SEVENTH, EIGHTH, and NINTH alternative JOBS >>>> Professions, Checkered Career, and Lessons-12 : Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

 SEVENTH, EIGHTH, and NINTH alternative JOBS

Professions, Checkered Career, and Lessons-12

Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao (July 9, 2026)

In 2004 when Dr YS Rajashekhar Reddy headed the Congress Party Government as Chief Minister, he took a conscientious decision, to remove from government payrolls all those who were appointed on contract basis by his predecessor Chandrababu Naidu, suspecting that they were done as favors, irrespective of merits and demerits. Though in my contractual appointment there was no role of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu as such, and it was purely an administrative decision of HRD Institute Director General PVRK Prasad, I too had to leave the job.

I was just 56 years old (Retirement age as per Government rules was 58), and when was forced to relinquish the job with a monthly salary of Rs 23,000/- and also was asked to vacate the accommodation in HRD campus, neither I had a pension to get, nor savings, nor own house. And not even a remote chance to get a job. Added to this I had debts of about Rs 10 lakhs borrowed from friends. However, my son Aditya and his family were with us, and he was working comparatively in a good position. That gave us confidence for survival, and thanks to him soon we moved to a small flat bought by him in 2004 October-November.

Despite my serious trials for getting back my job in MCR HRD Institute through my contacts, and in the process meeting Chief Minister Dr YA Rajshekhar Reddy, Chief Secretary Mohan Kanda, Finance Minister, and Chairman MCR HRD Managing Committee etc. all were known to me personally, nothing resulted to secure mu lost, because something BEST was stored for me in future and God destined me for that, about which as human being I did not realize that my efforts were futile. These developments were also learning lessons that, one should sail with the changing times, people, and circumstances. When it comes to an adverse decision merit would never be counted.

Meanwhile, I associated for some time with the Centre for Good Governance, working almost on a daily-wage basis, yet with compensation that was both fair and reassuring. Alongside, I undertook ghost-writing assignments for a Minister, remunerated on an article-to-article basis, which allowed me to continue contributing intellectually and creatively, that life had taught me. For a few months, I served as Regional Director of the Centre for Media Studies (CMS), followed by an association with the Andhra Pradesh Press Academy, where I was involved in training journalists on the Right to Information Act, drawing only a nominal salary but deriving deep professional satisfaction.

My CGG assignment was due to Dr Prasanna Kumar (PK) Mohanty, who as its Director General, recognized my expertise in aspects of Right to Information, and enabled me to take up training programs for various groups in the state. Later he also gave me an assignment to draft a module on it for training journalists, and Devulapalli Amar, the then Chairman AP Press Academy had taken it forward, with the funding support from CGG. Amar gave me a monthly honorarium, almost equal to my last drawn salary in MCR HRD Institute. Simultaneously, I was also given a placement in Center for Media Studies by its Chairman Dr N Bhaskar Rao, as its Regional Director, where the nature of job was to monitor the daily news and analyze them. All the three assignments taught me a lot.

Couple of words about the three who stood by my side during this lull: Dr PK Mohanty, an officer of Indian Administrative Service (1979 batch), later served as the Chief Secretary to Government of the Erstwhile State of Andhra Pradesh, a post held by him after becoming Secretary to Government of India. Devulapalli Amar has been a senior journalist, state and national level journalists’ union leader serving in key higher positions. Dr N Bhaskar Rao is a pioneer of social research in India and an eminent mass communication expert with 60 years of distinguished background. He is founder Chairman the independent research think tank, Centre for Media Studies (CMS).

{{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}}