Friday, December 18, 2009

Telangana XX: Welcome the Change

Dear Andhra brothers:

Welcome the change. Don’t resist it.

Many Andhras are opposing separation of Telangana not because they are brainwashed by their politicians but because there is a change that is happening and they don’t know how react to it. They fear this change. Most people fear things they don’t know. And right now Andhra people don’t know what would happen to them, to their investments in Hyderabad, to their relatives in Hyderabad, to their Telugu state, and so on.

When their leaders supported Telangana cause during the last elections, these people didn’t know what it meant. They thought those statements were made just like that – like many empty promises that politicians usually make. They heard all other statements from their politicians but chose to ignore the ones concerning Telangana. So, they didn’t get prepared for it. Unfortunately for them, Telangana people ignored every other statement these politicians made and paid attention to only those concerning Telangana cause.

While Telangana people were getting ready to create a new state for the last ten years, Andhra people tried to ignore it, not take a look at it, assuming that by not looking at it they are going wish it away. They were not ready for the change while the change was simmering next door in the region of Telangana.

Now that the change is upon them they don’t know how to react.

I want to assure them that there is no need to fear this change. The change here is for the good of everyone. Certain people who have been suppressed, discriminated and marginalized are finding a voice - that voice may not be in the best interest of you if look at it from the lens of narrow and selfish interest. You have a choice to act mature and welcome it. At this historic moment, one should feel proud that a voice which was suppressed for fifty years is now finding its utterance.

Mahatma Gandhi wanted to make sure British left India on a good note. He urged them to make the transition smooth. He urged Indians to make their exit smooth. That’s what happened in the end. How else could India entertain a British emissary as its first viceroy of Independent India for three years? When British left, they left with fanfare. Indians cheered them, they did not boo them. That’s because the British, though they ruled us against our wishes for nearly two centuries, were mature enough to let it go when the time came.

On the other hand, the French were kicked out of their colonies of Algeria and Indochina with a bloody nose and broken bones. They were shunned. They were hated. There was no friendliness when they left. No cordial relations. That's because they didn't know when to let go.

Andhras have a choice. They could be British of India or French of Algeria/Indochina. Unfortunately, they are choosing to be French of Algeria/Indochina. Prolonging this separation is not in the best interests of Andhra or Telangana people. Andhra people are not realizing this. They are prolonging this stalemate because they see a ray of hope – that they could still get Hyderabad OR convert it into Union Territory thereby depriving Telangana of their prized possession to have the last laugh. That will not go well with Telangana people. They are watching as events unfold. More of them have become stronger supporters in the last few weeks than ever before because they see the betrayal, the greed, and the avarice of Andhra politicians unfolding on live media.

If I were an Andhra person, I would let it go right away. Shake hands with Telangana people, give up Hyderabad to those people who legitimately own it and earn the plaudits as a mature friend. Prolonging this will only sour the relationship for all of us. It will become bitter soon. And after that it will turn into poison for all of us.

While continuing to chant Samaikya Andhra on the streets of Andhra-Rayalaseema which is repugnant to most Telangana people because they see it as another attempt to force Telangana into a united state which they abhor now, some Andhras are worried that there would be a bout of mutual hatred that would spring from this separation.

The only way that could be stopped is if Andhra let go of Telangana right now instead of making it a long and protracted affair where seeds of hatred will be sown deeper and stronger. Starting a bus yatra to unite Andhra without even touching Telangana doesn’t help the situation. Telangana people ask what kind of arrogance is that, you chant united Andhra that includes Telangana but you do not even come to Telangana?

Lots of Andhra people are also worried of the future – on how they are going to lose out on the new economy and new opportunities that a united Andhra Pradesh would have brought.

Now is not the time to think of business. You will have all the time in the world to think of new economy and growth potential in your new state. You will build a grander capital rivaling Hyderabad. People will flock from different regions and settle down in your cities making them cosmopolitan. That’s all in the future. But now the time is to take a stand on one of the greatest moral crisis this region has seen in the last hundred years. Telangana is coming out into light from the darkness. Where do you stand? On the side of justice? Or will you join your politicians to further marginalize and widen the gap with the people of Telangana?

[The related posts are at: Case for Telangana, Telangana II, Telangana III, Telangana IV, Telangana V: Political angle, Telangana VI: Hyderabad State?, Telangana VIII: You need to make a case, History of Telangana I, Telangana IX: Riots turn ugly, Telangana X: Congratulations!, History of Telangana II, Telangana XI: Why so much opposition?, Telangana XII: Ignorance, Bad Faith and Low Opinion. Telangana XIII: Let’s stay United!, Telangana XIV: Letter to Andhra Brothers, Telangana XV: Concerns, Telangana XVI: Samaikya Andhra, Telangana XVII: More Concerns, Telangana XVIII: Betrayal, Telangana XIX: Hyderabad a Union Territory?]

