduled Tribes, Dr PV Ramesh’s career remained closely associated with tribal development and grassroots governance. As Project Officer, ITDA, Rampachodavaram, he coordinated the implementation of multi-sectoral programmes aimed at the sustainable economic development of nearly seven million tribal people across the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh.

It was during his tenure that the Tribal Cultural Museum was inaugurated, reflecting his commitment not only to development but also to the preservation of tribal heritage. He also served as Joint Collector in Karimnagar, Mahbubnagar, and Chittoor districts, gaining wide administrative experience across diverse regions. His administrative journey subsequently expanded into several key leadership positions. Dr Ramesh mentioned that, he served as Additional Chief Secretary and Principal Advisor to the Chief Minister, with Cabinet Minister Rank, besides holding important portfolios such as Principal Secretary, Finance, Medical and Health in the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh Government.

At this point, the conversation took a particularly moving turn when Mallepally Lakshmaiah recalled an episode that connected public policy with personal experience. He remembered how, during Dr PV Ramesh’s tenure as Principal Secretary, Finance, he, along with another representative, had approached the Government seeking enhancement of the remuneration paid to Grama Sevikas, locally known in some areas as Neeradis or Sunkaris. Dr Ramesh processed the proposal, resulting in the monthly remuneration being doubled from Rs 3000 to R 6000.

Recalling this decision in Dr Ramesh’s presence, Lakshmaiah became visibly reflective as he spoke about his father, whom he affectionately referred to as Ayya. His father had served as a Sunkari, following a hereditary family occupation, and had passed away nearly five decades ago. Though the remuneration in those days was a mere Rs 5 per month, he continued in the role with dedication, sustained by a sense of duty and tradition. The recollection added a deeply human dimension to the discussion, illustrating how administrative decisions often touch lives in ways that statistics alone cannot capture.

Then Ramesh mentioned that, he also served as Chairman and Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Corporation (REC), Director-General of the National Archives of India, and held several senior assignments with national and international institutions. His professional engagement extended across the Asia-Pacific region, Africa, West Asia, the Arab States, and Europe, providing him with a broad global perspective on governance, development, public finance, and institutional transformation.

 Dr PV Ramesh’s professional engagements extended well beyond India. Over the course of his career, he visited more than thirty countries across Asia, Africa, West Asia, Europe, and North America. A significant phase of his journey was his distinguished thirteen-year association with the United Nations system, where he held important diplomatic and operational responsibilities, particularly with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

A specialised United Nations Agency and International Financial Institution, IFAD is dedicated to reducing poverty and hunger in rural areas of developing countries by strengthening rural economies and supporting smallholder farmers, fishers, and rural entrepreneurs. Dr Ramesh specialised in development finance and the formulation of national strategic plans. Notably, he served as Country Programme Manager for the Asia-Pacific Division of IFAD and worked closely with organisations such as UNOPS and UNFPA, overseeing sustainable rural development portfolios and development initiatives across the region.

The discussion and conversation further offered an opportunity to appreciate the long and often demanding journey of an All-India Service officer. An IAS officer typically begins as an Assistant Collector under training, progresses through field assignments such as Sub-Collector, Joint Collector, Project Officer of an Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA), District Collector, Municipal Commissioner, or Chief Executive Officer of a Zilla Parishad, before moving into increasingly senior policy-making roles in State Governments, the Government of India, public sector institutions, and international organisations.

The ascent may eventually culminate in positions such as Principal Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary, Chief Secretary, or, at the national level, Union Secretary and Cabinet Secretary. The career progression of an IPS officer broadly follows a similar trajectory. While not every officer reaches the highest positions, the journeys of Dr PV Ramesh and Dr J Purnachandra Rao illustrate how young officers who begin their careers respectively as Sub-Collectors and Assistant Superintendents of Police can, through experience, dedication, and leadership, rise to occupy some of the most significant positions in public service.

