MY JOURNEY AS A JOURNALIST

Desaraju Surya
I turned 20, as a journalist, today. For me, it has been quite an eventful journey and a fantastic learning process.
On this occasion, I would first like to express my sincere gratitude to a few persons who actually shaped me as a journalist and helped me grow. Messrs Ananthaneni Ravi Kumar, P Hari Prasad, Boddu Bhaskar, Suresh and Peddada Navin were those who guided me through the initial days of my career – which I began as a news contributor for Eenadu Telugu daily way back on February 26, 1990. And then, there were the likes of V Gopalakrishna Murthy (Gampalagudem Murthy) and Chilukuri Venu who too used to enable me learn the fine art of writing.
I was literally a college drop-out with absolutely no interest in academics. All I possessed at that time was just common sense, some general knowledge and a youthful zeal. A few years into the profession, I acquired a graduate degree and subsequently pursued a PG diploma course in journalism and mass communications, a PG diploma in international business and PG in public administration.
I had always been an avid listener of news on radio since my childhood days and also a good reader of newspapers (Eenadu, Andhra Prabha and Indian Express) which helped me understand news and style of writing.
The way the likes of Kandukuri Suryanarayana, Addanki Mannar, Koppula Subba Rao, Prayaga Ramakrishna read out the news on All India Radio, left an impression in my mind and that kept me going from the day one of my career. I literally followed the script, so to say. I also used to listen the English, Hindi and Sanskrit news bullet-ins on radio and subsequently on Doordarshan. I have no hesitation in saying that those bullet-ins were the “real” news presented in a lucid style without any distortions and gave the information required for people. They were, in fact, an education in news writing as well.
I was very childish at the time I began my career as a journalist. But the seniors in Eenadu were very appreciative and always helped me out by teaching the basics of news reporting and offering me valuable suggestions to improve myself.
There was one “Satyam master” who used to edit reports for Newstime, an English daily then run by the Eenadu group, in his post-retirement as a lecturer.
Noticing the interest in me, he encouraged me to write a few reports in English for Newstime. The legendary cricketer Kapil Dev visited Vijayawada on a promotional trip once in April 1991 and I took the opportunity to report that in English. It was published as a two-column box story in Newstime and I was elated. There were many who patted me on the back for that and it only spurred me to learn more and write more.
During my Eenadu days, I also used to write filmy reports for their film weekly Sitara and I covered the 100-days celebration of Gang Leader, the Chiranjeevi-starrer. It was the first time I physically saw my idol Chiranjeevi and the report came out very well.
Subsequently I quit Eenadu, re-joined it for a few more months before I was unceremoniously thrown out. That, however, proved a blessing in disguise and provided me an opportunity to work independently in a small newspaper called Mahanagar (evening daily). Later, I worked for another evening daily Pledge under the able guidance of senior editor (late) Kuchimanchi Satya Subrahmanyam. I shall never forget him. He was the one who brought me into English journalism and ensured that I continued in it though at one point I thought of going back to Telugu writing. Subrahmanyam garu, with his vast experience, was a very good teacher and a nice human being.
The newspapers may be “small” but the exposure they provided was really big. I was very fortunate to have worked in those newspapers, particularly under Subrahmanyam garu. Otherwise, I would have been nowhere in this profession despite having learnt a good deal of news reporting in Eenadu.
My first major break came in 1997 when I was appointed a trainee reporter in Deccan Chronicle. Mr Sriramulu was my chief in the Vijayawada bureau and working under him was another memorable experience. He is a thorough professional and man of great knowledge. He is a workaholic and a task master too. I should remember (late) Jagannathan here. He was our affable news editor and a great classical Carnatic singer. He was a good teacher as well.
In 2001, I moved over to The Times of India and was with it for six years. The only inspiring person here was M H K. He continues to be my friend, philosopher and guide.
Two persons need mention here: P B Koteswara Rao (Balu) and M Sambasiva (Samba). Only I know the kind of inspiration they have been right through my stints in DC and ToI.
From a stringer, I have now risen to become a Principal Correspondent after 19 long years in the profession. I value it a lot since only I know that I did not take any shortcuts. There have been ups and downs through these years but somehow God has helped me overcome the troubles and continue my climb. Good friends were always there to keep me going.
Undoubtedly, I have been “very sincere” to my profession right from the day one and continue to work with the same kind of zeal, devotion and sincerity. I have never compromised on values and I can certainly be proud of my achievements, even if they are only a few.
Only three or four people who too began their careers like me 18-19 years ago have succeeded in rising to a good position now. Murali (TV9), Bala Krishna (The New Indian Express), Pavan (Mumbai Mirror) and Yugandhar Reddy (Vizag). Hardwork and sincerity were their traits too. And, that’s the secret of success. Many others faded into the oblivion.
For me, there is still a long way ahead.

