Now, techies join the political bandwagon - The Hindu

Now, techies join the political bandwagon - The Hindu

Now, techies join the political bandwagon

B.V.S. BHASKAR

Barla Vijay

As if adding credence to fervent pleas made by several speakers and scholars on the imperativeness of educated people entering politics, five young techies - one with a post-graduate degree in engineering and the other four with bachelors’ degree - are contesting the Rajahmundry civic polls as official candidates and independents.

These political greenhorns successfully completed their campaign duty on Friday and are preparing for the all-important polling day on March 30.

Barla Vijay, who is a M. Tech from Andhra University, took the plunge as an independent from 1{+s}{+t}Division of the city. A keen activist known for his fight on social issues, Vijay came into the limelight while he was focussing on the Havelock Bridge issue. “I got offers from both the TDP and the YSRC. But, I want to contest as an independent. I know it will difficult to get funds on par with the ruling party corporators. Yet, I wish to contest as independent,” the techie said.

Paidimalla Mercy Priya is another young student of technology, contesting from 30{+t}{+h}Division on TDP ticket. She is a B. Tech student.

Minister and TDP senior leader Gorantla Butchaiah Chowdary said that there were three engineering graduates, two management graduates and another five post-graduates contesting on the party ticket.

“The present day trend shows that educated youngsters are willing to take up social responsibility by joining politics,” he added.

Majji Mounica Sudharani, who is contesting on TDP ticket from 6{+t}{+h}Division, is an engineer, and her party colleague M. Durga Srinivas, is a double graduate with B. Tech and MBA in finance degrees. He is in fray from 41{+s}{+t}Division.

Chintakunta Rajaneesh Reddyhas thrown in his hat in the ring as a TDP candidate from 20

Noble deed by Norwegian tourist - The Hindu

Noble deed by Norwegian tourist

b.V.S. BHASKAR 

Helge Edgar

Helge Edgar is a veteran tourist with 59 years of travelling experience and has covered almost 70 per cent of the globe. “Travelling is a broadening of mind, so travel more and broaden your minds,” is his slogan. He spends Christmas to May at his home in Norway and the rest of the year in some country in the world, mostly in India, which he likes quite a lot.

The 77-year old retired school teacher came to India three years ago and reached Velugubanda village on the outskirts of Rajahmundry to see Krishi Public School for underprivileged children.

Edgar, who has been suffering from prostate cancer for almost four years, had an interaction with Jayaraj and Shanti, principal and director of the school respectively, on helping out the children at Krishi Public school. He came to know about Chinni (10), daughter of V. Satyanaryana and Varalakshmi, agriculture labourers. Chinni joined only a few days ago as she is suffering from an umbilical hernia which occurs when part of the bowel or fatty tissue pokes through an area near the belly button (navel, umbilicus), pushing through a weak spot in the surrounding abdominal wall. The girl was taken to Niloufer Hospital in Hyderabad first and then she was referred to Chennai for major surgery to remove the part hanging outside the stomach. The cost of the surgery was estimated at Rs.20 lakh. Without giving a second thought, Helge Edgar asked his Norwegian bank to send a cheque to Global Hospital, Chennai, for Rs.20 lakh for surgery.

Chinni came back to Velugubanda village all smiles only two days ago and the entire village felicitated Helge Edgar who had contributed his hard earned money for an underprivileged girl who is living thousands of miles from his home.

“Only in India I found gratitude. Only here it is possible to see things like happiness in others, an inclusive attitude and a happy joint family system. It makes this country great,” says Edgar.

Only in India I found gratitude. Only here it is possible to see happiness in others, an inclusive attitude and happiness in joint family system. They make this country great

Town Hall in a shambles - The Hindu

Town Hall in a shambles

B.V.S. BHASKAR

Kandukuri’s Town Hall, the first town hall in the State with an open auditorium, constructed by social reformer Kandukuri Veeresalingam Pantulu in 1891, is an instance of the utter neglect of historical monuments in Rajahmundry.