Ramchander Rao Revisits BJP’s Telangana Legacy >>>>> And the Unfinished Promises of Statehood : Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

 Ramchander Rao Revisits 

BJP’s Telangana Legacy

And the Unfinished Promises of Statehood

Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

As part of the Telangana Formation Day celebrations, and a day after BRS Working President KT Rama Rao reflected on Telangana’s statehood journey through the prism of institutional memory, governance, and political accountability, the Press Club Hyderabad organised a ‘Meet the Press’ program with Telangana State Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President and former MLC Naraparaju Ramchander Rao on Thursday. The interactive session provided an opportunity to revisit Telangana’s journey prior to and after its formation, from BJP point of view.

Speaking at length, BJP President Naraparaju Ramchander Rao approached the same historical milestone from a different vantage point, and touched upon the genesis of AP State Reorganisation Bill that enabled Telangana Formation, and revealed unambiguously the key role played by BJP. He was speaking at the Club as part of Telangana Formation Week celebrations in a befitting way.  He sought to reposition BJP within the larger narrative of Telangana’s creation, and said that, the history of statehood cannot be completely understood without acknowledging BJP’s consistent and decisive role in the legislative process.

Ramchander Rao, made a case with clarity, that Telangana’s formation was neither the achievement of a single political party nor the exclusive legacy of any one leader. It was a culmination of a collective democratic struggle involving students, employees, lawyers, intellectuals, activists, and ordinary citizens who sustained a prolonged demand for separate state. He reminded that, more than 1200 students and youth sacrificed their lives during the agitations. Any political organisation claiming the entire credit, he argued, is a prejudiced view.

Strongly defending BJP’s place in that history of struggle for Telangana State, Ramchander Rao established the party’s commitment to the cause, which he claimed was rooted in a long-standing ideological belief that smaller states facilitate more responsive governance and administrative efficiency. ‘BJP never altered its position on Telangana, unlike other political parties that adopted shifting stances depending on electoral circumstances,’ stated Ramchander Rao.

He reminisced that when the Telangana Bill reached Parliament amid intense political turbulence and uncertainty, the BJP extended unconditional support. Yet another interesting revelation was about the ‘Behind-the-Scenes Consultations’ that preceded the passage of the Telangana Bill, which he meticulously narrated from his own personal involvement and experience. He recalled himself personally engaging with senior BJP leaders in New Delhi, including the late Arun Jaitley, while working alongside legal experts like Prakash Reddy and Niranjana Reddy, to examine the Bill and recommend suitable amendments.

He described numerous discussions that stretched late into the night, focusing not only on Telangana’s aspirations but also on avoiding any adverse issues and interests of Andhra Pradesh during bifurcation in true spirit. These efforts, he argued, reflected the seriousness with which the BJP approached one of the most consequential federal restructuring exercises in contemporary India. Ramchander Rao further highlighted the role played by national leaders like Sushma Swaraj, whose support for Telangana became one of the defining moments of the parliamentary debate.

Despite criticism, political attacks, and procedural disruptions inside Parliament, the BJP leadership never retreated from its commitment, said Ramchander Rao. He made it clear that, the passage of the Telangana Formation Bill remains a historical testament to the party’s political will, organisational consistency, and willingness to stand by its stated commitments even under difficult circumstances.

Against this background, Ramchander Rao argued that the true measure of Telangana’s success lies in assessing whether the aspirations of the people especially with reference to the tagline, water, funds, and employment opportunities have been fulfilled. He said that, notwithstanding the progress made since statehood, many of the foundational expectations of the movement remain only partially realised or even yet to realize.

His made both BRS and Congress Government squarely responsible for the shortcomings. Ramchander Rao contended that Telangana’s youth continue to face uncertainty despite repeated assurances from successive governments. Job calendars have either been delayed or inadequately implemented, while recruitment examinations have frequently become entangled in controversies and litigation. Focused concern was expressed over the state of higher education. Indifference like government’s apathy in making permanent faculty appointments in universities undermines academic standards and threatens the long-term quality of higher education.

The BJP President described Telangana’s fiscal management which has become a concern, the proof of which are, delays in payments, mounting dues to contractors, and pensioneers, and growing reimbursement arrears. According to Ramchander Rao, these developments warrant serious introspection because they affect not only administrative efficiency but also public confidence in governance itself. He frequently deliberated on the essentiality of periodical assessment as to how far Telangana has progressed in achieving its stated objectives.