32 comments:

  1. All Telangana Folks, please take a minute to sign this petition.

    http://www.petitiononline.com/indiastg/petition.html

    ReplyDelete
  2. All Telangana Aspirants, please take a minute to sign this petition.

    http://www.petitiononline.com/indiastg/petition.html

    Please Sign for Seperate Telangana

    ReplyDelete
  3. Congratulations !!! Your blog stats just hit the 3 lakh mark :)
    Okay...i confess i refreshed it 5 times to see that magic figure...haha....but seriously happy blogging and hope you continue to have fun !

    Jai Telangana

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  4. Article on GO 1845 regarding the blatant discrimination in allocating funds to telangana. This was released as recent as Dec11th,09 - http://bit.ly/GO_1845.

    How dare they ?????? I am bleeding....being the fairer sex the only other time i experienced fury equal to this was when i heard of an acid attack made by some retard on a woman.

    - Naa telangana koti ratnala veena !

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  5. Sujai, this is a good and sensible post, apart from the fact that you compare Andhra people with the Britishers. Andhra MLAs have resigned and expressed their opinion. That says a lot and it should have ended with that. But these leaders are stooping to new lows everyday. Everyone wants to show that they are one better and are resorting to nirahara deekshas and radha yatras. People like Mohan Babu entered into fray to earn a few cheap points. These people are worse than those poor street performers who self-flagellate for a few coins. Like you said, none of these cowards have the guts to enter T districts while rallying for samaikya AP. All this only raises passions in public and makes life worse off for everyone, separate T state or not.
    It is now clear what the people of both sides want. The best solution now is for everyone to calm down and start a political dialogue. The devil is always in the details and who knows there could be a mutually agreeable solution!!

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  6. Sujai,

    How can you say to leave Hyderabad for Telangana. This is not developed only by Telangana people. The existing infrastructure in Hyderabad is developed with the taxes collected from all 23 districts of Andhra Pradesh. If the division is required, it should be divided equally.

    I am sure the Telangana activists (TRS) will not let Andhra or Rayalaseema people to live a normal life in Hyderabad. All will leave Hyderabad very soon if divided. It is very difficult to make a place developed and very easy to destroy. Please think again, the politicians in Telangana are waiting for their turn to eat away the public money. Telangana will become very poorer than existing if divided.

    Not only Hyderabad, please think of sharing other resources also. Singareni is present in Telangana and thermal sub-station is in Andhra (near Vijayawada). If any issue arises between Telangana and Andhra, all the Telangana will not have food (as all fertile land is in costal Andhra) and all the Andhra will not have power.

    Lets take an example, think about a cricket team which has both Pakistan and India players. Can other team defeat them? If India and Pakistan were not divided, India and Pak might not faced the terror attacks like now.

    Not only Telangana, there are many places in Rayalaseema which is under developed than Telangana. Merely division of states will not bring the development. As per my opinion the movement ran by TRS is only for Hyderabad and not for Telangana. They are waiting to sweep away the existing properties in Hyderabad.

    Please think once more. I am very sorry, if my words hurt you or any Telangana people. I just wrote my opinion. As your blog main page (tag) states I will a moral life with social actions.

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  7. Pavan Sudheer Rampalli:

    How can you say to leave Hyderabad for Telangana. This is not developed only by Telangana people. The existing infrastructure in Hyderabad is developed with the taxes collected from all 23 districts of Andhra Pradesh. If the division is required, it should be divided equally.

    A city does not belong to people who develop it or to the people who pay taxes. A city belongs to the people of a certain region. Many Telugu, Tamil and Malayalee people live in Bangalore and pay taxes and contribute to the development of Bangalore and yet the city still belongs to the region it is located in.

    While it is true that taxes were collected from the entire state to build Hyderabad. It is also true that Center gives lot of funds to each state to develop cities and infrastructure. That money is collected from people who live outside Andhra Pradesh. Should those people who live outside the Andhra Pradesh also get a part of Hyderabad now?

    One more point to ponder – while tax money from entire state was used to build Hyderabad, the same tax money is also used to build other cities like Vizag, Rajamundry, Kakinada, Vijayawada, Nellore, etc. Should Telangana people ask for division of these cities too? Or can they ask for a part of these cities?

    The whole point is very simple. Just because some people contributed to the taxes that went into development of a city does not mean they own the city.

    I am sure the Telangana activists (TRS) will not let Andhra or Rayalaseema people to live a normal life in Hyderabad. All will leave Hyderabad very soon if divided.

    Telangana is not TRS and TRS is not Telangana. For all we know, TRS may not even win in Telangana after Telangana is formed.

    Tamils were targeted by Shiv Sena in Mumbai; they were targeted by some Kannadigas in Bangalore and yet they continue to live there. Such sporadic incidents do not result in mass exodus of Tamils from these cities. Compared to the incidents in those cities Hyderabad is quite safe. I believe the settlers in Hyderabad are safer than in Bangalore and Mumbai. You are fears are based on false propaganda.

    Telangana will become very poorer than existing if divided.

