It is very cold weekend here and temperatures are hovering just around freezing. On a casual browsing, I found Oka Charitra Konni nijaalu (One history and few facts?) at www.daggubati.in , authored by Daggubati Venkatewara Rao. He is the husband of Purandarewari, daughter of late NT Ramarao.
This a a very interesting reading narrating Venkateswarao's view point of the events that lead to creation, success and distruction of the NT Ramarao's political career. On the other side, the entire story exposes the canny, cunning and often brutal nature of his co-brother, Nara Chandrababu Naidu.
Having lost touch with Telugu books, I found this book flow was very good (perhaps, I was in India during this period and keenly followed some of the developments).
This book in summary is about Power struggle. If we look back in perspective, with relation to today context, some of the events are baffling. For example, deposed from the power, after a political coup enacted by Chandrababu Naidu, at one point - NT Ramarao, having lost all hope, asks his son Nadamuri Balakrishna "if you are my son, kill chandrababu naidu - bring back and show me the knife with Naidu blood". The shocking thing is Balakrishna married his daughter Brahmani to Nara Lokesh, the very Chandrababu Naidu's son whose blood his late father wanted to see!
Second interesting storyline according to the author is - how Chandababu Naidu used both Balakrishna and Harikrishna in the coup plot (and thrown them later like used condoms!). Today, Junior NTR, who is "illegetimte" son of Harikrishna is due to marry Nara Chandrababu Naidu's niece daughter. According to Venkateswara Rao, Chandrababu Naidu held a very low opinion of both these "bright" sons of NTR. OK, Balakrishna marriage took place before the book was published - what about the marriage enagagement that was brokered by Babu last week? I think what Venkateswararao said is true - "in Babu opinion, these are bumb sons of NTR"
The blatant and open references to corruptions practices followed by Chandrababu Naidu are very illustrative. The events in this context clear one point for good. All the allegations that are faced for so long by Chandrababu Naidu about his rags to riches story are clarified. This books shows the anatomy of Chandrababu Naidu's institutionalised corruption in the state. Also, though it might look comic, I was attracted by one point "Babu cannot even write a four word sentence in English" and "forget about his speaking and computer knowledge"
Other interesting aspect is - the book gives ample examples and shows how one can succeed by buying the media. Needless to say, Eenadu was the key for Naidu's success, glory and as well as his fall and struggles. His acts as "Crisis Manager" and using them for his own gain shows the strategic mind of Naidu. And how dumped Renuka Chowdhary when his "Crisis Manager" role backfired for once and then, how he managed shows his survival skills. Ventateswara Rao is also very honest in telling the caste politics in the state and mentions long list of Kamma leaders who queued in front of NT Ramarao. The story of Parvataneni Upendra is good example - to show if you are a Kamma, in Telugu Desam Party one can go from nowhere to anywhere. The sad story is, the same Upendra who did not have any identity before going with NTR later dumped him after reaching top at Delhi.
Well written book, even if Venkateswara Rao told 80% truth it is like any history book - will fore tell what is on the horizon. After all, power can buy anything - blood, caste, trust, faith even sons and daughters (this time no women)!
NT Ramarao, who had given so much of wealth to his children ultimately died an orphan. That is a fact and Rao did not hide this truth.
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