A Tribute to YSR

A Tribute to YSR.


A ruler who loves the people, stood for the people in every aspect of their life, and leaves the people unexpectedly, brings complete agony and dilemma for the poor mass. This was happened in Andhra Pradesh as Y S Rajashekara Reddy., Andhra chief minister, better to say the complete positive hope of the state died in an air crash in Nallamala forest region on 3rd September morning.


Right from the beginning of the historical times there was schism as the haves and have nots.Andhra Pradesh occupied an important position in the history of Indian – Republic. It witnessed many historical events and the rise and fall of lots of national leaders. When we talk about leaders, indeed, there should be a analytical separation of post and pre independent leaders or rulers.


Since the independent period for about four decades Andhra Pradesh was ruled by the Indian national congress. This is the largest south Indian state, with large number of poor and a small percent of the rich holding more landed areas... Even though the congress party, implemented large number of programs it failed to address the problems of inequality. This inequality, indeed contributes for the armed fights, insurgencies, death, loss of properties and assassination of political and social leaders. These massive sufferings have contributed for the fall of the congress dominancy over the states whence NTR came to arena.


As expected people given utmost hope to the TDP and on its leaders. But they too failed to fulfill the aspirations of the poor mass. The TDP lead government’s development goals confined only in the named metros and other corporations, it did not even touch their villages.Bussiness class, government employees and other industry related personals got pocketful support and these minorities were supporting the government for their benefits. Here history repeated. Poor farmers, always neglected sections, by the successive governments suffered a lot. Statehood failed to understand that these farmers are the food providers of the white and red color elite class and a civilization entirely exist on the farm and not in the air conditioned rooms. Every time the farmers were in trouble. The had only one option that is to commit suicide. Suicide was a long phenomenon in AP for long period. In death itself there is difference and importance. As a rich –elite person dies leaders mourn and shed tortoise tears, but as a farmer dies shedding his tears on the holy farm, it is the curses on the humanity from the mighty earth .Rulers never open their eyes. This was happened in AP.



Y S Rajashekara Reddy , a doctor turned politician ,understanding the needs, goals and aspirations of the millions of the poor people stood to address the real problems of the state as a whole. He was sure that he could at least minimize mass needs. He became the unchallenged leader of the divided state congress around 2000.
He had a herculean tasks .He needs to rejuvenate the dead congress and make it to compete with the TDP in the 2004 state elections .He took over the responsibility expecting mandate.

For each and every small decision regarding the state, the state congress leaders depended on the high command in Delhi. It always invited massive criticism and mostly high command decisions were not in relation with the actual prevailing situations. Here lies differences .YSR thought, instead of depending on the high command for all silly and serious issues, to solve, here in AP itself the congress must take decisions and go forward. He was right. People to some extend, supported and admired his independent views. With that purpose, mainly to bring the congress back to power he led a Walk on the Road trip across the state meeting people from all walks of life. As his month long journey ended in the state capital in the early months of 2004, it shook the ruling TDP and its back born and opened the way for he congress in to masses.
The congress high command had complete faith and trust on him. As expected the congress won two third majorities in the state assemble and contributed much to form a government in the center. He became the chief minister giving hopes to the voters for change from cities to villages. He was the only congress chief minister having complete freedom to talk in the congress high command meeting .Quite different from others he does not need to wait much to meet both the prime minister and Sonia Gandhi .He could meet them with in two hours after seeking permission. He became the highly appreciated chief minister in the country.

He was a person with a vision, dynamism and willingness to execute his programs at any cost. He always tried to bring all the national sponsored programs to the state first and he succeeded in that too. He had talks with foreign delegates to bring investments to the state. He could completely stop farmer’s suicide.Many programs were implemented and many are in move. One of the most notable schemes is Health programs for all. All people have free access to the government hospitals, especially BPL families, and all the expenses would be bone by the government whatever it is.

As a gift to his vision, implemented programs and dreams, in the 2009 state elections people trusted him and given a clear mandate for the second term. He could contribute 33 seats to the National parliament to make a congress government .As the congress government came to power in the second consecutive term everybody appreciated YSR and his capability and credibility. Even his strong opponents also came up as clapping
But his unexpected and untimely death after sworn in as chief minister put every one in dilemma and disappointment .The state and the nation as a whole mourned on his departure .Local people could not suffer the sad news on the 3rd September. More than 25 persons committed suicide and 105 people died of massive hearth arrest. It shows how people valued and what they expected from YSR.It is reported that on the first day before his death was officially announced, if somebody commented on his death, was beaten up by the people..

Regional, national and international Medias have given topmost priority for YSR’s accidental death and great loss to the Indian polity and state craft. Indeed his absence has created a vacuum now and it will continue for the time being. As his body was laid for a public tribute, paramilitary forces were compelled to use force to control the mass flow. Again when his body was taken to his birth place and home village at Pulikondala in Cudppa district, people did not allow the army copter which was carrying YSR, to land. Finally one of the cabinet minister appealed and warned that if the they are not calm, government would take the body back to Hyderabad.
To shower flower petals and say good adieu, lakh of people gathered at Pulikondala.A politically turbulent state and a socially divided state minus YSR would be a hectic state in the near future .It is the time and era that to say whether the followers of YSR can fulfill the aspirations of people and their YSR.

Aneesh Nadh.EM.