    If I believed this I wouldn’t be fighting for it. Many detractors said that India would go to dogs if British left. And yet most Indians are happy that they are not under British rule. Would you have stopped fighting for Independence just because someone told you India would get poorer without British?

    Right now, Telangana people believe that they will make Hyderabad even better and work towards making it a star city. We don’t believe we are going to kick out people of Andhra or Rayalaseema. We will continue to make Hyderabad a cosmopolitan city as it currently is. People of Telangana actually believe this.

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  8. Pavan Sudheer Rampalli:

    Not only Hyderabad, please think of sharing other resources also. Singareni is present in Telangana and thermal sub-station is in Andhra (near Vijayawada). If any issue arises between Telangana and Andhra, all the Telangana will not have food (as all fertile land is in costal Andhra) and all the Andhra will not have power.

    Such fears are unnecessary. I believe that two states will continue to exchange and do trade as many states do in India. If things don’t work out Telangana can always buy food from other states. Andhra has enough power plants now – you shouldn’t worry.

    As per my opinion the movement ran by TRS is only for Hyderabad and not for Telangana. They are waiting to sweep away the existing properties in Hyderabad.

    May be you are right. May be you are wrong. As far as Telangana people are concerned, this movement is for separate Telangana, not just for Hyderabad. It so happens that Hyderabad is part of Telangana the way Nizamabad or Warangal is part of Telangana.

    Please think once more. I am very sorry, if my words hurt you or any Telangana people. I just wrote my opinion. As your blog main page (tag) states I will a moral life with social actions.

    Why would I be hurt? You can express your opinion. We may or may not agree. We can always agree to disagree and not get hurt. :-)

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  9. Link -
    http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-toi/special-report/Small-states-big-mistake/articleshow/5332074.cms

    An para from it -
    Telangana may never grow and develop unless the Centre pumps crores into developing it. It is worth noting that Andhra Pradesh's most productive areas, investment-rich Vishakhapatanam and the K G Basin, will stay with Andhra. Which would leave a new Telangana with just one asset - Hyderabad. But Brand Hyderabad is not about the manufacturing sector. It is about IT and ITeS. Both require human capital and are more mobile than manufacturing units. Such sectors are sensitive to the slightest change in the ecosystem. If Telangana comes into being, the image of Brand Hyderabad is bound to be battered. "Telangana is not economically viable.

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  10. Sujai:

    Let me put you a question:

    Lets consider Telangana state is declared and within a short period of time, Hyderabad is made a star city. After some years, if some people in southern Telangana starts a movement for a seperate "Dakshina Telangana (Ranga Reddy, Hyderabad, Mahaboobnagar, Nalgonda and Khammam )" stating that, they are under developed and want their own power, then what should be the solution? (People can say many causes to get seperated, like "Telangana doesn't belong to Andhra any time in the history".)

    The tax money collected from entire AP is spent to all cities in AP. So, all have equal rights to live and do business in those. Now, Telangana people are not restricted to live comfortably or do business in Vizag or Tirupati etc. If AP is split into two, there will be differenciation, since Telangana people doesn't belongs to Andhra region, they will miss their oppurtunity to earn money or live comfortably in Andhra cities as before. So, I urge them not to get seperated.

    Yes, tamils continue to live in Bangalore/Mumbai even they were targeted by some localists. But please see how much they are comfortable living in Bangalore/Mumbai. Whenever kannadigas celebrate the regional festivals such as Rajostava, or whenever kannada leaders are dead, the tamils in Bangalore are afraid to speak their own language outside. They are living there only for their jobs. They won't (not allowed to) participate in any events in that region. So, do you think the same will not happen in Hyderabad also?

    Yes, Telangana people can make the Hyderabad much better than now. But please think how much time is required for that. Now, Hyderabad is rated A-1 for living and investments. Do you want to go back to A-10 and again to come back to A-1. How much man power will be wasted in that. In the same way, if Andhra and Rayalaseema people develops a capital for them, how many years will it take and how much man power is wasted? There is no guarantee that again there will be another movement for seperation. Merely seperation will not make a region developed.

    Right now the people in Telangana and Rayalaseema are getting the food (majorly) from Andhra region with no tax or subsidised. If Telangana is divided, it should pay taxes to other states to import food. Will this help to get developed?

    If the efforts by students/politicians who ran movement for seperate Telangana would have spent on improving backward areas in Telangana, atleast few places might have developed. I saw how people are suffering because of floride water in Nalgonda. Instead of spending their energies in destroying the existing properties, they should have laid a canal from godavari or krishna to nalgonda. The same applies to Andhra students also.

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  11. Pavan Sudheer Rampalli,
    Well and Good. You have a very nice foresight. But fanciful though.
    Let us not lookforward to that situation. Well we always should look at the brightside of your analysis.
    So I say, lets face it with courage and not cynicism.
    And, regarding the Nalgonda Flouride Issue there has been a lot of political awakening on that issue but do you know what is the best solution for that? To get Krishna Water as drinking water source for Nalgonda district there had also been a few plans made by irrigation engineers and intellectuals from OU and RECW. But check on google for what has been done politically and locally to the voices of nalgonda people against the Andhra region's exploitation of Krishna Water.
    They just fear the loss of one seasons agriculture, irrigation and harvest. So why not a separate state instead of fighting for each and every problems out of million and fasting to death most of the times fruitless.

