A Rare Walking Encyclopedia Par Excellence
Remembering Chennamaneni Rajeshwar Rao
on his first death anniversary
Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao
The Hans India (23-03-2024)
{There
are many anecdotes on Chennamaneni Rajeshwar Rao. For instance, Rajeshwar Rao
as a young bold journalist, while working in the then largest circulated Telugu
daily Andhra Patrika, offered his resignation to the editor Shivalenka Shambhu
Prasad, following a critical article of assessment on the then Chief Minister
Brahmananda Reddy, who happened to be editor’s friend, thinking that his
article might affect their friendship. The editor did not accept the
resignation. This is something which is rare in journalism and something that
cannot be visualized in the modern days of journalism}- Editor synoptic note.
Time flies. It is exactly on this day
(March 23, 2023) when my friend late Chennamaneni Rajeshwar Rao left for his
heavenly abode. He was a man who was humble and admirable. Though I did not
work with him shoulder to shoulder, I had been associated with him since his
tenure of working with N Janardhan Reddy as Information Advisor.
I was PRO to the CM, Dr M Channa
Reddy, whom Janardhan Reddy succeeded, and I called on Rajeshwar Rao to
introduce myself. The way he warmly received me is still fresh in my mind.
Since our first meeting then, almost 35 years ago, he had been a very good
friend, philosopher, and guide to me in general and, particularly, in matters
of public relations. Immediately, on my joining as CPRO to the first Telangana
CM KCR, he congratulated me profusely.
We were in regular touch, but
generally over phone. A couple of months before he passed away, one afternoon
he telephoned me, enquiring whether he could drop in at my house for a few
minutes. Despite my request that I would go to him, he politely vetoed and
walked into my house, ‘hale and hearty’ despite his old age. It was absolutely
a friendly visit and typically with his characteristic elegance, he initiated
discussion on latest books and to my privilege on my books, too. I presented
him books on Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavata, and books on KCR Governance
authored by me. I am still preserving the photo as a souvenir.
I was just going through the
commemorative articles that were brought out by his beloved family members,
which was a humble and admirable volume. It includes articles written by a
galaxy of persons associated with Rajeshwar Rao.
The most
memorable tribute was paid by Mrs Anjali, the wife of Rajeshwar Rao. There is a
message in it, if read carefully. Married when she was just 13, she re-counted
how she was encouraged by her husband to pursue studies, till she joined him.
The tribute also described as to how an ideal married life should be, and
Rajeshwar Rao as an ideal husband in many ways.
Similarly, Rajeshwar Rao Children and
siblings, Sarita, Sanjay, Satish Rao, Dolly, Shruti, Rishi, Havish, Mahika,
Vamshi, Shailaja, Smitha, Sujan, Anita, Padmaja, Satya, Shilpa, Deepa, Surekha,
Sarath, Sneha, Aparna, Haritha, Siddhu, Ravi Chaitanya, Abhilash, Vijaya,
Shobha, Shailu, Krishna Kumari-Ramachandra Rao, recollected their association
with them, as father, father-in-law, grandfather etc. Every one had such a
wonderful experience with Rajeshwar Rao, and to put in one word he was more
than a relative and friend to them.
There are many
anecdotes on Chennamaneni Rajeshwar Rao which have been included in the
commemoration volume. For instance, Rajeshwar Rao as a young bold journalist,
while working in the then largest circulated Telugu daily Andhra Patrika,
offered his resignation to the editor Shivalenka Shambhu Prasad, following a
critical article of assessment on the then Chief Minister Brahmananda Reddy,
who happened to be editor’s friend, thinking that his article might affect
their friendship. The editor did not accept the resignation. This was narrated
by Professor M Sridhar Acharyulu in his write-up on Rajeshwar Rao. This is
something which is rare in journalism and something that cannot be visualized
in the modern days of journalism.
