Spirit of unity among Telugus paramount: CM

Hans India

2 days ago

Hyderabad: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, while affirming that the Telugu community held a unique position in the country, urged leaders from the Telugu states to jointly work with a spirit of unity and togetherness to take Telugu to number one position in the country's growth. He was addressing a gathering at the release of the Telugu version of Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya's autobiography 'Prajala Kathe Naa Atmakatha' (The story of the people of Telangana is my autobiography) here on Sunday.
Naidu recalled that Telangana was previously part of the Nizam State, while Andhra Pradesh was under the Madras Presidency. Initially, both regions were united as Andhra Pradesh. Eventually, they became two separate states: Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. However, he emphasized the importance of unity, stating that "Telugu jathi okkate" (Telugus are one) should always be our guiding principle.
He noted that while political parties may have differing opinions and some leaders may have delivered effectively during their tenure, the spirit of unity among Telugus remained paramount.
The country's future looks promising under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Just as the Jewish diaspora earned a name for itself in the world, "there is a need to take forward the Telugu people into a brighter future." For this, "we need to emulate the spirit of Bandaru Dattatreya," he observed. Striking a note of nostalgia at the event's venue, he recalled how efforts had been made to invite former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee to inaugurate the HI-TEC City, adding Cyberabad district to the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.
However, while IT companies were housed in Cyberabad, "Silparamama and Silpakala Vedika were established to showcase the Telugu culture and traditions," he added.
Naidu stated that Bandaru Dattatreya had endeared himself to everyone and exemplified the qualities of a true gentleman. The Chief Minister remarked that it took courage for a politician to declare that his story was the story of the people. This statement reflects a deep connection and bond with the community forged over decades of his life's journey.
The Chief Minister stated that while Dattatreya might be associated with Hindutva, his true essence embodied the spirit of Bharatiya culture. He exemplified the unity in diversity that characterized our country. This quality had elevated him from an ordinary activist to a national-level leader.
Reflecting on Dattatreya's contributions during the Emergency period and his dedicated service as an RSS pracharak during the Diviseema Cyclone, the Chief Minister acknowledged the numerous challenges he had faced throughout his journey. He brought the spirit of unity and diversity, launching the Alai Balai programme to bring leaders of all parties together and made him a friend of all without an enemy in the two Telugu states. His political life will be remembered as an ideal life, he noted. Naidu, recalling the foreward of PM Modi wrote to the book, said he held several positions in the party, MLA, MP, Union Minister, and governor of Himachal Pradesh and Haryana. However, he remained an ordinary worker, he said. Naidu recalled that he had lost count of the letters Dattatreya had written to him when he was the chief minister of united Andhra Pradesh. He earned the rare opportunity to work with great personalities in the Sangh and Vajpayee, Murli Manohar Joshi, LK Advani, M Venkaiah Naidu, Rajnath Singh, and Narendra Modi. However, he remained leading an ordinary life. Further, he noted how Dattatreya worked for the development of Hyderabad. Besides Union Minister Kishan Reddy, Rajya Sabha MP Dr. K Laxman, Tripura Governor, and former BJP state chief Indrasena Reddy contributed to the development of Hyderabad He said that the autobiography of Dattatreya, detailing life experiences of working in the southern and northern India would be an inspiration, setting an example to the people and future generations.