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  12. Regarding Hyderabad,
    Why do you think it will go back to A-10? For your kind information land rates are not the finest criteria to classify big cities.
    why don't you think positive on that? If land rates fall it is good for investing (taking into consideration already established international calss infrastructure in Hyderabad) and Industrial development.
    Is that this is your actual problem because if land rates fall hyderabad never gonna make the new capital of Andhra as dominant as it should bebeing the capital of arich state? Whatever, andhra people will always hold the right and support to invest and settle in hyderabad just like any indian.
    It is all your illusion that hyderabad is going to be a ghetto.

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  13. Mr. Pavan,
    You should also throw some investigative light on the comment you made on the generous subsidies telangana people are living upon by gettting food supplies from andhra region.
    Well do you know the rice that grows in coastal andhra has little demand in AP and is know for the major export money it makes?
    Well Rice is also grown i Telangana but in lesser quantities and is known for quality.
    So it is your mistake that people of telangana will die of hunger and andhra are not going to seggregate as a separate country from india. Are you really?

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  14. hi.. I just read your blog and I want to let you know that being an intellectual you are not seeing a big picture about this issue. Ofcourse you have every right to express your views, but comparing Andhra people with that of Britishers is a bit extreme. When you went to school, college in India I am pretty sure that you had many Andhra friends. Did you ever treat them like enemies? Did they treat you like an out cast becaus u are from telangana? India has enough hatredness filled in it in the names of cast, state, color, profession etc. Don't try to inject more in to it. I am pretty sure u r in US right now. So how would you feel if all indians were called thieves for stealing IT jobs here and kicked out of this country? Its not fair for any one. I am from telangana and like many hundreds of telanganites I support unted Andhra. In this age of globalization please dont try to infuse this stupidity. Telangana politicians have failed us numerous times and they will do the same in future. They are greedy and corrupt. Atleast leaders like babu and ysr had a vision for the state, KCR doesnt even have any clue how to handle the state. Well my bottom line here is if you want do support for development of telangana, but dont infuse hatred towards Andhra people. Thats not correct.

    Thanks.

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  15. i am a hyderabadi, and it makes it real essential to understand what we hyderabadies want...

    WE DONT WANT A SPLIT OF THE STATE.

    WE DONT WANT TO GO TO TELENGANA..

    if there is a state of TELENGANA created WE WANT TO BE A UT.

    WE HYDERABADIES HAVE A RIGHT TO CHOOSE WHAT WE WANT TO BE!!!!

    PPL LIVING IN NALGONDA, WARANGAL OR KARIMNAGAR and DEFF BANGLORE DONT HAVE ANY SAY AS TO WHERE WE BELONG. they can deside as to where they belong.

    AND TO REPHRASE THE ENTIRE LINE and HISTORY THAT THE BLOGGER expressed...

    ALL OF TELENGANA, PARTS OF KARNATAKA AND MAHARASTRA BELONGED TO HYDERABAD AND NOT OTHERWISE.

    WE HYDERABADIES DONT WANT A SPLIT.

    any EDUCATED PERSON would be againts the split

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  16. To sampath,
    Glad that you have concerns for the development of telangana. You say that by staying united able persons like Babu and YSR will govern telangana for better as part of whole AP and not people like KCR. Can you give any guarentee that if united, any crook (i wouldn't say KCR a crook but may be a selfish politician)wouldn't rule the AP state? and why is it that only Andhra people will make good leaders? Remember PV was from telangana (may be not now but in future everyone will recognize his revolutionary policies) and even he had to come under andhra politician's pressure when he was the CM. Why is it that a person who had such a very grand ideas about nation did not think about his region then?
    Also saying that all the leaders from telangana are selfish and greedy you have actually revealed your coarse attitude towards telangana people, as being propagated by your "culture cleansing" politicians. Aren't the telangana leaders also represent the characters of telangana people? Or do yu think only the cream of telangana people become politicians? Our leader emerge from with n ourselves. Will you contradict that. As mentioned by sujai, even Winston Churchill said the same words about indian leaders before independence. Do you think that was true?
    OK if not KCR someone will eventually take his place and remember that once telangana is formed the people will not just keep the state in his hands to reap for himself. Telangana politicians have failed numerous times but because of the strong andhra politicians and bureaucracy who are richer than their counterparts. If telangana forms atleast majority of itsresources will be properly utilized and its income will be spent for its development.