Dr Velchala
Kondal Rao, recalling his association with Rajeshwar Rao, when he was Principal
of SRR Government College Karimnagar, and Rajeshwar Rao was a student there, said
that he used to always carry a book in one hand and a dictionary in another
hand. Usage of appropriate words is the implicit lesson he gave to the
present-day journalists. MVS Prasad, underscored the aspect of Rajeshwar Rao
giving importance to friendship (a friend whose affability and no-nonsense
approach on issues kept both close) and how he was jovial even a day before his
passing away. Recalling his association with Rajeshwar Rao, Prasad mentioned
about, how he never hesitated to update himself by picking up the brains of his
colleagues.
Referring him as
‘Rajeshwar Rao Anna’ his onetime colleague in former Chief Minister Vijaya
Bhaskar Reddy office, Anil Kutty, described him as a person of ‘Extremely
Competent and Effective in his job’ with enormous love and affection to
friends, and true connoisseur on best of the eateries in town. He mentioned
about his love for good food and passion for life. More than anything, Kutty
mentioned about Rajeshwar Rao’s wish to die holding a book in his hand. PS
Ramamohan Rao admired him as the person who belonged to the Old School of
Journalists for whom facts were sacred and opinions personal.
Krishna Sagar Rao Kasuganti, a
maternal cousin of Rajeshwar Rao affectionately termed him as a rare
professional and in a country where professionalism is scarce, his brother
personified a true professional. Krishna Sagar also wrote that, ‘Rajeshwar
Anna’ protected his integrity, journalistic values, and higher order human
values to an impossible stature.
A Raja Hussain poetically paid his
tributes bringing out various facets of Rajeshwar Rao’s qualities. Rajeshwar
Rao’s habit of carrying a book till the last moment of his life was mentioned
by HMTV CEO Laxmi; his evincing keen interest to discuss various issues was
mentioned by Mudigonda Veerbhadraiah; the way he maintained cool, calm,
composed and comfort always besides making others the same way was brought out
by K Jyotsna; the way he was a beacon of light to the veteran journalists was
mentioned by Nandiraju Radha Krishna; how he always was seen with a bunch of
books, magazines on his table and often reading them was stated by Bhandaru
Srinivasa Rao.
K Srinivas Reddy recalled constituting
a three-member committee by Telangana State Union of Working Journalist and
Media Education Foundation of India (MEET) jointly, with Rajeshwar Rao as one
member, to study various aspects of journalism, arising out of AP State Reorganization.
His keen interest to procure the latest book in the market is mentioned by BV
Prasad; drawing compassion and applying meaning of every word from Jashuva poem
was brought out well by Acharya K Yadagiri; Crediting Rajeshwar Rao with ‘Walking
Library’ Devulapalli Amar recalled his capability of not only merely reading
books, but also his exceedingly great memory power to retrieve the stored
information gathered from the books, as well as mention contextually.
B Narsing Rao sharing his experience
with Rajeshwar Rao wrote about his personality that always made a difference,
his evincing keen interest in sharing knowledge with others, his humble way of
presentation of subjects and friendliness. Recalling Rajeshwar Rao’s regular
contact over phone or in person, Kondubhatla Ramachandra Murthy in his tribute
said that, their conversation often rotated round latest books reading, that
included a comparative study of other books on the same subject and praised him,
saying that, to talk to him itself was an ‘Education.’
A Chandrashekhar Reddy a former
colleague, paying his tributes gave a brief account of Rajeshwar Rao from his
birth to death, that included his birth in Vedira Village, college education,
starting his journalism career in Daily News, marriage, stint in Andhra Patrika
and his contacts there, assignment in State Electricity Board, Information
Advisor to two Chief Ministers etc. Messages from Ajay Mishra, Professor G
Satyanarayana, and LV Subrahmanyam too appear in the commemoration volume in brief,
in addition to number of condolence messages from Journalists’ unions from
across the country.
May The Great Person and ‘A Rare
Walking Encyclopedia Par Excellence’ Chennamaneni Rajeshwar Rao’s Soul
Rest in Peace!!!
(Writer is Former Chief Public
Relations Officer to Former Telangana Chief Minister KCR)
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