The Town Hall now reminds one of those spooky buildings shown in horror movies. The structure that sits in the heart of the town, dedicated by the great social reformer for public purpose, is not serving the purpose at all. Pantulu had stated that of the two big rooms in the Town Hall, one should be allotted exclusively for playing billiards and another room would house a library. He had also said that the Trust Board had to maintain a flower garden and all the expenditure should be met from the rents coming from the six shops constructed in front of the Town Hall. Now, there are two table tennis boards where top national and international player Anchanta Kamal, his father and top player once practised.

The billiards room is now in shambles. In total, 35 to 40 youngsters come regularly to play on the two billiards boards, which are in poor condition. There is no coach to train these youngsters. Only one clerk is there who collects Rs. 40 a day from each player. With no one to oversee the functioning of the facility, some of the players even use ordinary bamboo sticks to shoot the ball. The library has hundreds of rare books.

There are no patrons and we fail every time in getting funds from the people’s representatives to develop the Town Hall.

Y.S. Naraismha Rao,Hitakarini Samajam secretary

For Sharmila, it is more than just ‘Eat n Play’ - The Hindu

SHE IS HIGHLY EDUCATED...ENTHUSIASTIC...PREPARING FOR CIVIL SERVICES....BUT IN YSRCP? READ ABOUT HER...WHO IS SHE



B.V.S. BHASKAR

 

M. Sharmila Reddy

When YSRC chief Jaganmohan Reddy called up Medapati Sharmila Reddy, a B.Tech graduate, on March 16 and offered her ticket to contest as Rajahmundry Corporator, her surprise knew no bounds.

Sharmila, her brother Chaitanya Reddy and a family friend, Datla V.L. Jyothi, runs ‘Eat n Play’ food court on A.V. Appa Rao Road near Spencer’s here.

Sharmila earned her B.Tech degree from SKR College, Bhimavaram, before doing MBA. “She also appeared for Civil Services and Group-I examinations. She is again preparing for the Civil Services Examination to make a second attempt,” said Datla V. Jyothi, her business partner.

After Sharmila was declared the YSRC’s official candidate by Jagan in Rajahmundry, the dissident group had ransacked the party office when Jagan was touring the district. “Though I am selling cakes in my Eat n Play food court, I know it is not cake walk for me in this election, as the opponent Telugu Desam candidate is strong. At the same time, I am not going to let off. As the Mayor election is indirect election, fortunes may turn in the last minute also. I am confident that I will win and will become the Mayor with a good background and education qualifications,” Sharmila said.

Though I am selling cakes in my Eat n Play food court, I know it is not cake walk for me in this election, as the opponent Telugu Desam candidate is strong. I am confident that I will win and will become the Mayor with a good background and education qualifications.

Marriage with a difference - The Hindu

Marriage with a difference

B.V.S. BHASKAR

 

Kiranmai and Sidharth donating blood in Rajahmundry on Wednesday .— Photo: S. RAMBABU

Voluntary blood donation camps are quite common these days. However, it is quite novel if a marriage occasion turns into a blood donation camp. Yes, it was happened in Rajahmundry on Wednesday. The guests and special invitees were surprised to see the bride and the groom in new clothes, donating blood along with the bride’s father and kith and kin. After seeing this, about 30 guests came forward to join the noble cause.

Bride Kiranmai was polio-stricken when she was four. Her father Malyala Atchutharamaiah and mother Venkata Naga Bala are her inspiration along with her guide and uncle Malladi Venkata Ramana Murthy, who is working as a Medical Officer in the municipal corporation. After her post-graduation she took up a private job and she is actively participating in social service. When her marriage was settled with Chittapragada Sidharth a few weeks ago Kiranmai wanted to celebrate it in a novel way. On the advice of Dr. Murthy and “Sanjeevani” voluntary blood donors organisation president Kotipalli Srinivas, the bride and groom agreed for voluntary blood donation during their marriage with the support of district Red Cross Society.

“It is for a social cause. As a girl I wanted to tell women to donate blood regularly without any inhibitions or doubts. Youth should take up the social responsibility, and I have to thank Sidharth for extending his support for this noble cause,” said Kiranmai, all smiles.

“It is going to be a memorable day not because I am marring Kiranmai, but we are doing it in a novel way with a message to society,” Sidharth added.

Pavan Kalyan’s move may tilt political equations - The Hindu

Pavan Kalyan’s move may tilt political equations - The Hindu