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  17. Sravan,

    Thanks for your reply. Regarding the Flouride problem in Nalgonda, I am saying "why can't these leaders and students fight to get Krishna water to Nalgonda instead of running the useless rallies, processions and hunger strikes?" Merely seperation from Andra will not solve this problem. Please note that we are not going to rule the Telangana after seperation. Again it will go into the hands of stupid politicians. "In democracy, the people elect the person who they hate least", so, some person will be elected as CM to Telangana. If Andhras are not leaving Krishna water fearing that they will lose one season crop, why don't you think they offer some bribe to the Telangana politicians to get water? Are you sure they will not surrender for money? I am sure this will happen. Nobody hates money. Especially politicians, they come into politics to earn money. All the drama running by KCR/Telangana leaders is for power and money not to develop Telangana. I don't want to eloborate the fact we learnt in our school days "Unity is power". Lets stay united and fight for a good cause.

    As you know before independence, all Indians were fighting for a single cause and stood on a single lane. What happenened after getting that? Once the man becomes free, he will lose all the courage as he had before. The same will happen in Telangana also. The same courage will not stay and every body goes to their work leaving the state to stupid leaders.

    I am just a common man spending my free time writing these. I can't go into streets to run movements as opposition party, I can't dictate government employees to work hard and develop the region. Only politicians does. As we know how how they are. Hence, I request my Telangana brothers not to support them.

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  18. Well Mr. Ram Reddy,
    Why do you not want hyderabad as part of telangana whereas for centuries it has been the administrative and political center of the region?
    Why you are OK to have hyderabad capital of AP and not telangana?
    Why is it that you would like whole andhra pradesh people to share hyderabad and its resources where as not telangana, a smaller region compared to whole AP?
    What is it that it makes you so nervous to think hyderabad as part of telangana eventhough it was for most part of its time as capital of AP belonged to Ranga Reddy district? It was only because of its growing population and to make administration easier it was declared a separate district later.

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  19. Pavan Sudheer Rampalli,
    I admire your concerns for the Nalgonda district Water Problem and ofcourse entire telangana.
    For we can still stay united after separation as people sharing language and same culture. I would say it is far better for the people to fight for Nalgonda cause staying in a separate state than in Andhra Pradesh. It is simple because the state has to take some or the other means to supply water to people of Nalgonda or else it will loose the support of 1/10 of its people support(compared to 1/23rd strictly by districts).
    Well you may say that this can be done staying as united then why weren't the gentlemen's agreement or GO 610 not being implemented even though several leaders have shouted that for in Assembly for years. Even there was a violent struggle by telangana in 1969 for the separate state and proper implementation of gentlemen's agreement?
    What you have said is probably good and make believe ethic but not possible in present state.

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  20. Mr Pavan,
    Well I already speculated that andhra politicians will try to bribe telangana politicians and mentioned in one of my comments some time back.
    But is it not making difficult for them to do that and that too not holding power?
    Which is better?
    And I suggest andhra people must first address this kind of corruption on their side before fighting for samaikhyandhra. They have already been beguiled by their politicians that if telangana forms they are going to loose their water resources.
    Things can always be settled by dialogue between equals and not between unequals. So if a separate state is formed this dialogue would be possible and if not it is a dream.

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  21. Mr. Pavan,
    Wasn't the cauvery water issue been more solved between the two states by blateral dialogue and supreme court, tribunal's intervention?
    Ofcourse it is not settled but both parties have atleast got some assurance and also it is not the hot topic nowadays.

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  22. First and foremost I appreciate the formidable array of arguments you've put up. I must admit that they are reasonable, logical and without much malice against Andhrites (in the sense you wish to use it, narrowing it to non-telangana people). To give you credit where its due, I feel that if our leaders would have been as reasonable as you, we would have avoided a mess that we've created.

    But however ineffectually I also wish to bring abt certain pertinent points whose interpretation has been markedly different in your case

    1. True, Hyd was readymade capital. Yet, you make a fatal error in likening this peculiar case with that of Maharastra and Gujarat. They are seperated not only by language but also culture. On the other hand, Telangana is not disconnected from the rest of AP. We've regional ties that make us highly interdependent. Even in recent past, the formation of 3 states never had this peculiarity of letting the Capital with the newly formed state. You must hence concede that this is case of remarkable peculiarity and Andhrites are warranted in having some apprehensions.

    2. Reg. ur charge that Telangana has been oppressed as a region. Actually speaking, this exists everywhere and restricting this to one region is quite naive. Nature has made everything unequal. By the same logic, isn't India better blessed with fertile lands than many other nations. Nature has made some parts of region more fertile and people have nothing to do with it. Most of Telagana region is a plateau and hence it takes extraordinary effort to use it.
    3. Hyd is like joint property. If brothers get seperated, then all the property must be examined and equally divided. Just because one brother lives in a better home, doesn't mean in case of seperation he's liable to enjoy it. Many settlers have settled in Hyd not as an alien city but like an extended family unit. They have heavily invested in Hyd because they were assured that they are merely investing in their own state. True, they worked for profit. But isn't that the sole aim of business. If indeed many settlers would have had even a iota of doubt that they'll ultimately belong to another state, I'm sure atleast half of them wouldn't have ventured here. Andhrites came here because they felt that its their own land.