India's nuclear ambitions

Desaraju Surya
Hyderabad: Vowing to realize the dreams of Homi Jahangir Bhabha -- father of India’s atomic programme -- of achieving high level of energy security and energy independence for the country, Atomic Energy Commission chairman Anil Kakodkar has said India would set up manufacturing facilities for fuels required for all nuclear reactors over a period of time.
“We do expect augmentation of manufacturing capacity and associated modalities for characterization and quality control,” he said, inaugurating a three-day international conference on Characterisation and Quality Control of Nuclear Fuels, organized by the Nuclear Fuel Complex, at the Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad.
“Our ambition, however, is not restricted to fuel manufacturing alone but we would also like to set up a whole range of fuel cycle activities with the help of collaborators abroad and domestic technology development. We will do that both in the front end as well as back end of the fuel cycle,” Kakodkar said.
There’s a very broad canvas to work upon, he added.
Stating that India’s strengths lay in fast reactors and thorium, he said today the country was in a domain where “we can play with fertile and fissile fuels at will.”
He suggested a shift from Uranium-238 fuel to Thorium-232 which has a greater benefit given its higher fissile energy. “Thorium fuel cycle is much more proliferation-resistant,” he pointed out adding that they were ready to collaborate with anyone interested in sharing expertise in fuel cycle technology.
Observing that India was entering into a new era, Kakodkar saw large growth in nuclear power generation capacity with nuclear reactors and nuclears fuels coming from abroad. “The march towards diversity will continue.”
Canada’s Cameco Corporation president and CEO Gerald W Grandey, International Atomic Energy Agency’s nuclear fuel cycle and materials section head Chaitanya Ganguly, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research director Baldev Raj, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre director S Banerjee, Nuclear Power Corporation director (technical) S A Bhardwaj, Nuclear Fuel Complex chief executive R N Jayaraj and delegates from various countries like Russia, Canada, Korea and Kazaksthan attended.

Indian public sector banks: the growth mantra

Desaraju Surya
Hyderabad: Union Home Minister P Chidambaram has asserted that there was no question of diluting the government's equity in public sector banks from the current 51 per cent. "Public sector banks in the country will remain to be public sector banks," he said, addressing a huge gathering after inaugurating the Union Bank of India's 2501 branch here. Indian economy remained stronger despite the global financial meltdown, thanks to the strong public sector banks. "The previous NDA government sought to dilute government equity in public sector banks to 33 per cent, which was a grave mistake. But on assuming power, the UPA government has abandoned the idea and that has energized the public sector banks," Chidambaram pointed out. Listing out the series of policy initiatives launched by the UPA government to strengthen the public sector banks, the former Union Finance Minister said: "We encouraged banks to raise capital from the market. Thanks to this initiative, business flourished and banks became more efficient. We have also enlarged the power of managements and gave large autonomy to the banks. The degree of autonomy is large and it has increased responsibility. With responsibility, accountability too increased." Also, banks were nudged to go into new areas and double lending to agriculture and small and medium enterprises. New opportunities led to new growth as the banks rose to the occasion and met the challenges, Chidambaram noted. "The last five years have been a complete vindication of the UPA government's banking policy. We, however, still need greater policy support to sustain the growth story," the Union Minister observed. Referring to the Union Bank of India's growth story, Chidambaram said from a business of Rs 50,000 crore in 2000, the bank's business mix shot up to Rs two lakh crore by September 2008. "In the next ten years, UBI's business will touch Rs 10 lakh crore," he added. UBI chairman and managing director M V Nair was also present on the occasion.

