Enthralling Memoirs with High-Profile Persons in Public Life : Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

 Enthralling Memoirs with 

High-Profile Persons in Public Life

Reminisced by Knowledgeable 

Journalist Saye Sekhar

Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

A glance in to Angara Saye Sekhar’s ‘WittyLeaks’ Book, perhaps the first of its kind, which can neither simply be described as a (Auto) Biography nor ordinary Experiences nor a mere Sequence of Events nor for that matter reproducing orthodox interviews, but a combination of exceptional, inimitable, and, perhaps, unparalleled narration of ‘Deep Mind’ live ‘Enthralling Memoirs’ with High-Profile persons in Public Life, reminisced by a knowledgeable journalist. 

What began as a ‘Political Salad’ in a humorous moment, according to the Author, the title turned out to be ‘WittyLeaks.’ The way the entire content was contextualized, depicting author’s intellect in every paragraph, concisely, precisely, and comprehensively has not only been descriptive but also prescriptive. The galaxy of persons whom Saye Sekhar met as part of his decades of journalism profession, by and large with a personal contact, as well as becoming their confident, figured more than once in different contexts, made every particular piece interesting and independent of 39 other chapters. 

They include, among others, former Chief Ministers YS Rajasekhara Reddy, NT Rama Rao, K Chandrashekhar Rao, PV Narasimha Rao (Also Prime Minister), Dr M Channa Reddy, YS Jaganmohan Reddy, K Rosaiah, Kotla Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy, present Chief Ministers Chandrababu Naidu, Revanth Reddy, besides Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Yerneni Sita Devi, Dhirubhai Ambani, Ch Ramoji Rao, S P Bala Subrahmanyam, Yogi Deveshwar, Superstar Krishna, P Sambasiva Raju, former Chief Election Commissioner TN Seshan etc. 

In the first chapter ‘Gig as a bus driver in CM Chandrababu Naidu Convoy’ itself, Saye Sekhar narrated an interesting experience as to how he replaced the driver of a 32-seater Swaraj Mazda, prompted by his friends and colleagues, especially Srinivas Reddy of Eenadu, to catch up with the CM’s schedule, and when he successfully reached the destination, he was patted by Chandrababu Naidu with a praise that, ‘Saye Sekhar never misses being on time.’

Once it so happened that, Saye Sekhar was leading the protesters wearing black badges, to lodge a complaint to CM YS Rajasekhara Reddy, against an attack on journalists covering the polls. After the press meet and his assurance to act, YSR, to cool Saye down, glanced at Saye’s turquoise blue shirt with a flame’s motif on it, and quipped with his signature smile, ‘Sekhar, your shirt is very nice. You did not need the black badge. The flames on your shirt indicated your rage, young man!’ This was in his chapter ‘YSR Praised My Enchanted Shirt.’

An incident how CM Chandrababu Naidu takes things in a ‘light-hearted’ manner was when a journalist friend of Sekhar, in CM’s press conference, unmindful of the fact that his mic was on, made an interesting remark, was narrated in the book. The comment of the said journalist was heard on the sound system by Chief Minister Naidu, to which he had laughed and looked at the embarrassed Krishna Prasad (the journo who had passed the comment), instead of getting angry.  

In a meet-the-press program with NT Rama Rao, during 1994 Assembly Elections, Sekhar put a question to him to clarify whether it was true that, Lakshmi Parvathi and he (NTR) were finalising the list of TDP candidacies in his bedroom, NTR, with his great sense of humour, replied as ‘through which window did you peek, brother? NTR also complemented Saye that his was a good question, which gave him an opportunity to clarify the misinformation spread. 

Narrating the uncanny knack of KCR in defusing a tense situation, Saye recalled an incident of rude behaviour of two officers with media persons, at the swearing-in ceremony of the first Cabinet expansion of Naidu. Then KCR negotiated with journalists who had organised an instant sit-in to call off their agitation, where Saye was at the forefront of the strike, assuring them that the CM would take necessary action. As promised, KCR had the courage to bring CM to journalists who had assured them that he would discuss the matter at the Secretariat. 