He said that the aspirations that animated the statehood movement continue to resonate among the youth, farmers, employees, and students who expected statehood to translate into tangible improvements in their lives. Slightly moving towards different aspect, Ramchander Rao dismissed attempts to revive Telangana sentiment for short-term political gain. He suggested that both the BRS and Congress increasingly rely on emotional narratives to divert attention from governance shortcomings.

He argued, that Governance should revolve around measurable performance rather than perpetual mobilisation around historical grievances. Ramchander Rao further sought to place Telangana politics within a wider national context. He pointed to the BJP’s expanding footprint across Southern India and argued that changing electoral trends demonstrate growing acceptance of the party’s governance model. Citing appropriate examples of BJP’s presence in Governance, he expressed confidence that Telangana, may become part of that larger political evolution.

Responding to questions relating to ideological debates, judicial institutions, and electoral processes, Ramchander Rao maintained that democratic systems derive their strength from constitutional mechanisms. As the interaction drew to a close, a larger theme emerged from Ramchander Rao’s remarks. While Telangana’s creation remains a settled historical fact, the contest over its political memory remains very much alive. Competing parties continue to interpret the statehood movement through different ideological lenses, each seeking to establish its own place within the historical narrative.

For the BJP, Ramchander Rao argued, Telangana represents both a fulfilled commitment and an unfinished journey despite 12 years of its existence. The state may have been achieved, but the deeper goals of employment, efficient governance, educational advancement, and economic opportunity continue to demand attention. Telangana’s political discourse appears increasingly shaped by this duality: the need to preserve the memory of a hard-fought movement while confronting the practical challenges of governance in the present he said.

In Ramchander Rao’s telling, history matters not merely as a record of past achievements but as a benchmark against which contemporary governments must continually be measured. Whether one completely agrees with his conclusions or not, his intervention underscored an enduring reality of Telangana politics, that the debate is no longer about creating the state, but about defining what its success should ultimately look like.

As an observer of Telangana’s political evolution, I feel that, one may agree or disagree with individual political positions, but it is difficult to overlook the significance of Ramchander Rao’s recollections regarding the drafting and passage of the Telangana State Formation Bill (Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014). His detailed account of consultations with national leadership, legal experts, and parliamentary stakeholders offers a valuable glimpse into a less-discussed but crucial phase of the statehood process.

Public movements could be sustained by mass participation and sacrifices, but legislative victories are often secured through patient negotiations, policy scrutiny, and political coordination behind closed doors. Hence, Ramchander Rao’s role was both sincere and substantial. His efforts to engage with the finer details of the Bill, advocate Telangana’s interests at the national level, and ensure continued support for its passage deserve due recognition in the broader historical narrative of Telangana’s formation. As Telangana reflects on twelve years of statehood, acknowledging such contributions during the process of state formation, strengthens the integrity of history.

>>>> Before the 'Meet the Press' program started, I presented my book 'Simplified and Faithful Rendering of Adi Kavya-Valmiki Ramayana' English version of Bala and Ayodhya Kandas to Sri N Ramchander Rao and Press Club President, Secretary and other friends)

KTR Reflects on Telangana's Journey, Development and Future Challenges >>>>> Underscores Balanced, Integrated and Holistic Approach to Governance : by Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

 KTR Reflects on Telangana's Journey, 

Development and Future Challenges

Underscores Balanced, Integrated and 

Holistic Approach to Governance

by Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

As part of the Telangana Formation Day celebrations, the Press Club Hyderabad organized a ‘Meet the Press’ program with Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Working President and former Minister KT Rama Rao (KTR) on Wednesday. The interactive session provided an opportunity to revisit Telangana’s journey from a long-standing aspiration to a functioning State and to reflect on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Speaking at length KTR touched upon the historical evolution of the Telangana Movement, the role played by various political forces, the development trajectory, the contemporary political and governance landscape.

