Latest news with #TeluguBrahmin
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Maoist kingpin Sonu's last stand? Frontrunner to lead CPI (Maoist) set to surrender, shaking rebel ranks
Mallojula Venugopal Rao , better known by his alias Sonu, a senior member of the CPI (Maoist) central committee and once considered a frontrunner to lead the banned outfit, is expected to surrender before Gadchiroli police , top officials in Maharashtra's anti-Naxal operations have told The Times of India. The 69-year-old veteran insurgent, who holds a BCom degree and belongs to a Telugu Brahmin family, has reportedly grown weary of the struggle. Sonu had earlier appealed to the government for a ceasefire. According to the ToI report, his deteriorating physical condition and the shrinking influence of his armed group — particularly against elite forces like Maharashtra's C-60 commandos and Telangana's Greyhounds — are key reasons for the impending surrender. Sonu is the elder brother of slain Maoist leader Mallojula Koteshwar Rao alias Kishenji, who was killed in a 2011 encounter near Kolkata. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like If you eat ginger every day for a month, your body will experience the following phenomena Tips and Tricks Sources cited by ToI suggest that Sonu could soon join his wife Tarakka, who surrendered before Maharashtra Police in late 2023 and is currently housed at a Gadchiroli police rehabilitation camp. On Thursday, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis hinted at an impending large-scale surrender in the region — interpreted by officials as a reference to Sonu and his group. 'Sonu is likely holed up in the Abujmarh forested hillocks. He saw the end coming a month ago and called for a truce,' an unnamed official told ToI. Security personnel said cadres should surrender soon, warning that the Maoist stronghold is rapidly collapsing. 'Forces are prodding deeper and moving fast. The guerrillas are under siege,' a senior officer said. Live Events Although names like Sonu and his comrade Thippiri Tirupati alias Devji (60) have surfaced as possible successors to the late general secretary Basavaraju, intelligence agencies cited by ToI believe neither has the capacity to lead — especially Sonu, given his age and apparent openness to peace. The report also highlights growing discontent within lower-rung tribal cadres, particularly against the Telugu-speaking leadership of the CPI (Maoist). 'There is deep resentment about how the tribal fighters are treated — being pushed into the frontlines or forced into menial work,' a security official who had interrogated a surrendered cadre told ToI. With morale low and leadership crumbling, sources told the paper that a wider exodus from the Maoist ranks may be imminent. The official added, 'The Telugu hierarchy will never allow tribal cadres to lead, even if they do the fighting. That rigidity has brought them to the brink.' With inputs from ToI
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias Sonu, frontrunner to lead CPI (Maoist), may also give up arms
NAGPUR: CPI (Maoist) central committee (CC) member Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias Sonu (69), who was considered among the frontrunners for the banned party's top post after the gunning down of its general secretary Basavaraju, is likely to surrender before Gadchiroli police, top sources in anti-Naxal apparatus in Maharashtra said. The Maoist veteran, a Telugu Brahmin with a BCom degree who had appealed to govt for a ceasefire, has lost his agility and leads a motley group which is no match for the elite C60 commandos of Maharashtra or Grey Hounds of Telangana. He is the elder brother of Mallojula Koteshwar Rao alias Kishenji, who was eliminated in an encounter near Kolkata in 2011. Sonu is likely to lay down arms and join his wife Tarakka, who surrendered before Maharashtra police late last year and is currently staying at Gadchiroli police's rehabilitation camp. On Thursday, CM Devendra Fadnavis hinted at large-scale surrender of rebels in Gadchiroli, which sources claim is a pointer to the possible laying down of arms by an entire 'platoon' commandeered by Sonu. "Sonu is likely to be holed up in a forested hillock at Abujmarh. He saw the end coming a month ago and called for a truce," said an official source, adding that all cadres should immediately approach govt or security apparatus and surrender to avoid fatalities. "Forces are prodding deeper and moving fast. The tables have turned, the guerrillas are under siege, they can no longer ambush with mines or grenades," said a senior police officer. Though there's speculation about Sonu or his younger comrade Thippiri Tirupati alias Devji (60) heading CPI (Maoist), intelligence agencies feel the veteran Maoist doesn't have age on his side, and is inclined for truce. Apart from the tottering leadership, security agencies pointed out that the tribal cadres in Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra are rudderless. "There's strong resentment among lower-rung tribal cadres against Telugu domination of CC and the way they force tribals to do menial jobs or push them into the frontlines," said an official, adding arrogance and rigidity of Telugu leadership in CC has led to their decimation. Sources said there's a possibility of an exodus now, with tribal cadres ready to abandon the Maoist cause and return to the mainstream, rather than get neutralised. " Telugu hierarchy in CPI(Maoist) will not allow tribal cadres to lead the movement, even though they don't marshal the force or lead from the front," said a senior official who had interrogated a surrendered guerrilla.