In another story, he explained the occasion of the marriage of the granddaughter of Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao in Hyderabad, where Saye Sekhar was an invitee, straight from not only PMO but also from PV family, where he was seated in the fourth row from the dais. After the ‘Muhurta’ PV walked into the VVIP area where Saye was having dinner, over a chat with Veerappa Moily on contemporary issues. While Moily had greeted him humbly, Saye greeted the PM introducing himself by name. To his utter disbelief, PV, in Telugu, replied that he remembered him and enquired about his well-being. 

Saye Sekhar, describing YS Rajasekhara Reddy as the one who did not have the gall to declare himself as CM candidate after 2004 elections, wrote that he always responded with a sheepish smile suggesting that the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) would elect its leader. Recalling a press conference by Ghulam Nabi Azad. When the question-answer session commenced, Sekhar had asked him, what was the problem in announcing the CM candidate when the elections were around the corner, and followed it up with a series of questions on the subject, YSR had put an end to the matter. Saye commented that, ‘While YSR tried to be modest, the other leaders, were greatly irked.’

Describing his privilege of covering PV several times, Saye Sekhar cited an important instance when as Prime Minister PV had visited his native village Vangara, to which place he set off in a cab with a couple of other friends, and reached minutes before the PM arrived. Sekhar wrote the story of the ‘Gram Sabha’ (Village Meeting), highlighting PV Narasimha Rao, though was the Prime Minister, humbly, as a village elder accorded a warm welcome to the Chief Minister Kotla Vijaya Bhaskar Reddy and APCC President Kamaluddin Ahmed, demonstrating the humility, ignoring his position. Sekhar also reminisced writing what PV spoke that day in the meeting.

An interesting chapter, according to the author that was included at a later stage, was on the ‘Latest Rising Star on the Political Horizon in India’ Revanth Reddy, the second Chief Minister of Telangana. Saye Sekhar recalled an incident post ‘Meet-the-Press’ program during 2024 Lok Sabha Elections, with CM and TPCC President Revanth Reddy, at the dinner table. Saye recalled that, when Chairman of the Telangana Press Academy, K Srinivas Reddy introduced him to CM, as a senior journalist, he not only shook hands, but also responded to his questions with patience.

Saye also remembered Revanth Reddy saying ‘I like playing football with a group of friends.’

When it so happened that both K Rosaiah in one of his visits to Guntur where Saye Sekhar was working in Guntur, Sekhar experienced a compliment from his guest Rosaiah, who on a personal invitation came to Sekhar’s house on the third floor without lift, and had a cup of coffee. ‘Aah! What a wonderful coffee! I would come again for this coffee’ was the comment or complement, reminisced Saye Sekhar. He also described Rosaiah as ‘Political Veteran and Congress loyalist who had a fruitful life, for he became the CM and also the Governor before he took Voluntary Retirement.’ 

Saye Sekhar honestly attempted to describe leaders whom he knew, with a bit of exclamation. For instance, according to him, Chandrababu Naidu is the ‘Modern-day Machiavelli within the TDP.’ Referring to an article written by him on the ‘Unsavoury Developments’ in TDP, and NTR called him to say that it was a complete trash. But the funny part, reminisced Saye, was NTR appreciated his English as ‘Immaculate and archaic’ and offering a ‘Bag of Apples’ but not before commenting that, ‘We both are artistes, and need to have mutual respect for each other.’   

Saye Sekhar thrilled by KCR’s performance at press conferences, described it as, ‘supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.’ According to him, he is in stiff competition with himself, and outdoes himself every single time. Reminiscing his observations on KCR, Sekhar described him, ‘In my career, I have covered the press conferences of several CMs, but I have not seen any CM as versatile, knowledgeable, articulate, and possessed of presentation skills as KCR.’ He compared other CMs with KCR concisely and precisely. 

Other WittyLeaks include, experiences with Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Dhirubhai Ambani, TN Seshan, YSR’s ‘Twirling Moustache,’ KCR’s first revolt, NTR’s death, Satya Sai Baba showering blessings on Sekhar, NTR’s power nap secret; Tribute to Yerneni Sita Devi; Buddha statue into Hussain Sagar; Ramoji Rao catching Sekhar smoking; Anecdote on utmost courtesy between NTR and Dr Marri Channa Reddy, etc.  If Reminisces are free and frank experience sharing Books of ‘Exhilarating Life Knowledges’ coupled with intellection of the Author, like WittyLeaks, by Saye Sekhar, then they will have lasting value. Saye Sekhar, Hearty Congratulations.