"Telugu Talli Is Bleeding - Stay United, Come What May" - Prof.M.S.Rao

Love your mother but don’t hate others’ mother. Love your caste, region, religion, language and community. But don’t hate others’ caste, region, religion, language and community.

The current crisis in Andhra Pradesh has left deep scars among Telugu hearts. People are getting divided on regional lines emotionally. It is mainly due to the vested interests of political parties. It is the movement sparked by politicians who have been rejected by the electorates. It is an attempt to boost their sagging morale. Adding fuel to the fire, there are several new players who are fishing in the troubled waters. It is a situation where everyone is trying to hit the limelight at any cost in the name of fasts. If fake fasts go on in this way, nobody would take fasts seriously in future. If the current situation is not managed properly, it will develop deeper ill-feelings and further differences among the people of all regions. In that case, it would become a tough task to heal their wounds.

Politicians are poisoning the minds of the people for their political gains. Do not develop hatred against your brothers of other regions. Don’t get into the trap of politicians who never die for people, but let innocent people die for them. Spot those culprits and keep them at a bay.

Our Telugu Talli has three sons – Telangana, Rayalaseema and Andhra. She would weep when one of her sons wants to be separated. For any mother, all children are equal. No mother likes the separation of her sons as she alone knows the pain of separation. If there are any differences, let three sons sit together across the table, negotiate and resolve their differences amicably without hurting Telugu Talli.

Germans were hurt when Germany was separated. They were excited when they were united. Let us learn lessons out of unification and maintain the geographical unity of Andhra Pradesh.

Media at the regional level should play a constructive role in appreciating the commonalities rather than highlighting the differences among Telugus. It should place the facts and figures dispassionately forgetting the competition they have among themselves.

The intellectuals should come forward to enlighten the people about the facts. Let us keep the secessionist elements at bay. If a particular region has not progressed, what were the politicians of the region doing until now? It is the politicians of the region who must be made accountable and responsible for backwardness of the region. They should accept the blame and look at the ways and means to set right the regional imbalances.

Resolving the Tangle:

Telangana, Rayalaseema and Andhra have different dialects, but the language is Telugu. You cannot divide a State just because of different dialects. Address the issue of backwardness politically. If there is no proportional representation, find out and explore ways and means to represent a particular region proportionately in terms of employment, festivals and local cultures.

India is a land of unity in diversity. So is the case of Andhra Pradesh where people of all faiths and regions live together with fraternity. We need to respect the diversity not by dividing but by recognizing and acknowledging. We cannot keep dividing States just because of diversities. If it were so, then every district would become a separate State.

It appears that Telanganites are asking for fair share but not a separate State. However the Telangana leaders are asking for separate State for their political survival and success. There is a clear difference between asking for a separate State and asking for a fair share. The problem currently is for fair share. Therefore, address the issue accordingly.

Telanganites are not against fellow Andhrites and Rayalaseemites. They want fair share of cake. However the politicians are exploiting the current situation. Let us look at the root of the problem. It is basically for fair share not separate state. The Telangana leaders have converted it as a separate statehood for their political gains and survival. All Telugus are one although their dialects are different. All Telugus have one heart although their physical bodies are different. Let people realize and respect and let not the political leaders incite people on regional lines.

Role of Students:

Students should focus on their goals rather than focusing on politics in campus. They must take care of their careers. They should have clearly defined goals to stay focused. They should take care of their parents who pinned their hopes in them. If they are so much interested in politics, they can take up politics as a career after completion of their academic qualifications. They should be mature enough to realize the gimmicks of politicians who are using them as pawns. If anything goes wrong, their parents would suffer. No politician dies in fast unto death leaving exceptional leaders like Potti Sreeramulu. And everybody cannot become Potti Sreeramulu. The present day politicians focus more on their self interests rather than the interests of the people.

Stay United, Come What May:

All Telugus should rationally think and act. Don’t become emotional and get incited by notorious politicians. I emotionally appeal to all Telugu fraternity cutting across caste, religion, regional, national and geographical barriers to stay united to defeat the politicians who are misusing the youth for their political gains. I appeal them to remain calm, cool and composed.

Always take pride of being an Indian and being a Telugu but not being a Talanganite or Andhrite or Rayalaseemite. Jai Hind!