The antics of "Team Anna": erstwhile and now!
Anna Hazare had risen to the position of being the father of anti-corruption in India with his extremely followed protests last year. It would not be an exaggeration to state that the whole nation had moved in his foot steps after he launched his campaign demanding a Strong Lok Pal bill and crusading against corruption. Recently the support levels had plummeted to a never expected low of just a few thousand, quite hesitantly with extra support garnered by the Yoga Guru Ramdev Baba. What has their agenda been earlier that could draw the crowds and how different is the scenario today that caused the dwindling in the numbers?
In the recent protests staged at Jantar Mantar, Anna Hazare and his then Team Anna, who had not yet disbanded, were not appreciated by the crowd who could not have been more than a thousand. After the indefinite fasts they had been trying to contemplate a politcal alternative to the people. How is another political party a political alternative? To say the least it only adds up to the confusion among the parties that are already present. This statement had drawn criticism from all his supporters from the nation who previously supported him. But is Anna to be blamed? He had announced that he would not be involved politically and his mission was to achieve the Jan Lokpal Bill for the better functioning of the nation. It was his Team members who had embraced and announced the idea of a political party as a political alternative to the crowd. Arvind Kejriwal, and Kiran Bedi among others had been pro-party as a solution to the problem.
To side track a little from the issue of the political party, Ramdev had supported the movement of Anna Hazare at the Jantar Manta protests but why could not Anna Hazare helped him with the same at Ambedkar Stadium. It is true that Arvind Kejriwal had made a surprise presence at the protests but it was on the last day and only after the Team Anna disbanded.
Could this suggest the Anna Hazare have eased on pursuing the cause a little?
There were discrepancies between Ramdev and Team Anna in the issue of support to BJP after Ramdev shook hands with Narendra Modi and gave him a clean chit. Kiran Bedi, another key member of the team had also followed the same lines by refusing to join the protest against BJP claiming that they need the support of BJP. She had distanced herself from Arvind Kejriwal who had agitated in front of the residences of the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the BJP President. Kiran Bedi has also asked Anna to step in and give a direction to the movement as "they were losing focus".
A team that originally had begun peacefully has drooped to a new low with street agitations. They have discrepancies among themselves. The party agenda is not very clear to the people. Transparency is out of the question. What is the erstwhile Team Anna thinking? At a time when India needs hope why is Team Anna crumbling? (AW- Anil)
In the recent protests staged at Jantar Mantar, Anna Hazare and his then Team Anna, who had not yet disbanded, were not appreciated by the crowd who could not have been more than a thousand. After the indefinite fasts they had been trying to contemplate a politcal alternative to the people. How is another political party a political alternative? To say the least it only adds up to the confusion among the parties that are already present. This statement had drawn criticism from all his supporters from the nation who previously supported him. But is Anna to be blamed? He had announced that he would not be involved politically and his mission was to achieve the Jan Lokpal Bill for the better functioning of the nation. It was his Team members who had embraced and announced the idea of a political party as a political alternative to the crowd. Arvind Kejriwal, and Kiran Bedi among others had been pro-party as a solution to the problem.
To side track a little from the issue of the political party, Ramdev had supported the movement of Anna Hazare at the Jantar Manta protests but why could not Anna Hazare helped him with the same at Ambedkar Stadium. It is true that Arvind Kejriwal had made a surprise presence at the protests but it was on the last day and only after the Team Anna disbanded.
Could this suggest the Anna Hazare have eased on pursuing the cause a little?
There were discrepancies between Ramdev and Team Anna in the issue of support to BJP after Ramdev shook hands with Narendra Modi and gave him a clean chit. Kiran Bedi, another key member of the team had also followed the same lines by refusing to join the protest against BJP claiming that they need the support of BJP. She had distanced herself from Arvind Kejriwal who had agitated in front of the residences of the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the BJP President. Kiran Bedi has also asked Anna to step in and give a direction to the movement as "they were losing focus".
A team that originally had begun peacefully has drooped to a new low with street agitations. They have discrepancies among themselves. The party agenda is not very clear to the people. Transparency is out of the question. What is the erstwhile Team Anna thinking? At a time when India needs hope why is Team Anna crumbling? (AW- Anil)
Born
on August 29, 1959 in Chennai to the then top film actor Akkineni
Nageshwara Rao in Chennai, Nagarjuna was perhaps born with a silver
spoon. And despite taking birth in an affluent family, Nageshwara Rao
had apparently never let Nagarjuna become an addict to luxuries. He
reportedly went to college in city buses and lead a normal life. Thanks
to his father ANR for the discipline he instilled in Nag. That could be
the reason why today Nagarjuna is one of the most down to earth
personalities in Tollywood. After his family moved to Hyderabad from
Chennai, Nagarjuna was admitted to Hyderabad Public School where he
completed his tenth standard and later pursued his intermediate
education at the esteemed Little Flower Junior College after which he
completed his engineering education at College of Engineering, Guindy in
Chennai. Later, Nagarjuna moved to Eastern Michigan University where he completed his management studies.
Nagarjuna
nor his father Nageshwara Rao apparently never thought Nag would enter
films and in the long round would tag himself as southern king of
romance. The story all started when he showed interest in films and
wanted to done the role of a protagonist. And he got an offer for Vikram
movie,
which was directed by V Madhusudhana Rao. Vikram was released in 1986
and became a box office hit stunning many top heroes then.