KTR observed that as generations change, there is a natural tendency for historical experiences to fade from public consciousness. It therefore becomes important for younger generations to understand the struggles, sacrifices and aspirations that shaped Telangana. Drawing references from epics such as the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavata, he remarked that societies often preserve their understanding of heroes, villains, sacrifices and betrayals through narratives that transcend generations. Telangana too, possesses a distinct historical journey that deserves to be remembered in its entirety, said KTR.

According to KTR, the formation of Telangana was neither accidental nor the result of a single political event. It emerged through decades of aspirations, agitations and sustained public mobilisation. Recalling important phases in the movement, he referred to earlier expressions of regional identity, the concerns raised over safeguards and self-governance, and the repeated demands for justice and equitable development. He noted that the aspiration for Telangana survived across generations despite setbacks and political uncertainties.

KTR described the formation of Telangana Rashtra Samithi by K Chandrashekhar Rao as a turning point in the modern phase of the movement. At a time when the idea of Telangana appeared politically difficult and lacked widespread institutional support, the movement was revived and gradually transformed into a mass campaign. He recalled that over the years, students, employees, intellectuals, farmers, workers, women and people from diverse social backgrounds became active participants in the demand for statehood. Through a series of democratic agitations and public campaigns, Telangana evolved into a national political issue.

Referring to the events that eventually culminated in State formation, KTR said the movement demonstrated extraordinary resilience and unity. He credited KCR’s leadership for sustaining momentum during difficult phases and for providing strategic direction in critical junctures. He noted that the emotional connection between the people and the cause of Telangana transformed what initially appeared to be a political demand into a larger social movement. The eventual formation of Telangana, he said, represented the fulfilment of a long-cherished aspiration and marked the beginning of a new chapter in the region’s history.

KTR devoted considerable attention to the decade following State formation. He argued that the primary challenge before the first Telangana government was not merely administrative management but the task of rebuilding confidence and creating a development framework capable of addressing historical imbalances. According to him, the approach adopted by the government under KCR was based on balanced, integrated and holistic development rather than isolated sectoral interventions.

KTR maintained that efforts were made simultaneously in agriculture, irrigation, drinking water supply, power generation and distribution, industrial development, information technology, education, healthcare, rural development and social welfare. The objective, he said, was to ensure that growth was not confined to urban centres alone but extended to villages and previously neglected regions. He described Telangana’s development model as one that sought to combine infrastructure creation with welfare, economic growth with social inclusion, and investment promotion with human development.

Reflecting on the transformation witnessed during the first decade of Statehood, KTR said Telangana moved away from narratives associated with scarcity, migration and uncertainty towards a climate of confidence and opportunity. He highlighted the emphasis placed on strengthening agriculture, expanding irrigation facilities, improving access to drinking water, enhancing power availability and encouraging industrial investment. Simultaneously, he said, efforts were made to improve educational opportunities, healthcare access and social security measures for vulnerable sections.

According to KTR, Telangana’s governance when KCR was Chief Minister, initiatives attracted attention beyond the State and contributed to policy discussions at the national level. Several programmes introduced in Telangana, he observed, later found reflection in broader policy debates elsewhere. While acknowledging that every State has its own priorities and challenges, he argued that Telangana’s experience demonstrated the importance of political commitment, administrative innovation and long-term planning.

Responding to questions regarding the present political situation, KTR offered a critical assessment of the Congress government while maintaining that democratic accountability requires governments to be evaluated on delivery and outcomes rather than promises alone. He questioned whether the present administration had articulated a clear benchmark by which its performance could be assessed and argued that governance should ultimately be measured by tangible improvements in people’s lives.

Frequently dwelling on numerical comparisons, KTR suggested that there was a perceptible sense of uncertainty in several sectors and expressed concern over what he described as a slowing developmental momentum. He remarked that the focus of governance should remain on creating confidence among citizens, investors, farmers, entrepreneurs and young people rather than on political distractions. In a lighter vein, he employed a wordplay (MANDU GAMANAM or Liquor Speed and WELFARE MANDA GAMANAM) to suggest that while certain activities appeared to be progressing rapidly, many areas of governance were moving at a considerably slower pace.

