School buddies miss YSR

Young Raja: YSR with B Sc First Year friends in Veerashaiva College in Bellary in 1964-65

By Shivakumar G Malagi

Bellary, Sep 3, 2009

Leny, Narasimha Murthy, Ashwath Singh, Kaleshwar Mudaliar, Dr Francis, Muralidhar, Ramkoti, Anki Reddy, literally broke into tears on Thursday morning (Sep 3 2009) as television channels aired the sad news that their childhood friend, `Raja’ has found dead on Rudrakonda Hill in Kurnool district in an air crash.
`Raja’ of Leny and his friends is none other than departed Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajashekhar Reddy.
It is a popular impression that YSR connection with Bellary is linked with BJP Reddy Brothers, since it has been alleged that YSR son Jagamohan Reddy has business links with Reddys’ Obulapuram Mining Company and Rs 2,500 crore estimated Brahmini Steels in Jammalamadagu in Cuddappa.
In fact, YSR connection with this Andhra bordering city of Bellary is nearly five decade long old and is till date alive among many childhood friends.
Going by the memory lane, Leny alias Dr Leonard Gonsalves, who is running Infant Jesus English Medium School on Bomaby Press Road here said that his and `Raja’s family had a familiar relationship and both were grown up like brothers.

Yedugoori Sandinti Venkat Reddy, grand father of YSR was a Lord Venkateshwara devotee till Father Rolls and Sister Noble descended on his Balpanur village, near Pulivendla, Cuddapah district. The two British Protestants struck a chord in Venkat Reddy's heart, and he embraced Christianity.
YSR father, Y S Raja Reddy, who took contract work of Tungabhadra High Level Canal found Bellary a suitable place for the education of his five children and also to pursue his contract and transport business and in 1958, he settled down in Bellary with his family.
YSR pursued his high school education from 7th standard to 11th standard (then, SSLC) in St. John’s High School located in Fort area here.
“In the end of high school study, Father Pinto asked every boy what they want to become in their professional life after completing studies. Every boy started giving regular answers of becoming doctor and engineer. But, Raja stood up and said that he would become a minister one day and serve people. He achieved his ambition, But, unfortunately God gave him lesser time to serve people”, Leny adds with tearful eyes.
Later, YSR joined the intermediate course at Loyola College in Vijayawada for a year. Then, it was required to complete either one-year Pre Professional Course or one-year B Sc to get admission into medicine. Therefore, YSR joined Veerashaiva Vidhyavardhak Sangh College to do B Sc for a year.
Subsequently, he got admission into MBBS at Mahadevappa Rampure Medical College in Gulbarga. Mr. Reddy's initiation into politics began in Gulbarga when he was elected president of the Mahadevappa Rampure Medical College Students' Union. He completed his MBBS in 1972.

After the completion of children’s education in Bellary, Raja Reddy (who was murdered in 1998) shifted family his to native Pulivendla in Cuddapah district of AP.
Even after he left Bellary, I and other some friends are in regular touch with YSR. I used to meet him on every alternative month. Even after becoming Chief Minister, he showered same love and affection on me and I only initiated to launch `SRR Friends and Fans Association’ which in turn helped him lot in previous assembly election”, he said.

Leny who met Raja, just eight days ago in Hyderabad broke into tears while showing the black and white photograph of young Raja in his college days, said,” though I am humble principal of a small school today, Raja, being a Chief Minister always treated me in dignified way and proudly introduced me to many big people. He always remained as my close friend Raja of St John’s School and never been a powerful chief minister”.

Going by Memory Lane:

YSR avid sportsmen:

Ashwath Singh, an agriculturist in Kamalapur said that he always competed with YSR in foot ball match. “Even Raja Reddy, father of Raja used to invite me to play foot ball with his son. Despite strict restrictions from hostel warden Francis, ex-army men, we all used to spend most time on swimming and rifle shooting. But, till today those days are very much green in my heart when Raja used to play touching tunes on his flute and I used to play beagle”

YSR affectionate personality:

Narasimha Murthy, agriculturist in Hosa Daroji was a junior to YSR in school and also hostel mate said that YSR was well off among other boys in school, but never been arrogant.In those days itself, his father, Raja Reddy used to come by a jeep to see his children in hostel, but he too never shown superiority and used to freely mingle with other boys.
“Raja was very good at keeping text books neatly and orderly on shelve in hostel room. After passing the examinations, he used to gift his books to junior friends. He gifted some valuable books on Physics to me. Till date, I keep at as a treasured asset.”

Emotional Boy

Former Bellary MP Kolur Basavanagouda who served as a non-teaching staff with Veerashaiva College when YSR was a B Sc first year student (1964-65) there recalls that Rajashekhar was a "good, but emotional" boy unlike his brothers George Reddy and Vivekananda Reddy. He was seen always leading a gang of boys in the college. He was mischievous, but never been arrogant or harmful to other students though he was well off compared to other boys in the college.