Nagarjuna
and romance perhaps cannot be undivided on Telugu silver screen. Right
from Maniratnam's Geethanjali to Manmadudu, Nagarjuna made young women
go crazy. And for college goers, Nagarjuna as Shiva in Ram Gopal
Varma's debut movie is till date a role model character. This film shot
him into limelight across India as this movie was even dubbed into
Hindi. This movie, which was screened, at International Film Festival
in Kolkata, supposedly made audience awestruck. Today meet anyone in
Kolkata and the moment Telugu cinema discussion pops up, the first name
they would take is Nagarjuna. 'Kya actor hai yaar!' this was the common
word Cine Sprint team heard when the team enquired as to what people
in Mumbai and Kolkata think of Nagarjuna.
After
the success of Criminal movie, offers poured in from Bollywood for
Nagarjuna. Right from Shiva, Criminal to Khuda Gawah and Zakhm—all of
them were block busters at Bollywood. And Nag chose Tollywood over
Bollywood. When asked why, Nag told in an earlier interview that he
chose life over career. He was he was already a superstar here
(Tollywood), he might have become a superstar there (Bollywood) and what
next questioned Nag stating that there was no end to ambition and he
was contended in Hyderabad. Therefore, he said no regrets over his
decision.
'Star....Star....Mega...star..Star....'
The
senior journalist questioned his motive behind the merger. And pop,
came the reply, 'to work better,' by the star. Then he added, 'if I
could fight for many causes for the betterment of my people, while
staying out of the ruling party' he pause and continued, 'my chances are
better when I stay with the ruling party.' Initially, people thought he
was an opportunist while merging the party. They went on to say that
Chiru was benefited in the merger with power. But the political Chanukya
proved his critics wrong and stated that not only he, but even Congress
was benefited in the deal.
How
do you think Congress was benefited: The Byelections for the 13
constituencies in the recent past, saw the results, inspite of a
sympathy wave sweeping the Congress contestants off their seats. The
sole two seats that the Congress garnered where those of Chiru's trusted
lieutenants in Narsapur and Ramachandrapuram. Despite the sympathy
wave, Chiru's wave was riding higher. Critics restricted their comments
and some even went to say that in 2014 general elections, Congress might
have a grand say if Chiru's role is well defined. Well this is not a
political column and we shall not speculate much on these lines.
On
the contrary what makes Chiru what he is today. From Siva Sankara Vara
Prasad the journey to Rajya Sabha was surely not just a bed of roses,
they had their thorns too. Out from the Madras Film Institute in the
late 70's, his first film 'Punadhirallu' did not give him the necessary
impetus for a robust career, as it took to screen after a long hiatus.
But later started, 'Pranam Kareedhu' was the first released film and his
role in the next film 'Manavuri Pandavulu,' directed by Bapu gave him a
launch pad for a bright career. However the commercial hero status to
the star was given by A Kodandarami Reddy's 'Khaidhi' in 1983. from then
on wards there was no looking back for the star.
And
the success journey continued for almost two decades and more. Chiru
was moved by the flood victims plight in the late nineties. Though he
donated for the cause liberally, his outreach attitude was never
quenched and he formed the Chiranjeevi Charitable Trust (CCT) in 1998,
to reach out the needy. As he realized that if one man contributes it is
limited but creating an awakening amidst a larger base, the
contributions are abundant. With this in minds he felt CCT would create
the awareness. And for the larger base, he had the easy access to
millions through his versatile 
The
reach out was so phenomenal that each of his audio cassette had a self
declaration form for his fans to donate their eyes to the needy, as per
norms. On most of his birthdays there were large blood camps organized
by his fans and the donations reached the bank to help the needy too.
All this needed meticulous planning and profound patronage, who else
than Chiru, could accomplish this mammoth task. Yet the reaching out
instincts to the needy, in him, were still not quenched, the thirst
continued. In 2009 he started his political party PRP, with a slogan for
social empowerment through social justice. However he was able to erode
the base of Telugu Desam Party and Congress alike, he lost many seats
in low majorities. Finally PRP could just win 18 MLA seats with 18% vote
share.
With
this point many thought that the political novice (as claimed by his
critics) would turn his back to his aspirations. But Chiru was in no
mood for bowing out, to the defeats, but was in hibernation for
sometime. Later after the death of the former Chief Minister Y S
Rajashekar Reddy in 2009 in a fatal air accident, Congress had a
leadership crisis. And in 2011 Congress was pinned down by the YSR
Congress party headed by Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, in the form of a
non-confidence motion, in the assembly. And Congress had to call on
Chiru for a support in the form of a merger. PRP was formally merged
with the Congress on 6 February 2011 (after thirty months of existence).
This was also blamed by the critics as a suicidal step by the PRP. But
Chiru who had now become the 'Political Chanukya' knew that his move
would give him the 'king pin's' status. And the byelections consolidated
his prowess and powers.
Sitting
in the Rajya Sabha as a Congress Leader, Chiru has never involved
himself in mudslinging or taking shots of the ruling leaders. He was
concentrating in making a path for getting his objectives of 'serving
the people' fulfilled. Chiru is a well-balanced politician, this was
visible when most politicians were pondering over the (by)-electoral
gains, he carried on with his son's wedding, confident about his stakes.
Such was the vision of the leader who delivered what promised and
maintained all his duties as a human, actor and a politician. Wishesh
wishes the Megastar of Politics a Happy Birthday and also wishes him
success in his mission. (With inputs from internet-AW AarKay)
