The Narrative of Navigating Human Ecologies >>>>> 29th Friday Evening Team Meet (FETE): Making a Difference >>>Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

 The Narrative of Navigating Human Ecologies

29^th Friday Evening Team Meet (FETE)

Making a Difference

October 23, 2026: Press Club Hyderabad

Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao (October 24, 2026)

The twenty-ninth consecutive gathering of like-minded journalist friends at the Press Club Hyderabad unfolded as a deeply reflective session that fundamentally altered the trajectory of the group’s ongoing weekly conversations. Moving away from the celebratory milestone of the previous week, the evening transitioned into a profound, objective exploration of the complex human ecologies that define public life, professional careers, and institutional governance.

The gathering saw a shift in its participant dynamics, welcoming back Saye Sekhar, accompanied by his former bank officer friend Ramesh, and also Lalita Iyer, whose presence had been missed during the previous session. Conversely, senior journalist Amar was unable to participate due to a sudden pressing urgency, leaving the core table to be anchored by Murthy, Subba Rao, Bharath Babu, and I. Club Secretary Ramesh greeted and was with us for dew minutes, extending his normal courtesies.

This specific alignment of analytical minds naturally steered the conversational convergence away from light anecdotes and toward a rigorous, message-oriented analysis of human behavior, professional ambition, and historical memory. The core thematic focus of the multilogue centered on a critical examination of the diverse array of personalities that media and PR professionals encounter over decades of active public service.

Across careers spanning journalism, politics, social activism, and the state bureaucracy, the participants mapped out the behavioral spectrum of individuals of immense reputation, popularity, and influence. Objectively stripping away the veneer of public relations, the table analyzed the dualities inherent in leadership and authority. The discussion candidly categorized these figures.

They vary as: contrasting those who deeply value lifelong professional friendships with those characterized by erratic uniqueness, unpredictable infamy, or deep-seated idiosyncrasies. FETE Members observed that the pressure of navigating high-stakes public environments often breeds split-minded tendencies or a propensity to ill-treat subordinates, political juniors, and peers alike. The FETE members reached a near consensus regarding a troubling behavioral pattern among certain political elites.

Despite receiving crucial assistance in the nascent phases of their careers, these figures conveniently forget their benefactors upon climbing the ladder of power ‘by hook or by crook.’ This opportunistic shift stands in sharp contrast to the exemplary, supportive approach historically demonstrated by their own illustrious families under similar circumstances. Using a poignant structural metaphor, the participants conceptualized these figures as mere airline or railway passengers: people who willingly share a temporary journey but feel no lasting loyalty to those beside them once they reach their destination.

Some remain in perpetual, meaningful contact, while others fade entirely into obscurity, completely unaware of what it truly means to maintain a human or professional touch within a fast-evolving social landscape. This analytical framework naturally expanded into an exploration of the dynamic boundaries of career mobility and institutional power. The participants examined the trajectories of individuals who excelled in their respective fields by beginning their journeys at the bottom or middle tiers of organizational hierarchies, only to eventually occupy the highest available positions of authority.

The table reached an objective consensus that such rapid ascent is rarely accidental; rather, it is the result of a zealous, calculated pursuit of power, often executed by employing every tactical and strategic mechanism available within corporate or political frameworks. This observation provided a perfect segue for the sharing of deep, firsthand institutional histories. I for myself, contributed a detailed exposition drawn from over five decades of close association with political titans, media leaders, and the foundational core of the state bureaucracy, alongside grassroots activist networks working for community welfare.

My professional journey included indirect associations with four to five Chief Ministers, and crucially, direct PR engagement with two formidable Chief Ministers: one of Erstwhile Andhra Pradesh and the other Telangana’s first CM. The table based on my revelations and drawn from my experience and association, analyzed how these two leaders collectively shaped contemporary history: one laying the rigorous institutional foundation for statehood, while the other strategically realized the actual achievement of a separate Telangana state.

However, the FETE members as a consensus also deliberated on ‘How they Could Have Done Better’ as leaders in engaging human relations. These reflections were further enriched by objective insights derived from my close collaboration with the Governor of the erstwhile unified Andhra Pradesh, as well as my time navigating the high-level educational mandates of the Apex State Training Institute. A particular narrative from my experience that resonated deeply with the FETE members was the 1989 Lok Sabha-Assembly Election scenario.

The unexpected defeat of serving Chief Minister NT Rama Rao in the Kalvakurthy Assembly Segment, alongside the broader defeat of the TDP across the state, vividly illustrated how heads of some highly influential non-governmental organizations (NGOs) can decisively sway political outcomes. It goes without saying that, one such influence resulted in securing a comfortable majority by Chittaranjan Das, who eventually became a Minister in Dr Channa Reddy’s cabinet. And for some he was then: ‘Giant Killer.’

The historical depth of the evening deepened as GK Murthy provided a sobering, counter-balancing narrative regarding the immense institutional vulnerabilities faced by media professionals. Murthy recounted the horrifying administrative and political realities of the 1975 National Emergency, meticulously explaining how the severe suspension of civil liberties and intense state censorship directly impacted his technical job and early career path.

This historical testimony served as a vital case study for the younger participants, demonstrating how macroeconomic and political shifts can abruptly alter individual professional trajectories. Building upon this narrative of media resilience, Saye Sekhar and Lalita Iyer shared critical milestones from their own respective journalistic journeys, emphasizing the evolving ethical responsibilities and operational challenges encountered by investigative reporters across different eras.

A central, unifying focal point of the night’s historical retrospection was the objective commemoration of the late Adiraju Venkateshwar Rao, a towering figure in Indian journalism who carved out an indelible legacy not only within Hyderabad but also across the highly competitive national media landscapes of New Delhi. The table remembered Adiraju as an exceptionally lively, serious, deeply knowledgeable, and uncompromising journalist throughout his entire life.

To illustrate his profound national impact, the participants reconstructed an iconic historical moment from a largely attended press conference in New Delhi, where the then Prime Minister of India, Late PV Narasimha Rao, explicitly pointed him out by name, acknowledging his sharp presence with the call of ‘Adiraju.’ Beyond his fierce professional independence, the group fondly and objectively reminisced about Adiraju’s enduring legacy of mentorship, highlighting his ever-prepared, innately helping nature that constantly lifted younger reporters entering the field.

As the evening drew toward its natural conclusion, the intellectual rigor of the multilogue was balanced by the traditional elements of the Press Club gatherings, with Social (Drink) refreshments, shared snacks, light-hearted laughter, and moments of genuine camaraderie dominating the table before the session officially concluded. The 29^th gathering successfully reinforced the eternal motto of the team, setting a sophisticated baseline of institutional memory and historical analysis that seamlessly paves the way for the next consecutive Friday meeting.