Predictions made by indulgent mothers for their sons are often just wishful thinking. Many decades ago, M. Ramanamma too made a prediction. She foresaw that her little son would shine like the deity she worshipped when he would grow up. Since Monday, the son, M. Venkaiah Naidu’s political stars have indeed been shining. His aunt Lankepalli Manoharamma, 75, fondly tells visitors to Mr. Naidu’s ancestral village of Chavatapalem about Ramanamma’s forecast.
After the news of his nomination hit the headlines, Chavatapalem, located 3 km off the Chennai-Kolkata National Highway and 25 km south of Nellore, has been seeing a steady stream of visitors. Manoharamma happily shares her memories of Mr. Naidu with them.
“Venkaiah’s mother passed away in his childhood. Her friends often recalled her good nature and how she used to cheerfully predict that her son would grow big and glow as radiantly as Bitragunta Venkanna Swamy. She used to say this again and again,” said Ms. Manoharamma. Bitragunta Venkanna Swamy is a popular deity in the region.
After his mother’s passing away, Mr. Naidu was mostly raised by his maternal uncles who used to live in neighbouring Srirampuram, 3 km from Chavatapalem. He was born on July 1, 1949. His father Rangaiah Naidu, who also passed away early, was a farmer who had owned more than 10 acres land.
Early indications
Schooling was completed in his native village and Venkaiah completed graduation in political and diplomatic studies from Venkatagiri Rajah’s College in Nellore city. In college, he showed early signs of his leadership skills by emerging as the students’ union president.
At that time, there were only bus and train services to reach Nellore from Chavatapalem. Residents had to walk from the village for 3 km to catch these services at Venkatachalam.
As a youth, Mr. Naidu was said to have taken active interest in visiting his agricultural fields and learning about the needs of his village.
“This affection has continued. It is because of Venkaiah that we have cement roads, side drains and drinking water supply. No MLA and no Minister has done this for us,” asserted Murahari Kataru, a septuagenarian resident, who takes care of the library that has come up on the land that used to house Mr. Naidu’s ancestral property.
Today, however, Mr. Naidu owns no lands. He gave them all away. This drew many villagers to the Bharatiya Janata Party. One such is Arumalla Murali who rose to become BJP Dalit Morcha secretary of Andhra Pradesh.
Villagers rejoice
Festivities began in Chavatapalem as soon as news broke about Mr. Naidu’s nomination. Villagers thronged the Kodanda Ramalayam temple where they broke coconuts and offered puja. “Ours is a small village with just 600 houses. We wouldn’t have seen so much development if not for Venkaiah. Now we have a Gali Gopuram at the temple that cost ₹70 lakh and it is a matter of pride for us,” said Iruvuri Srinvasulu, a farmer.
