PROFESSIONS, CHECKERED CAREER, AND LESSONS-PART FOUR (From Librarian to CPRO to CM KCR) ...... A Journey from Khangi School to Center for Excellence : Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

 PROFESSIONS, CHECKERED CAREER, 

AND LESSONS-PART FOUR

(From Librarian to CPRO to CM KCR)

A Journey from Khangi School to

Center for Excellence

Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

Prefatory Note

(These reflections arise from close observation and lived experience during a defining phase in the history of Telangana. They are offered with deep respect for Kalvakuntla Chandrashekhar Rao—a leader of rare intellectual depth, political courage, and unwavering commitment to the idea of Telangana. What follows is not merely recollection, but an attempt to record how vision, resolve, and governance converged to shape a people’s destiny.

While this narrative draws upon a professional journey that spans eleven organizations and multiple institutional settings, it consciously begins with the final and most consequential phase of that journey. A brief reference to my academic formation is included at the outset only to provide essential context, before the account moves directly into the concluding chapter of my professional life.}

KCR often described the long, untold, and miserable story of irrigation in Telangana as rivaling the great epics in sheer volume. From this understanding emerged his bold vision of bringing one crore acres under assured irrigation. This was not mere aspiration.

It was translated into execution through massive projects such as Kaleshwaram. His grasp of irrigation systems and capacity for re-engineering projects was unparalleled. His PowerPoint presentation in the State Assembly on March 31, 2016, outlining this vision, stands out in my memory as a landmark moment, contemporary history unfolding within the framework of independent India.

In administrative reforms, KCR reminded one of Salar Jung, the celebrated reformer of the Nizam era. The reorganization of districts, mandals, and other administrative units bore his personal imprint, rooted in geographical understanding, field realities, and continuous consultation. Before finalizing decisions, he adopted a transparent and methodical approach, constituting a committee headed by the Chief Secretary to collect data and examine regional specificities.

His depth of knowledge regarding the need, concept, evolution, and administrative logic of districts in India was striking. The same clarity guided his thinking on education, where he conceptualized a feasible policy aimed at improving quality and positioning Telangana as an emerging educational hub.

One of the priority flagship initiatives under KCR’s leadership was the action-oriented program to assess, survey, verify, correct, and correlate land records across the State, with the objective of putting every parcel of assigned land to proper and productive use. What struck me most was the sincerity and depth with which this exercise was approached. It reflected his comprehensive understanding of land and revenue administration, as well as systems that have evolved over centuries, with the village as the foundational unit.

This historical awareness informed a modern, technology-driven reform, giving the program both administrative legitimacy and practical effectiveness. The significance of this initiative was underlined during the visit of Arvind Subramanian, the internationally renowned economist and then Chief Economic Advisor to the Government of India, who met KCR in the third week of February 2018.

Subramanian described Telangana’s land records updating program as the ‘Heart of Good Governance’ and remarked that it merited study as a case at Harvard University. He also drew attention to the KCR Kits program, observing that its design and successful implementation should be shared with the Government of India as a learning model for other States and for the country as a whole.

KCR’s involvement extended equally to urban governance. He guided the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) in conceptualizing and implementing the Strategic Road Development Program (SRDP) to address traffic congestion and meet the growing demands of the city. Here again, the emphasis was on balance, integrating infrastructure growth with environmental considerations, demonstrating a consistent approach across rural and urban development.

KCR consistently displayed restraint and statesmanlike maturity in his engagement with the Union Government. Even when the Prime Minister belonged to a different political party, he maintained institutional respect, while firmly asserting the rights of the State whenever required. This balance was evident at the Inter-State Council meeting held on July 16, 2016.

There, KCR endorsed the concept of Collaborative Federalism and a Strong Centre co-existing with Strong States, as articulated by the Punchhi Commission. At the same time, he argued persuasively for further strengthening States through greater devolution of financial resources, reflecting his belief that cooperative federalism must be matched by fiscal empowerment.

His political acumen was most visibly demonstrated in what became a historic set of inter-state agreements. On August 23, 2016, KCR and the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, signed three agreements facilitating the construction of barrages across the Penganga, Pranahita, and Godavari rivers at Chanaka-Korata, Tambhidihatti, and Medigadda respectively.

These agreements stand out in the annals of inter-state cooperation for their scale, foresight, and mutual trust. In spirit, they belong to a rare tradition of water-sharing compacts, comparable in significance to landmark treaties such as the Indus Waters Treaty and the Ganga Water Treaty.

KCR’s commitment to social equity was reflected in his continuous expansion of Telangana Social Welfare Residential Educational Institutions, catering to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Backward Classes, minorities, and other marginalized sections. These decisions were not static but evolved over time in response to need and demand.

His concern for inclusive welfare extended to the Brahmin community as well, leading to the formation of the Telangana Brahmin Samkshema Parishad, in which I was entrusted with the responsibility of Vice-Chairman. He also allotted ten acres of land for the construction of a Brahmin Sadan, which he personally inaugurated, underscoring his approach of addressing welfare without exclusion.

In February 2017, when Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, along with members of his family, had darshan of Lord Venkateswara Swamy at Tirumala and presented gold ornaments, I had the privilege of being present. It was a rare and moving experience. KCR ensured that every member of his team received darshan in the same manner and personally called each of us for Harati and Tirtha.

