“YSR – A Leader Par Excellence” – Prof.M.S.Rao

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” - Winston Churchill


Yeduguri Sandinti Rajasekhara Reddy who was popularly called as YSR was born in Pulivendala of Kadappa district of Andhra Pradesh on 08 July 1949. After completion of his course in medical science, he set up a hospital named after his late father Raja Reddy. At the age of 28, he successfully contested elections and entered state assembly. He was blend of both tenderness and fierceness. He was loved by friends but envied by enemies.

He was elected six times from Pulivendula assembly and four times from Kadappa Lok Sabha seats which is a record for any politician in his lifetime. He developed an insatiable appetite for challenges.

In the initial stage, he was an angry young man and later on he reinvented himself as per the changing times and finally evolved as a successful politician. He shrewdly mixed progress with politics. He launched several innovative programs for the benefit of farmers and he was pro-poor. He was one of the most powerful regional satraps. He was noted for strong fighting skills. He was an early riser with lot of self-discipline.

He had differences with late P.V.Narasimha Rao as the latter did not appreciate the background of the former. Probably Narasimha Rao knew the potential of YSR and kept him at a bay.

He was a great leader, visionary and a true human being. He was a self-made political leader. He was filled with energy and enthusiasm. He has passion to serve people. He walked the length and bread of the state for 1,500 kilometers in 2003 to connect with the common man. He had compassion for the poor and downtrodden.


YSR’s Leadership Style:

YSR can be called as a servant leader as he connected with the common man. He was a good listener and was cheerful. He always had vision and mission at heart. He was son of soil. He had friends cutting across political spectrum. He had the uncanny ability to hold the Congress party together. Congress party in the state of Andhra Pradesh was always beset with factionalism and he quelled through his dynamic leadership. He put an end to the concept of musical chairs being played by the Congress high command with his persuasive and confidence building exercises. He was a sympathizer and empathizer. He had tenacity and resilience. He missed the post of Chief Minister by a whisker due to his differences with late P.V.Narasimha Rao. He was a master strategist with political acumen.


Conclusion:

“Great leaders are not born in the minds of the people but they are born in the hearts of the people.”

YSR knew the pulse of the people. He was a man of masses and messiah of farmers. He evolved as a true mass and tall leader in the history of Andhra Pradesh. The void created due to the tragic death of YSR in chopper crash on 02 September 2009 cannot be filled easily. Andhra Pradesh lost a great leader and it is very difficult to replicate his phenomenon in the state.


The End