Aside

Malladi Subbamma leaves many memories, especially for women like me associated with feminist thoughts during late 80s. At that time there were many versions of feminism – left feminism, right feminism and the extreme feminism and so on. And these feminist groups would be really segregated… One group looking down the other. (There would also be some elite feminist groups and when dealing with them or talking to them you had to be really on guard lest you uttered something politically wrong.) But, the greatness of Mallaadi Subbamma was she gave an impression of being so unaware of these differences… These hypes… artificialities, these foreign borrowed terminologies of feminism… That she spoke straight from her heart what she felt about the state of women… their problems or the policies Governments pursued for women.

She took part in each and every event however small or big. Most times she landed up at official meetings related to women’s issues, even without an invitation. Many thought her to be talking and dealing with women’s issues in an old fashioned way. But I have not seen any other woman working so sincerely and tirelessly as Malladi Subbamma. It looked like she spent each and every waking hour to mitigate the problems of women. The doors of her house were literally open for any women who sought shelter and help. She once told me she started this social service at the age of 17… Imagine almost 70 years of selfless, tireless and humble work she has put in for the cause of something that she believed in. Subbammagaru … Hyderabad and andhra pradesh will always remember you…RIP ∞

Why did Jagan do this to Konathala…

Since yesterday, many Telugu channels are breaking news about why the future Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Jagan Mohan Reddy has behaved so ‘rutheless and ungrateful’ with one of his trusted aides Konathala Ramakrishna. The issue being – Jagan has admitted one of Telugu Desam party’s important leaders Dadi Veerabhadra Rao and his son into his party – the YSRCP. Do not know, whether the media is wantonly making the issue ‘murkier’ or the ‘news’ genuinely deserves the coverage it has been getting for the last 48 hours. For Konathala too, what better way to vent his anger, disappointment, frustration, whatever.., than ‘use’ the television channels to his utmost advantage !

Leaving aside the media ‘guess work’ about Jagan’s political strategies and all, I look at the entire issue this way – First of all more than Jagan it is Dadi who has to be hailed for his political acumen and strategy. Because with a single stroke, more than his political future, he has paved a smooth passage for his young son, whom he tugged along into the YSRCP. That is his biggest satisfaction as a father. After all, a real politician is one who keeps his ears open to the voices of the people and act swiftly. Of course, who can be a better viewer of the political future of the TDP and its leader Chandrababu, than its own seniors like Dadi ?

Now, why did Jagan antagonize his trusted man Konathala by admitting ‘political opportunists’ like Dadi, even at the risk of attracting adverse publicity ? There could be several reasons. Foremost, may be he wanted to send a strong message to not only outside parties like the TDP, Congress and even the TRS; but also to his own Party men and women, who have become complacent and taking their positions in the Party and constituencies for granted. To such men and women, he has sent the strong note – ” Dear party men/women, don’t take the Party future or your future in Party as certain. Also, don’t think that the field is entirely yours. What the Party is now is not sufficient to achieve what we want to become in the future. You have to make sacrifices and if necessary accommodate several persons from several parties. Resolve differences and work unitedly.”

Most important, it looks like Jagan also wanted to send an invitation to his arch rival, the TDP, and also the Congress and even the TRS, that the doors of YSRCP are not yet closed and that he is more than eager to welcome and assimilate them, even if they happened to be bitter critics of his Party and family till the previous day.