The Hindu
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Bridging Code and Culture: The Rise of Indian Tech Leadership with a Spiritual Backbone
In an age where technology commands global transformation, Indian-origin leaders are increasingly recognized not just for their engineering prowess but for their grounding in values, culture, and a timeless tradition of learning. From Sundar Pichai at Google and Satya Nadella at Microsoft to healthcare, academia, and financial leadership across the U.S., Indian intellect is no longer a quiet force—it is the foundation upon which global systems are being reimagined. One such architect of meaningful transformation is Hiten Bhuta, who was recently awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Indo-US Chamber of Commerce. The award, presented in the presence of top civic and industry leaders at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay, marked a recognition not just of his entrepreneurial success, but of a life that integrates technical excellence and community service with spiritual awareness—a uniquely Indian blend that traces its roots to a much older lineage. Anchored in a 500-Year Legacy Hiten Bhuta's journey is deeply inspired by Pushtimarg, the path of grace founded by Jagadguru Vallabhacharya, a Telugu Brahmin saint-philosopher born over 550 years ago during the glorious era of Krishnadevaraya of the Vijayanagara Empire. Vallabhacharya emphasized seva, bhakti, and scholarly inquiry—a spiritual framework that deeply influenced Indian society and continues to shape Bhuta's personal and professional life. This lineage of learning and devotion has guided Bhuta's life work: building businesses that matter, preserving cultural wisdom, and supporting communities across the globe. A Rare Academic Distinction An engineer from India, Hiten Bhuta is an alumnus of the prestigious Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM-A) and also studied at Shailesh J. Mehta School of Management at IIT-Bombay, located in Powai—two of the highest academic institutions in India. In a rare academic honor, he was also invited to deliver a lecture at IIT-Bombay, joining a select group of industry leaders recognized for thought leadership and practical impact. His speaking engagements reflect his wide influence and global insight. Hiten Bhuta has spoken at leading platforms and institutions around the world, including: ● University of South Florida – Tampa, Florida ● Indian Institute of Technology – Bombay, Mumbai, India ● Econo Lodge Franchisee Association (ELFA) – USA ● UK Industry Meeting – London, United Kingdom ● Gujarat Technology University (GTU) – Gujarat, India ● Asian Indian Community Association – Los Angeles, California ● AAHOA Trade Events – across the USA These engagements showcase not only his technical expertise and entrepreneurial insight but also his ability to bridge business, culture, and value-based leadership. Innovation Rooted in Culture As the founder of CGS Infotech, a Mumbai-based leader in cloud computing, cybersecurity, and digital identity management, Bhuta has empowered over 4,000 businesses worldwide, including respected names like HSBC India, Hero Motors, L&T, MMTC, and Hawkins. CGS's India-based team of engineers delivers world-class services in: ● Corporate email and cloud infrastructure ● Cybersecurity and domain protection ● SSL and website development ● Digital marketing and business acceleration Led by seasoned professionals like Pratibha Pandit, Abhijeet Ranade, Sarvesh Pande, Shweta Zaveri, Yogita Patange, Umesh Patil, Yogesh Sanap, Chetan Palkar, Umesh Shinde, Neha Baddi, and Sayali Warang, the CGS India team blends technological acumen with a strong service ethos. Their work powers several industrial and educational institutions whose roots lie in India's high-trust systems of excellence. 'Working with Hiten Bhuta for over a decade, I've witnessed a rare leadership style—one that blends innovation with empathy, strategy with values. At CGS, we don't just deliver digital transformation; we deliver trust, care, and long-term value to our clients and our team,' says R. Venkat, Senior Director and Leader Of Core Management Team, at CGS Infotech. What makes CGS distinct is not just the scale of its operations, but the clarity and care with which it delivers digital transformation—an extension of Bhuta's belief that technology should serve humanity, not overwhelm it. CGS Infotech also gratefully acknowledges its long-standing partnerships with global technology leaders like Google, and GoDaddy—with GoDaddy being a particularly enduring and trusted collaborator over the years. These partnerships have enabled CGS to provide reliable, secure, and high-performance solutions to thousands of clients globally The Sakar Vision: Culture as Capital Bhuta's commitment to India's spiritual heritage is also reflected in his non-profit initiatives through the Sakar Trust—an organization dedicated to cultural education, rural empowerment, and the preservation of India's philosophical treasures. Among the most impactful contributions of Sakar Trust are the popular online study sessions on Adi Shankaracharya's Stotras, conducted regularly by Bhuta himself. These sessions, attended by seekers from around the world, explore the subtleties of texts like Dakshinamurthy Stotra, Atma Bodha, Sadhana Panchakam, and Maya Panchakam, revealing timeless truths through a modern lens. Bhuta's reverence for Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya, whom he often calls the original system architect, is not just academic—it's personal. He sees Shankara not only as a spiritual colossus but as a cultural strategist who unified India through knowledge, compassion, and clarity. 'Our legacy is not just temples and texts,' Bhuta shares during his sessions. 'It's the mindset of inquiry, the joy of discovery, and the responsibility to preserve and pass on what is timeless.' Technology Meets Timelessness As Bhuta says: 'Artificial Intelligence will shape our future. But the spiritual intelligence of our sages must guide its ethics.' In a world driven by speed, Bhuta offers a counterpoint—one that values clarity over chaos, wisdom over noise, and culture over convenience. With CGS Infotech growing rapidly across sectors, and Sakar Trust touching lives across continents, Hiten Bhuta stands as a reminder that India's greatest export is not just code—it is consciousness. 📖 To explore Adi Shankaracharya sessions and cultural programs: 🌐 'This is a company press release that is not part of editorial content. No journalist of The Hindu was involved in the publication of this release.'