For me, the moment carried a deeper resonance, as it coincided with a similar experience twenty-six years earlier, in the same month of February, when I had accompanied Chief Minister Dr M. Chenna Reddy as his PRO. The continuity of those moments, across decades and leaderships, left a lasting impression.

A defining moment came on April 16, 2017, when the Telangana Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes Reservation Bill was passed by both the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council. It marked a historic assertion of the State’s rights and opened a new chapter in Centre-State relations.

On that occasion, KCR articulated with clarity the strategy he intended to pursue to secure approval for enhanced reservation quotas, including the inclusion of Muslim minorities under the BC-E category and increased reservations for Scheduled Tribes. His resolve was unambiguous.

He stated that he would not plead for approval, but would fight for it, raising the issue at the NITI Aayog, and if necessary, pursuing it before the Supreme Court. This resolve was evident a week later at the NITI Aayog meeting held on April 23, 2017, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. KCR forcefully presented measures to pull Indian agriculture out of chronic distress.

He argued for reviving the rural economy by strengthening traditional occupations such as sheep rearing, fisheries, and dairy, alongside direct investment support to farmers through initiatives like Rythu Bandhu, aimed at stabilizing incomes and enabling sustainable growth. His intervention reflected a holistic understanding of rural livelihoods rather than a narrow sectoral view.

Among the many initiatives that left a personal imprint on me was the announcement and successful conduct of the first Telangana World Telugu Conference in Hyderabad. Organized under the aegis of the newly constituted Telangana Sahitya Academy, the conference was historic in both conception and execution. It celebrated linguistic and cultural identity with confidence and dignity, and for me, it was a moment of deep satisfaction and lasting memory.

KCR’s engagement with culture and language was equally personal and informed. A connoisseur of Telugu literature, he personally chaired several preparatory meetings for organizing the First World Telugu Conference in Hyderabad. I recall one such meeting on November 20, 2017, attended by over sixty eminent Telugu scholars with deep command over language, literature, and allied disciplines.

The manner in which KCR raised issues during the deliberations reflected his mastery of Telugu in its many dimensions. He envisaged the Conference not as a ceremonial event, but as a vibrant mosaic encompassing language, literature, culture, folk traditions, fine arts, and diverse creative expressions.

I vividly recall May 24, 2017, when KCR publicly demanded an unconditional apology from the BJP National President, Amit Shah, for what he described as blatant falsehoods and for insulting the State of Telangana and its people. Responding point by point with detailed statistics, KCR systematically countered the allegations, demonstrating that the statements were baseless and misleading.

He accused the BJP leadership of indulging in malicious propaganda aimed at portraying Telangana in poor light and undermining its growth trajectory. The episode underscored his readiness to confront national political leadership when the dignity and interests of the State were at stake.

Equally significant was KCR’s personal initiative in enacting the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement framework tailored to the State’s requirements. The objective was to prevent delays in land acquisition while ensuring timely and just compensation to displaced persons. This reform assumed particular importance as Telangana embarked on multiple large-scale irrigation projects, where land acquisition was critical to execution. The emphasis on transparency and rehabilitation reflected a conscious effort to balance development with social justice.

KCR also demonstrated consistency between promise and performance. During the Telangana statehood movement, he had repeatedly asserted that once formed, the State would emerge as one of the most prosperous in the country, drawing strength from its natural resources that had long remained underutilized during the unified Andhra Pradesh period.

At the celebration of the third Telangana Formation Day in June 2017, he pointed to measurable outcomes. Citing the Comptroller and Auditor General’s report for 2017-18, he announced that Telangana had recorded the highest revenue growth rate in the country, an achievement realized within just three years of Statehood.

One of KCR’s far-reaching decisions was the launch of the Seed Village Program and the emphasis on certified seed production through identified seed villages. The objective was to ensure the timely availability of quality seed to farmers at affordable prices, delivered directly at their doorstep. This model also enabled the rapid multiplication of newly developed seed varieties within a mandal or district, based on local crop patterns.

To support this, the State strengthened seed regulation mechanisms, including analytical services, seed testing laboratories, quality assurance programs, licensing of seed marketers, and the deployment of special squads for surprise inspections. Together, these measures brought discipline, reliability, and farmer confidence into the seed supply system.

On June 20, 2017, KCR launched the first-ever large-scale sheep distribution scheme in a manner that was both symbolic and transformative. Dressed in a Gongadi, wearing a crimson-red turban, and playing the Oggodolu like a traditional shepherd, he formally inaugurated the program aimed at economically empowering Yadavas and Kurumas.

The initiative went beyond welfare, fundamentally transforming the livestock economy and revitalizing allied traditional occupations. Over time, it significantly enhanced incomes and social standing, making the Yadava community among the most prosperous pastoral groups in the country. On that day, I could not help but describe him as a ‘Good Shepherd.’

Equally decisive was KCR’s response when land grabbers in Hyderabad, using fabricated General Power of Attorney documents and collusion within the registration system, attempted to alienate government land as private property. Acting swiftly, he ordered the cancellation of such registrations and withdrew the existing Anywhere Registration Policy. This was followed by the promulgation of the Telangana Rights in Land and Pattadaar Pass Book (Amendment) Ordinance, 2017, reinforcing transparency and restoring public trust in land administration.