NTRtho nenu
Author: H.J.Dora (IPS Retd.), Former DGP. A.P.
Pages: 200
Price: Rs.90.
Available with: Sahiti Prachuranalu, Surya Rao pet, Vijayawada.
We don’t often come across books written on administration of a particular period like NTR’s rule as chief minister of A.P., whose life both as film actor and administrator dotted by some curious episodes, which could be read only by an officer like H.J. Dora, who served both as Vigilance Commissioner and Director General of Police, at that time. The work contains several anecdotes and experiences. The way Dora made it a comprehensive narration, the book gives him an image of a fine writer with good command over Telugu language. It is detailed analysis of the personality and character study of N.T. Rama Rao engagingly written. Besides it gives engrossing information on why and how he launched his Telugu Desam party and recalls some dramatic events that occurred during his time. ‘It contains several instances and anecdotes’ as its preface writer M.K. Narayanan, a noted name in the realm of administration, mentions.
The book opens up our vision into seeing what administration is, especially the role of ‘Intelligence’. Its boss, at that time Dora, writes a lot about its responsibilities and functions that can go into any text book on this subject. The book also analyses NTR’s rule in using services of intelligence to the maximum, in taking some right decisions at right time.
NTR was a novice to politics at the time of his entry into politics, so the manner of his launching the Telugu Desam party and putting an end to the rule of the Indian National Congress led by Indira Gandhi in just nine months, surprised the entire nation. In fact, the book brings into view the rule of NTR and struggles he faced for a decade. At one time he asked all his ministers to resign and ruled the state for a while as the lone leader, till elections were held again. The book details the uncanny events happened in the Eighties or even later.
An event that makes curious reading was how NTR tackled the Naxal problem that raised its head during his rule. The ‘mantra’ to decimate it was launching a theatre movement to counter the same application that Naxals have adapted to attract common man to their shows. Dora writes that he met the, then central Home minister P.V. Narasimha Rao who suggested playwright (K.L. Narasimha Rao) to him and how Dora got a play penned by K.L. with title ‘Bharati’. It was brought on to the stage with the help of the state information department headed by P.V.R.K. Prasad, who helped in saddling a troupe of artistes. They began staging the play across the Naxal-ridden areas. Dora says in the book this play was well received by the public and slowly the Naxal movement began vanishing. A newspaper wrote that what the government launched was ‘Cultural encounter’.
In his book Dora says his first contact with NTR was when the latter sought for security at the shooting event at Alankar cinema centre at Vijayawada. Dora was SP then. There was huge crowd and yet the shooting went on with utter discipline. After the shoot NTR came back to thank Dora. But NTR’s surprise entry into politics and his whirlwind tour across the state kept the police forever on its toes.
The book focuses more on NTR’s vision and execution style, his commitment and love for Telugu language. The book is more a history of a cognizable period. This was more a first person historical account of a period that offered both comedy and tragedy. There is lot more in the book with many more historical facts of ups and downs during that period.
