Na bhootho na bhavishyathi. As simple as that. Never in the history of AP, was there a leader as tall as YSR and I sincerely doubt there will ever be one. Each and everyone of the several thousands that attended these events across the world would vouch for it. This phenomenon never happened in these parts of the world before. YSR Jayanthi was celebrated in at least 25 cities in the US and his Vardhanthi was observed in even more cities, in addition to several countries like Australia, Canada, Great Briton, Germany, South Africa and several Gulf countries. Which other leader from India can stake claims to this many passionate followers and well wishers? The answer is none. India had seen several great leaders such as Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, and others that changed the path of a particular state or country. But YSR was much bigger figure than rest of them in the sense that he courageously followed his heart to feel the pain, and help the poor and weaker sections. He conducted himself at such a high level of credibility unlike one Mr. Chandra Babu Naidu, who is still having nightmares of 2004 and 2009, even after YSR's first anniversary.
YSR commitment to people was complete, his vision long term, his credibility beyond belief, his courage to see eye to eye with any issue something to be beholden. His dress-up made us feel that he was one of us, a head of each of our families. Simply put, he was a perfect leader that people felt safest, and most confident under his stewardship. He may have left us physically, but will always live in our hearts and souls. Better yet, we all do not have to go too deep to look for replacement of YSR. He simply lives amongst us in the form of YS Jagan. The people who followed YS Jagan for the past one year can see 100% of YSR in him. His mannerisms, speeches, leadership skills, and credibility are exact matches to our great departed leader's. And people can see it clearly. Is that not why he is attracting such huge crowds of passionate followers?
One newspaper last week claimed that there were no crowds for Jagan when the whole of Prakasam district was behind him while saying Chandra Babu Naidu's flop roadshow in Anantpur town was a great success, even as there were not even ten people on the main roads. Credibility of Mr. Chandra Babu Naidu is something you cannot even see under the most powerful microscopes. The same thing is happening to everyone that is supporting him. I wish Chandra Babu, his party, and "those two" newspapers will keep accusing YSR, YS Jagan of corruption on the same issues that they had attacked in the 2009 general elections, so we can see the public dismantling of TDP and Chandra Babu Naidu in 2014. People seem to have already fixed on the idea of YS Jagan as the REAL Chief Minister of Andhrapradesh. There is very reliable survey with Congress High Command that clearly said YS Jagan can virtually sweep Seemandhra and can easily become the Chief Minister of AP. With almost 1/3 of Telangana supporting YS Jagan, he is the only leader that can go head to head with KCR and TRS.
There was one major difference between YSR and Chandra Babu, besides several other basic character differences like credibility, touching people with deeds and feeling their pain, etc. YSR came in to public life to serve the people and downtrodden as he could achieve his goals more by being a leader and on the hand Chandra Babu Naidu came for opportunities to get rich. That is why Chandra Babu Naidu always try to blackmail people that he could go do his businesses if people don't vote his party to power and on the other hand YSR always lived among, even after he became Chief Minister. How could anyone explain he visiting Guntur district in drenching rains and summer heat waves 62 times in his 5 1/2 years of Chief Ministership? He did not want to be just another Chief Minister, dining and wining with some "important" people in Hyderabad. YSR was born for people, lived all his life among people, and died while going to people to check for himself to see if all the government programs were reaching the people. If Chandra Babu Naidu can be 10% of what YSR was, he would be a great leader and I sincerely challenge him to strive for it as it would help our state, instead of his dirty and cunning politics screwing up the state. For people that made Chandra Babu, an ordinary student while at SV University, to be on par with Bill Gates and Bill Clinton, it would not be harder to make him on level with Einstein if he comes closer to YSR. The image of YSR has been etched deep in to the souls of people of Andhrapradesh. The harder some vested interests try to tarnish his memory, the more the people will teach them fitting lessons. YSR created an indelible mark in Andhrapradesh history. His legacy will continue forever.
Johar YSR! Johar Jananetha!!
Gurava Reddy, Atlanta ([email protected])
for CelebrateYSR.org
The views expressed in the article are the author's and not of greatandhra.com.