    4. Regarding lesser treatment of Telangana ppl in films. In that case, almost uniformly Brahmins are depicted in poor light..So do they move out? Among so many variants of Hindi, the one spoken in UP is considered to be the best. Sardarjis are staple object of all kind of jokes...But sooner or later people realize their mistakes... If its abt exploitation, then all citizens of India are subjected to worser treatment. We all belong to the same class.
    5. Regarding the historicity of this movement. India consisted of more than 500 states at the time of Independence. Effectively then, these also have long history of oppression under some ruler or the other. In what way is this movement more authentic than those new demands that have cropped up due to this development. Are you asking India to get itself divided again into those many pieces? You might quote geographical area, but again, oppression is oppression regardless of size.
    6. Whats the fate of those newly created states? Have they in any case bettered their development index? Would you wish to pretend that the apparent reason for KCR moving out of TDP and creating TRS was wholly because of denial of a cabinet berth! He's using innocent people to his advantage.

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  23. But, as I've commented earlier, you've shown remarkable restrain and delicacy in bringing this volatile issue in your perspective.

    However,there is one point to which I express my complete agreement. "Telangana must be formed for the sole reason that people want it."

    You couldn't have put it more precisely. If that indeed is the ground situation is (of which, I'm apprehensive), they we must let it go.

    After all, aren't we slowly accepting the rights of homosexuals on the grounds that its their personal life.
    Its nobody's concern to interfere in others private affairs. But in this particular case, we have always thought all are brothers and hence interfering is not because of any ulterior motive but only because we have concern towards you, and warn that in isolation there might be pitfalls.

    See, if a younger brother wishes to move out of joint family then, it behooves an elder brother to let him go maturely.

    Unfortunately, my concern is that once this process beings, even Ralayaseema and Andhra might get divided and soon, we all will be divided into many smaller states.

    All said and done, on a personal note, I would like to convey my best wishes to you for presenting facts as objectively as possible & which has become rarer in this age of politically motivated media houses.

    I end quoting Voltaire-
    "I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it."

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  24. Madhav:

    Thanks for writing.

    …Maharastra and Gujarat. They are seperated not only by language but also culture. On the other hand, Telangana is not disconnected from the rest of AP.

    We, the people of Telangana beg to differ. While Gujarat and Maharashtra at least had a common history just prior to Independence because they were both under British and erstwhile under similar kingdoms, Telangana and Andhra had separate histories for nearly 150 years. This led to cultural, social and economic differences between the two regions. When they came together, they looked different in every respect – culturally, economically, socially.

    In the last fifty years, Telangana people have felt that they were made to feel they were inferior. You can just read some of the comments on my blog – the tone is palpable – low opinion that Andhra people carry for Telangana people cannot be missed. You have to understand that there are always exceptions where some Andhras do not feel that way – but the stereotypes are everywhere. Just take a look at any Telugu movie. Again and again, it’s the same message. Nobody utters the T-word, but everyone knows where those goons originate from. Telangana people are comedians or the ruffians – never the protagonists.

    Andhra and Telangana people are different in every respect, the food, the language, the temperament, festivals, except language. We both speak the same language called Telugu. But then most Andhras don’t think we speak proper Telugu – they think we speak Vikruti of Telugu while the speak Prakruti of Telugu.

    I could be indifferent to such characterization. You could be indifferent to such characterization. We both may be able to have reasonable conversation with mutual respect. I am not fighting for myself and I am not fighting people like you. I am fighting for the common man of Telangana against common man of Andhra.

    Andhrites are warranted in having some apprehensions.

    I understand their apprehensions but I am not able to respect the same especially when those apprehensions are translating into selfishness to deprive Telangana of the saving grace (Hyderabad).

    2. Reg. ur charge that Telangana has been oppressed as a region. Actually speaking, this exists everywhere and restricting this to one region is quite naive.

    But accepting such oppression without fighting for justice is stupidity.

    Most of Telagana region is a plateau and hence it takes extraordinary effort to use it.

    That’s just an excuse. If you want to do it, you can convert a desert into fields, like Israel.

    3. Hyd is like joint property. If brothers get seperated, then all the property must be examined and equally divided.

    Cities don’t get divided – never equally. Only one region gets it. The only example was that of Berlin which was a major disaster.

    Many settlers have settled in Hyd not as an alien city but like an extended family unit. They have heavily invested in Hyd because they were assured that they are merely investing in their own state.

    I have written a new post to address this- Telangana XXI: Status of Hyderabad.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Madhav:

    If its abt exploitation, then all citizens of India are subjected to worser treatment. We all belong to the same class.

    Just because it is done elsewhere doesn’t make it right. And it does not make a case to tolerate it. We, the people of Telangana, have decided to fight against it. Characterization of Blacks as inferior was widely prevalent in United States of America, and yet few people choose to fight it. Martin Luther King took the fight to a level where the whole country had to stop that characterization. Just imagine telling Martin Luther King that he should not fight because the whole world is unfair.