On issues relating to irrigation and inter-State coordination, KTR criticised what he viewed as a lack of clarity in the government’s approach. Referring to discussions surrounding river water projects, he argued that Telangana’s interests must be protected through sustained engagement, strategic planning and effective negotiations. He alleged that some recent developments reflected more political theatre than substantive progress and called for a focused approach grounded in long-term interests rather than short-term political considerations.

‘CM not getting appointment with his Maharashtra CM’ is a surprise to KTR, which he described as ‘Drama, Diversion, Discussion, and Deviation’ on Tumbidihatti.  The interaction also touched upon contemporary political alignments. KTR reiterated his criticism that the Congress and BJP often appeared to function in ways that ultimately benefited each other politically. At the same time, he expressed confidence that the electorate possessed the ability to evaluate governments independently and make informed choices based on performance and credibility.

Commenting on the BRS defeat in the 2023 Assembly elections, KTR rejected interpretations that portrayed the result as a decisive rejection of the party’s political philosophy. Electoral outcomes, he said, are part of democratic life and must be accepted with maturity. Quoting a well-known observation that ‘Triumph and Disaster’ should be treated alike, he remarked that the BRS views both success and setbacks as temporary phases in a larger political journey. He reiterated that the party’s commitment to public issues remains unchanged regardless of whether it occupies the treasury benches or sits in opposition.

A recurring theme throughout the interaction was KTR’s emphasis on leadership. He argued that transformational moments in history often require leaders capable of articulating a vision, mobilising people and sustaining confidence during difficult periods. In this context, he credited KCR with providing the leadership that guided Telangana from aspiration to achievement. He described the former Chief Minister as an enduring symbol of the Statehood movement and indicated that his political relevance continues to remain significant.

KTR also underlined the distinction between politics as a competitive exercise and politics as a public responsibility. For the BRS, he said, politics is not merely an electoral game but a task centred on addressing public concerns and advancing societal progress but never a game. He maintained that the party’s identity is rooted in the Telangana movement itself and that its future direction would continue to be shaped by the aspirations of the people.

Responding to a wide range of questions in Telugu, English and Hindustani, KTR projected confidence about the future of both Telangana and the BRS. He remarked that Telangana society has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to recognize challenges, respond to changing circumstances and correct political course whenever necessary. As the State completes another year of its formation journey, he suggested that the central questions before policymakers are not merely about preserving past achievements but about sustaining momentum, strengthening institutions and ensuring that development remains inclusive and future-oriented.

The interaction ultimately served as both a reflection on Telangana’s journey thus far and a discussion on the direction in which the State should move in the years ahead. KTR repeatedly returned to first 10 years of BRS Government headed by KCR, what he described as a model of ‘Balanced, Integrated and Holistic development,’ arguing that governance must be assessed not in fragments but in terms of its overall impact on society. He maintained that the Telangana experiment under the BRS sought to harmonize infrastructure, welfare, investment, agriculture, education and social development rather than treating them as isolated sectors.

Drawing comparisons with the current political environment, he suggested that leadership is ultimately measured by vision, clarity and the ability to inspire confidence among people. Referring to KCR, he observed that the former Chief Minister continues to be remembered foremost as the leader who achieved Telangana Statehood and remains an important source of guidance for the party. ‘KCR is our Trump Card. We know when to utilize his precious services,’ KTR remarked while responding to questions about the future role of the BRS founder.

The final question of the session, posed by the moderator and a senior journalist working with The Hindu, R Ravikanth Reddy related to speculation in certain political circles about whether KTR was being groomed for a larger national role and whether he could eventually move to Parliament to play a more prominent role in national politics. Responding with characteristic composure, KTR declined to engage in speculation and simply stated that he is unaware of any such developments, bringing the wide-ranging interaction to a measured close.

Seated on the dais are: In addition to R Ravikanth Reddy, Press Club President S Vijaya Kumar Reddy and General Secretary Ramesh Varikuppla.