My FOURTH JOB AS PRO to
UNITED AP CM Dr MARRI CHANNA REDDY
PROFESSIONS, CHECKERED CAREER, AND LESSONS
From Khangi School to Center for Excellence-6
Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao
This fourth phase of my professional journey followed
naturally from my years at Raj Bhavan and prepared me, intellectually and
emotionally, for a far more demanding engagement with public life. The exposure
to governance, public relations, protocol, and human complexity that I had
gained earlier now found a sharper, more intense expression when I stepped into
the role of Public Relations Officer to the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.
In retrospect, this period stands as one of the most challenging, instructive,
and transformative chapters of my life, leaving behind lessons that have
sustained me in times of both distress and triumph.
During and even before the State Assembly elections in
the then undivided Andhra Pradesh, I came into contact with Dr Marri Channa
Reddy through an introduction by Venkat Parsa, a senior journalist. Dr Channa
Reddy was already a towering presence in Indian public life. He had spearheaded
the first phase of the Separate Telangana Statehood Movement in 1969, served as
Governor of Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, held the office of Union Minister at a
young age, and earlier served one term as Chief Minister. His political career
was marked by ideological clarity, administrative depth, and an unwavering
belief in strong governance anchored in democratic values.
In my own modest way, I assisted him during that
politically charged period preceding the elections. Events thereafter moved
decisively in his favor. At a time when Rajiv Gandhi, on the suggestion of
Kumud Ben Joshi the then politically charged Governor, no matter what others
talked of her critically, was searching for a leader capable of taking on the
formidable NT Rama Rao and the Telugu Desam Party, Dr Channa Reddy was
appointed President of the Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee. Following the
Congress Landslide in the Assembly elections, he assumed office as Chief
Minister in November 1989, as the one and only choice of Congress High
Command.
In one of our earlier, seemingly casual conversations
before the elections, Dr Channa Reddy had shared with me a principle that
guided many of his decisions: he valued clarity of thought, sincerity, and the
ability to communicate responsibly far more than formal qualifications. True to
that conviction, and despite my not being a professionally trained journalist
or a prolific independent writer at the time, barring a few letters to editors,
he appointed me, at a little over forty years of age, as Public Relations
Officer to the Chief Minister, in the cadre of Director, Information and Public
Relations, a State-level post. This appointment was based entirely on his
confidence that I would be able to understand his thinking and convey it
faithfully and responsibly to society.
In fact, few days after Dr Marri Channa Reddy was sworn
in as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, second time, on December 3, 1989, on
his suggestion, I went to his Tarnaka Residence to meet him. On seeing me, he
asked to draft a message from CM to Indian Medical Association, on the occasion
of its Golden Jubilee Celebrations, which I did. ‘INCIPIENT’ was the instant
observation of him, when I had shown the draft, though approved it without any
changes. Later, I was appointed as Public Relations Officer to Chief Minister.
His Masterly Comment ‘INCIPIENT’ was a ‘Learning Lesson in my Life.’ In fact,
every word that he pronounces, be it in delivering speech, conversing with
media or visitors, giving his points to include in messages etc. was simply
astounding and unparalleled.
The year that followed, from 1989 to 1990, proved to be
one of the most intense learning experiences of my life. I interacted closely
with Ministers, Members of the Legislative Assembly and Parliament, senior and
junior IAS officers, opposition leaders, journalists, and distinguished
individuals from many walks of life. I learnt the discipline of drafting
talking points for speeches, whether or not the Chief Minister ultimately chose
to use them, preparing congratulatory messages on his behalf, and writing press
notes for official release, particularly after review meetings. Each
responsibility deepened my understanding of communication, accountability,
restraint, and timing, not to speak of self-correction.
Under special and personal instructions from the Chief
Minister to the Secretary, I was given a rare opportunity that very few PROs
ever receive: permission to attend Cabinet meetings. Preparing instant and
accurate notes after these meetings for press briefings, either by the Chief
Minister himself or occasionally by one of his Cabinet colleagues, was both
demanding and exhilarating. Accompanying the Chief Minister on his engagements,
especially in the early phase, became a continuous education in leadership,
governance, and human behavior. I always had the privilege to travel in his car
and sitting by his side.
I was fortunate to work alongside highly knowledgeable,
experienced, and exceptionally supportive senior colleagues such as KR
Paramahamsa, G Kishan Rao, RM Gonela, Ramachandra Raju, Narayana, Shashidhar
Reddy, and others. From them, I learnt invaluable lessons in administration,
professional conduct, dealing with superiors, agreeing to disagree with grace,
and asserting one’s position when convinced of its correctness, even if it did
not immediately, please those in authority.
I also learnt the finer nuances of protocol and
mannerisms, especially while accompanying the Chief Minister on official visits
to meet the Governor, the constitutional head of the State, a role then
occupied by a person in the initial days (Kumud Ben Joshi) personally well
known to me, yet one who had to be approached strictly within the bounds of
constitutional decorum. At the same time, this phase exposed me to the less
visible but very real undercurrents of power. I observed how perceptions of
proximity to authority could breed insecurity and how psychological complexes,
often unacknowledged, could translate into opposition.
Certain forces,
including some who believed themselves closer to the Chief Minister, and even a
few from his own extended circle, began to act against me when they felt
sidelined. Suspicion was cast for reasons entirely beyond my control. Over
time, this resulted in my being left with the designation but without
meaningful work. Yet, even in that constrained space, I focused on what I could
contribute, which culminated in my association with the preparation of a significant
volume compiling Dr Channa Reddy’s extempore speeches, a work that reflected
his philosophy of governance and good governance. It was published as ‘An
Agenda for the Development of Andhra Pradesh.’
The situation reached a critical point during the
devastating cyclone of May 1990. That natural calamity was used as a pretext by
certain quarters to project dissatisfaction among a section of journalists,
leading to an unwarranted telephone warning from a member of the Chief
Minister’s family questioning my professional competence.
I responded firmly yet respectfully, placing my position
on record and even offering to step down if my presence was considered a
hindrance. I even had to tell him that, I was neither PRO to him (the one who
called me) nor Dr Channa Reddy, but I was PRO to the Chief Minister, that was a
constitutional position. That day as a protest I preferred to go to office on
my scooter instead of Official Transport, as I planned to step down.
{{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}}
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