    In what way is this movement more authentic than those new demands that have cropped up due to this development.

    I never professed that only our fight is authentic while others are not. When Gandhi was asked ‘what about other colonial countries’, he said that first he should take care of India before he starts talking about other colonial countries. But he was sure their time would come because of the example India is going to set.

    Their time will come too in India. From my limited understanding of India, its people and issues, I see no less than sixty states in India in the next ten years.

    Are you asking India to get itself divided again into those many pieces?

    50-60 States.

    6. Whats the fate of those newly created states? Have they in any case bettered their development index?

    Yes. Here’s the article from Times of India, 20 December 2009:

    Amazingly, all three new states have grown fabulously fast. Uttarakhand has averaged 9.31% growth annually, Jharkhand 8.45%, and Chattisgarh 7.35%. All three states belong to what was historically called the BIMARU zone, a slough of despond where humans and economies stagnated. Out of this stagnant pool have now emerged highly dynamic states.

    Would you wish to pretend that the apparent reason for KCR moving out of TDP and creating TRS was wholly because of denial of a cabinet berth!

    I don’t pretend anything. Every politician in Andhra Pradesh might be selfish, opportunistic, and blood-sucking scoundrel.

    Chandra Babu Naidu, Chiranjeevi and YSR, all of them promised Telangana and are completely singing a new song. They have betrayed Telangana people blatantly.

    He's using innocent people to his advantage.

    I don’t consider myself innocent and yet we are all behind him on this cause. Contrary to what outsiders believe all Telangana people know that they are rallying behind KCR only because he is standing for Telangana steadfastly while every other politician has betrayed us. The day he abandons the cause of Telangana, they will discard him like toilet paper. Its people using KCR, not the other way around.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Madhav:

    Unfortunately, my concern is that once this process beings, even Ralayaseema and Andhra might get divided and soon, we all will be divided into many smaller states.

    India has to set good examples of taking care of its people – if that is done, people don’t see a reason why they should create new states. Many a times, if you are in a big state you can get many things done because of our flawed federal system. And yet many people are clamoring for few states. We might reach a stage where incumbent states will start fearing that regions may break away; and that could be the reason for taking care of them.

    Indira Gandhi’s highhandedness in suppressing state separation movements, followed by similar policies of Rajiv Gandhi and other governments (except NDA) have led to a smug feeling amongst many states. They could nonchalantly go on suppressing some regions without paying a price. That ought to change. For that, states need to be created easily for some time. And then I am hoping we will learn our lessons.

    All said and done, on a personal note, I would like to convey my best wishes to you for presenting facts as objectively as possible & which has become rarer in this age of politically motivated media houses.

    Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Pavan Sudheer Rampalli:

    After some years, if some people in southern Telangana starts a movement for a seperate "Dakshina Telangana (Ranga Reddy, Hyderabad, Mahaboobnagar, Nalgonda and Khammam )

    If such a case arises, and if the people of Dakshina Telangana want a separate state, then Hyderabad should go with Dakshina Telangana. I am from Warangal and hence I will know that Uttara Telangana will have to let go of Hyderabad. I will not fight for Hyderabad then, let me assure you.

    Yes, Telangana people can make the Hyderabad much better than now. But please think how much time is required for that.

    You are missing the point here. You are obsessed with Hyderabad and hence you think the whole Telangana Movement is about Hyderabad. We don’t think like that. Development of Hyderabad is just one of the things TO DO in Telangana. There are many things to take care of in addition to developing Hyderabad.

    How much man power will be wasted in that. In the same way, if Andhra and Rayalaseema people develops a capital for them, how many years will it take and how much man power is wasted?

    One of the incentives to create more region/states is to create more cities. It is a good thing if we can create more cities. We shouldn’t shy away from that. India has four major metros. I hope to see at least 10 more.

    Right now the people in Telangana and Rayalaseema are getting the food (majorly) from Andhra region with no tax or subsidised. If Telangana is divided, it should pay taxes to other states to import food. Will this help to get developed?

    Yes, we will pay the taxes if necessary. It’s a small price to pay for the freedom of Telangana people.

    If the efforts by students/politicians who ran movement for seperate Telangana would have spent on improving backward areas in Telangana, atleast few places might have developed.

    Yes and No. Granted Telangana leaders were inept, but they did try to get Telangana developed but failed because they were cowed down by majority of Andhra-Rayalaseema.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Sampath:

    When you went to school, college in India I am pretty sure that you had many Andhra friends.

    Yes we did.

    Did you ever treat them like enemies?

    No.

    Did they treat you like an out cast becaus u are from telangana?

    Yes and No.

    India has enough hatredness filled in it in the names of cast, state, color, profession etc. Don't try to inject more in to it.

    Fighting for a separate state should not be construed as injection of hatred. Fighting for one’s rights, freedom, one’s voice and expression should be welcomed in a democratic country.

    I am pretty sure u r in US right now.

    I am in India now. I was in US few years ago.