The Congress' treachery

Desaraju Surya
Hyderabad: When it comes to hoodwinking the people, none can probably beat the Grand Old Party of India – the Congress.
Words like deceit, treachery, sham, betrayal, fraud and trickery would be too small to describe the Congress' ways.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy’s statement in the Assembly on February 12 on the Telangana statehood issue is yet another clear example of the Congress’ con game. A party that rode to power in the state on the promise of creating the Telangana state, failed to keep its word in five years and has now shamelessly come out with a ‘statement’ that it would constitute a committee to look into the contentious issue. What a SHAM!
Everybody knows how Rajasekhara Reddy, despite all major parties in the state having consented to the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, played spoilsport all these years and made the Congress high command ignore the public sentiments on such an emotional issue. What’s more appalling is the stance of Congress leaders from the Telangana region. They were the first to raise the bogey of Telangana but once the party rode to power in the company of Telangana Rashtra Samiti they conveniently pushed the issue on to the backburner. It was nothing but deception of the worst kind and the Congress leaders have to be blamed – in fact banished – for having caused bad blood between people of various regions of the state.
Now, with elections to the state Assembly as well as Lok Sabha just about two months away, the Chief Minister – and, of course, the Congress party – was left with no other option but to come out with some stand on the separate statehood issue. Hence this new drama by Rajasekhara Reddy.
But the time’s up for the party and it should sure bite the dust in the fast-approaching elections.
At the outset, doubts are being raised on whether or not the proposed joint legislature committee on the contentious Telangana issue can be constituted at all given the fact that the current Andhra Pradesh Assembly now remains “only on paper” for all practical purposes.
Besides, the “sanctity” of such a committee is also being questioned as the “outgoing” MLAs may not have the locus standi to deal with such a critical issue.
Though Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy sought to assert that “we have never in the past deceived any one on the Telangana issue nor will do in the future,” all opposition parties termed his statement in the state Assembly precisely as “yet another deception.”
Besides, the Chief Minister had merely made a ‘statement’ indicating his government’s decision to constitute a “committee of members of both Houses of the legislature to deliberate upon Telangana and related issues” and made no formal plea to the Assembly Speaker to obtain the House’s consent for the move.
“Consent of the House is very much required to constitute any such committee. The government has not obtained any such consent nor did the Speaker follow due procedure in this regard. So, how can the committee be constituted,” former Speaker of Assembly Yanamala Ramakrishnudu questioned.
Moreover, the committee, even if put in place, would not have any sanctity since it would have many outgoing members.
He pointed out that the Chief Minister’s statement on Telangana was nothing but a “laughing stock” as due procedures were totally violated in making the statement on the floor of the House.
And, the opposition parties also questioned the ‘timing’ of the Chief Minister’s statement: it was made at the fag end of the final day of the final session of the current Assembly which, for all practical purposes, ceased to function with elections due in two months.
“Why did the Congress government remain silent for about five years and not constitute such a committee much earlier,” Ramakrishnudu wondered.
“The Pranab Mukherjee Committee constituted by the UPA on Telangana was a farce. Now, the committee mooted by the Chief Minister is only a drama,” TDP deputy leader in the Assembly Nagam Janardhan Reddy remarked. It was a clear attempt by the Chief Minister to hoodwink the people of the Telangana region yet again, he alleged.
BJP floor leader G Kishan Reddy questioned the validity of the proposed committee when the Assembly itself would be dissolved soon. “It only re-established Rajasekhara Reddy’s intention to block the formation of Telangana state by any means,” he charged.
TRS MLA T Harish Rao remarked that by proposing the committee, Rajasekhara Reddy had “dug his own grave” besides leaving the hearts of Telangana people with a wound. “He will never be forgiven for the kind of treachery he has committed on Telangana,” Harish Rao added.
For the record, government whip Mallu Ravi asserted that the current Assembly would be in place for the next three months and hence the proposed committee could be formed. “Consent of the House is not required for forming the committee,” he maintained.