    So how would you feel if all indians were called thieves for stealing IT jobs here and kicked out of this country?

    I will feel bad. But I guess I wouldn’t have much say in the regional politics.

    Telangana people do not believe they are going to kick out anyone from Hyderabad. When there is a heated argument and passions are running high, some people do tend to go overboard and say things.

    In this age of globalization please dont try to infuse this stupidity.

    Creation of new states is not stupidity. Stopping all creation of states forever as if what was done already is sacrosanct is stupidity.

    Telangana politicians have failed us numerous times and they will do the same in future. They are greedy and corrupt. Atleast leaders like babu and ysr had a vision for the state, KCR doesnt even have any clue how to handle the state.

    Once again, fight for a separate state does not depend on the quality of the leaders. We believe we have been betrayed by CBN and YSR. Furthermore, it’s better to be ruled by inept leaders of your own kind than the ablest rulers of alien kind.

    Well my bottom line here is if you want do support for development of telangana, but dont infuse hatred towards Andhra people. Thats not correct.

    I believe I don’t infuse hatred towards Andhra People. If you think that I have done that anywhere, please point it out, and I will correct myself.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Sujai,
    For "Atleast leaders like babu and ysr had a vision for the state, KCR doesnt even have any clue how to handle the state"
    You answered
    "Once again, fight for a separate state does not depend on the quality of the leaders. We believe we have been betrayed by CBN and YSR. Furthermore, it’s better to be ruled by inept leaders of your own kind than the ablest rulers of alien kind.

    I don't think one shoud compare babu,YSR with KCR at all. Babu and YSR had been CM's of the state considerable period of time where as KCR never ever came close to a cabinet position in the state. And the vision the guy was pointing out is not what they had shown us before they handled the position. That is what we have seen once they occupied the positions. Tell me whether YSR or Babu have done exactly what was said in their manifestoes. Never, they jsut followed populistic ideas(ofcourse Babu brought some revolutionary changes in governance and YSR ths health insurance) but what they are popular was not known as their vision before they were elected. They jsut promised cheap rice and free tv's some thing like that. Since we now know that these twwo people did a few changes that doesn't mean people already know their vision before they got elected.
    In this case KCR is far better than these two leaders because,
    "Since 2001 he has never changed his primary aim and his stand to fight for separate state. He already said several times beforethat by ballot and lobbying he would first try to achieve this and if it fails he would strive to bring about a movement. He resigned with in two years of coalition because he thought the process is being deliberately delayed. All the corruption charges on him reg stamp papers are still not yet proved are still only allegations. He is said to have amassed lots of property and money, if so was it in the two years he was in the govt. Then our two CM's are also known to be international business men and their close relatives are well known enterpreneurs.
    About the vision I have seen KCR on TV several times discussing the river water projects on K & G and how they are being modified to only serve andhra region. He had several times cited what actually is needed to be done and what is feadible with strong references. I think he atleast has ideas how he can change this state utter disregard for the region's necessities."

    ReplyDelete
  30. sujai
    As any immigrant you have not bothered to understand the region called Telangana. You were only interested in your well-being and well-being of your city called Hyderabad.

    Are you trying to understand the culture of native people where you are currently doing your job -Bangalore? Cities have become cosmopolitan global villages where only traditions and customs that are popular only will get absorbed. Entire world is heading towards a global culture where as you are still talking to preserve TG culture(Hmm is it different from rest of AP anyways?). Yes, I have absorbed quite cool Telangana slang after having stayed in Hyd for about an year :).

    Srihari Reddy

    ReplyDelete
  31. I do have a feeling that lot of people who may be in hyderabad ( 1st generation, 2nd generation settlers ) don't understand that Hyderabad is geographically in Telangana region. So if you are in settled or born Hyderabad, you belong to that region. Hyderabad never existed as its own entity. It was capital of Hyderabad state which comprised of all the districts that are in Telangana. All the district name are muslim sounding which are different from GUNTUR, NELLORE etc. Being in Hyderabad means being in Telangana even if it is made a UT or made part of Andhra. You don't have to absorb anything when you are in Telangana. Just acknowledge that you are in Telangana. Infact lot of agreements signed since 1956 consider Telanagna with Hyderabad to be a separate entity and andhra as separate entity for jobs etc. Gentlemen's agreement, GO 610, Six point formula. I was born in Telangana lived in Guntur for seven years which is in andhra region of Andhra pradesh. One of the reasons I support separate Telangana is because, all regions should have cities like Hyderabad. I would like to see Vijayawada or Guntur or Vizag to attain that status. There is no decentralization in Andhra Pradesh. Everyone like to go to Hyderabad, no one likes to develop their big cities (Vijayawada, Vizag etc ). Even though I hate to have a region disconnected by Union Territory, I may even settle for Telangana without Hyderabad. Warangal can be capital , which it was during Kakatiya rule. It is a wonderful. May be we should call Telangana state to be Hyderabad state like it used to be before.

    ReplyDelete

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