A pleasant outing for World Bank vice-chief

Desaraju Surya

Hyderabad: World Bank vice-president Katherine Sierra had a pleasant outing in a tiny village in Ranga Reddy district of Andhra Pradesh on February 9. Interaction with members of women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and the "tremendous progress" they have achieved under the Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas programme has left the top official from the World Bank "highly impressed." Katherine was in Andhra Pradesh on a day's visit to Mondegourelli village in Ranga Reddy district to study the implementation of the Dwcra scheme and the empowerment of women through various initiatives undertaken by the government. Aided by a high-level team of officials including World Bank's Indian co-ordinator Parmesh Shah, Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty chief executive officer T Vijay Kumar and Ranga Reddy district M Dana Kishore, Katherine went around some houses in the village under Yacharam revenue mandal and quizzed the SHG members about the thrift activities micro-finance facilities, employment-generation programmes, skill development activities and the overall functioning of the groups. The SHG members explained the novel three per cent interest scheme launched by the state government and the benefit accrued from it. The World Bank vice-president, in particular, was appreciative of the initiatives for the physically-challenged persons. Katherine also interacted with local farmers and learned about the innovative sustainable agricultural practices, including pesticide-free farming, adopted by them. She told the SHG members as well as the accompanying government officials that the World Bank would try to adopt certain features of the SHG movement in Andhra Pradesh while formulating programmes for women and child empowerment elsewhere.

Chandrababu-Rajasekhara Reddy: The spit fire

Desaraju Surya
Hyderabad: For two days, the Andhra Pradesh Assembly witnessed a war of words between Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and Leader of Opposition N Chandrababu Naidu. The issues on which the both crossed swords were: the Satyam Computers scandal, the Maytas projects, the Heritage Foods 'scam', the benami companies floated by Rajasekhara Reddy's son Y S Jaganmohan Reddy and the money laundering indulged in by Jagan, education of Chandrababu's son Lokesh in the United States with alleged funding from Satyam's Ramalinga Raju, the Rs one crore donation handed over to the NTR Trust by three fictitious companies floated by Ramalinga Raju and, of course, the way they brought up their sons.
Day one saw Chandrababu Naidu launch a vitriolic attack on Rajasekhara Reddy while the latter took his turn on the second day for retribution.
Launching a no-holds-barred attack on his arch rival Rajasekhara Reddy, the TDP president accused Andhra Pradesh government of shielding the "guilty" by "blocking" a CBI probe into the Satyam scandal. He also demanded that the Centre order an inquiry into the fraudulent financial transactions of companies promoted by Jaganmohan Reddy. Initiating a debate on the Satyam Computers scandal in the Assembly, the leader of opposition alleged that the Reddy government hastily ordered an inquiry by the Crime Investigation Department into the Satyam Computers scandal only to save its promoter B Ramalinga Raju. "When all major laws, including SEBI, FERA, FEMA, RBI and IT were violated and when the company's operations were spread over 66 countries, how can the CID investigation unearth the truth? It was a fit case for Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry as the national agency could have co-ordinated with the Interpol to probe deeper into the scandal," Naidu said. It was a clear attempt by the state government to shield the fraudsters through the CID probe which had no locus standi in the case, he lashed out. "The Congress high command has also blocked the CBI investigation into the Satyam scandal only to suppress facts and protect the guilty," he alleged. As the Congress MLAs shouted "Heritage, Heritage", apparently referring to the alleged financial irregularities in the company owned by Naidu's family, he hit back daring the government to conduct an inquiry. Naidu demanded a judicial probe by a sitting judge into the affairs of Satyam Computers, Maytas Infra, Maytas Properties and the 14 'benami' companies allegedly promoted by the CM's son and also Heritage Foods. "The SEBI rules were violated. FEMA, FERA and the RBI Acts have been violated and even the Income Tax Act was breached in the functioning of the 14 companies promoted by the Chief Minister's son. The Government of India should immediately conduct an inquiry," Naidu said. Naidu also took potshots at the CM over the "upbringing" of his son Jagan. He was also irritated by the Chief Minister's "smile". "Why do you laugh so viciously? Why are you staring at me in a furious manner? Would you like to hit me? Come on," he thundered."You (Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy) and Ramalinga Raju are similar in nature. Both of you want thousands of acres of land in your kitty. What will you do with such land," Naidu asked. "You better confess to your wrongdoings like Ramalinga Raju did. You too will get some respite from law," he said. Lashing out at Finance Minister K Rosaiah, Naidu said: "Had you, as an elderly man, cautioned YSR and kept a tab on his activities, he would not have landed in such a disgraceful position. But you remained like Dhritarashtra as YSR went about committing many mistakes."
On Day Two, the Chief Minister hit back strongly at the Leader of Opposition saying the latter's family members – promoters of Heritage Foods – too would meet with the same fate as Ramalinga Raju over the alleged financial fraud in the company.
"There is no difference between the financial scandal in Satyam Computers and Heritage Foods. Your family holds 33 per cent stake in Heritage and will land exactly where Ramalinga Raju has now landed (in the jail)," Rajasekhara Reddy said.
"Had he been alive, (Joseph) Goebbels (the late German propaganda minister) would have felt ashamed looking at you," an irate Chief Minister told the Opposition leader.
Rajasekhara Reddy squarely blamed Chandrababu Naidu for the Satyam scandal and the dubious rise of Ramalinga Raju. "Efforts to camouflage the financial irregularities in Satyam Computers and protect its promoters were made under your (Naidu) regime," the Chief Minister alleged and cited a letter written by RPI MP Ramdas Athavle in 2003 and also a report by income tax deputy director S Padmaja in 2002.
By enabling Ramalinga Raju share the dais with the then US President Bill Clinton on his trip to Hyderabad in 2000, Chandrababu as the then Chief Minister contributed to the significant rise of Satyam's share value. As the share value shot up, Ramalinga Raju and his family sold out their stake and purchased thousands of acres of land in the name of 300 companies, the Chief Minister pointed out.
Three benami companies floated by Ramalinga Raju had donated Rs one crore to the NTR Trust run by Chandrababu, he added.
Referring to the Satyam scandal, the Chief Minister noted: "This is a very, very sad story. No one had ever imagined that one of the top-4 software companies in the country would be mired in such a massive fraud. Failure of the Central agencies like SEBI in detecting the fraud is glaring."
Rajasekhara Reddy asserted that the Andhra Pradesh Crime Investigation Department "did its best" in investigating the fraud in Satyam following the disclosure by Ramalinga Raju.
"We have taken a clear and conscious decision to save the company and take its fraudulent management to task as it is the responsibility of both the state and the Central government to safeguard the interests of 53,000 employees," he added.
Rajasekhara Reddy challenged Chandrababu Naidu to complain to the appropriate agencies if there were any irregularities in the functioning of companies floated by his son Jagan.
"There is nothing amiss in the affairs of either Sandur Power Company or other subsidiaries floated by my son Jaganmohan Reddy and business partners. If there is anything wrong, you can approach the proper agencies with your complaint," the Chief Minister sought to say.
The Chief Minister questioned "what's wrong in it?" if shares of Sakshi newspaper floated by his son Jagan were sold at a higher price than the face value. "You find nothing wrong when Eenadu Telugu newspaper's share worth Rs 100 was sold at Rs 5,28,630. But you find fault when a Rs 10 worth share of Sandur Power was sold at Rs 71," Rajasekhara Reddy pointed out.
He alleged that Heritage Foods, a company promoted by Naidu's family, sold Rs 60 crore worth of land for a mere Rs 3 crore to a subsidiary Heritage Infra, thereby causing heavy loss to the shareholders.
"My son Jagan is being dragged into this controversy as he has exposed the fraudulent Heritage deals through his Sakshi newspaper. But this being the Assembly, I can't speak certain 'facts' about your son Lokesh," Rajasekhara Reddy said.
He went on to allege that Lokesh was a roommate of Ramalinga Raju's son in a US University. Naidu, however, rebutted this and said they studied in the same university but did not share a room.