1940లో తిరిగి కొనుక్కుందామనుకున్నారు

Published at: 13-03-2014 00:35 AM

దాదాపు 250 ఏళ్ల క్రితం కోస్తా ఆంధ్ర, రాయలసీమ ప్రాంతాలు నిజాం పాలనలో ఉండేవని, ఆ తర్వాత వాటిని నిజాం రాజులు బ్రిటిష్ వారికి అప్పగించారని ఇప్పుడు తెలుగువాళ్లందరికీ తెలుసు. అయితే1940లో మళ్లీ వాటిని హైదరాబాద్ స్టేట్‌లోకి తిరిగి తీసుకురావడానికి ఒక ప్రయత్నం జరిగిందనేది ఎక్కువ మందికి తెలియకపోవచ్చు. ఈ ప్రయత్నంలో ఎంఐఎం వ్యవస్థాపకుడు బహదూర్ యార్ జంగ్ చాలా కీలక పాత్ర పోషించారు. చారిత్రక ప్రాధాన్యమున్న ఆ ఘట్టాన్ని- 'ద ఫాల్ అండ్ రైజ్ ఆఫ్ తెలంగాణ' పుస్తకంలో- ప్రముఖ జర్నలిస్టు గౌతమ్ పింగ్లే వివరించారు.

చరిత్రను జాగ్రత్తగా తరచి చూస్తే- రెండు వేర్వేరు ప్రాంతాలను విలీనం చేయాలనే కోరిక వెనక అనేక ఉద్దేశాలు కనబడతాయి. హైదరాబాద్‌కు సంబంధించి- 'ఫమ్ ఆటోక్రసీ టు ఇంటిగ్రేషన్- పొలిటికల్ డెవలప్‌మెంట్స్ ఇన్ హైదరాబాద్ స్టేట్' అనే పుస్తకంలో ల్యూసిియా డి. బెనిచో ఈ అంశాలను చాలా నిష్పాక్షికంగా పేర్కొంటాడు. నవాబ్ బహదూర్ యార్ జంగ్ 1929లో ఎంఐఎంను స్థాపించాడు. ఆయన ఎంతో ఉత్సాహవంతుడు, ధైర్యవంతుడు. ఏడవ నిజాంతోనే కాకుండా కాంగ్రెస్‌కు చెందిన ఎం.నరసింగరావుతోను, హిందుమహాసభకు చెందిన ఇతర ప్రముఖులతోను నేరుగా చర్చలు జరపగలిగిన సామర్థ్యం ఉన్నవాడు. నాటి హైదారాబాద్ రాజకీయాలలో నిజాం, బహదూర్ జంగ్‌లిద్దరే ప్రధాన పాత్రధారులు. వీరిద్దరి జుగల్‌బందీ- 1944, జూన్ 25వ తేదీన జంగ్ హఠాత్తుగా మరణించేదాకా సాగింది. జంగ్ మరణించే సమయానికి అతని వయస్సు 39 సంవత్సరాలే. గతంలో నిజాం వద్ద ఉండి, ఆ తర్వాత బ్రిటిష్ వారి అధీనంలోకి వెళ్లిన ప్రాంతాలను తిరిగి కలిపేసుకోవాలని ఎంఐఎం కోరుకొనేది. 1766, 1778లో రెండో నిజాం తన అధీనంలో ఉన్న ఉత్తర సర్కారును (ప్రస్తుత కోస్తా ఆంధ్రప్రదేశ్‌ను) ఈస్ట్ ఇండియా కంపెనీకి ఏడాది ఐదు లక్షల రూపాయలకు అద్దెకు ఇచ్చాడు. 1800లో రాయలసీమ ప్రాంతాన్ని కూడా బ్రిటిష్ వారికి అప్పగించాడు. (అందుకే ఈ ప్రాంతాన్ని ఇప్పటికీ సీడెడ్ అని పిలుస్తారు). 55 ఏళ్ల తర్వాత మూడో నిజాంకు డబ్బు అవసరమొచ్చి కోస్తా జిల్లాలను ఈస్ట్ ఇండియా కంపెనీకి 1.6 కోట్ల రూపాయలకు విక్రయించాడు.
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1940 సెప్టెంబర్‌లో బహదూర్ జంగ్ ఈ ఒప్పందాలన్నింటినీ తిరగదోడాలని ప్రతిపాదించాడు. సర్కారు జిల్లాలను, సీడెడ్‌ను హైదరాబాద్ రాష్ట్రానికి తిరిగి అప్పచెబితే- బ్రిటిష్‌వారికి 4 కోట్ల పౌండ్లను చెల్లిస్తామని ప్రతిపాదించాడు. కోస్తా ఆంధ్ర, రాయలసీమలలో ఉన్న స్థానిక ముస్లిములు ఈ ప్రతిపాదనకు సమ్మతి తెలిపారు కాని తెలుగు మాట్లాడే హిందువులు మాత్రం ఈ ప్రతిపాదనను వ్యతిరేకించారు. ఆ సమయంలో బ్రిటిష్ వారికి డబ్బు అవసరం చాలా ఉంది. అప్పుడు బ్రిటన్‌ను జర్మన్ వాయుసేనలు చుట్టుముట్టి లండన్ వంటి నగరాలపై బాంబులు కురిపిస్తున్నాయి. జర్మనీ బ్రిటన్‌ను ఆక్రమించుకుంటుందనే వార్తలు కూడా వినిపిస్తున్నాయి. అందువల్ల ఈ ప్రతిపాదన వారు అంగీకరించే అవకాశం ఉందనుకున్నారు. ఆ సమయంలో 1940 అక్టోబర్‌లో 'ది స్టేట్స్ పీపుల్' అనే కాంగ్రెస్ పత్రిక- 'ఆంధ్రదేశం ఫుట్‌బాల్‌కాదు ఎక్కడికి పడితే అక్కడికి తన్నటానికి. కొనుగోలు పేరుతో లేదా బహుమతి పేరుతో జరిగే ఈ బదిలీ చిన్న విషయం కాదు. 1.8 కోట్ల మంది ఆంధ్ర ప్రజల స్వేచ్ఛకు, వారి జీవితాలకు సంబంధించిన అంశం. ఒక్క రోజులో వారందరినీ ఒక చోట నుంచి పెకలించి, ప్రజాస్వామ్య జలాలతో తడవని బీడు నేలలలో పాతలేరు..' అని వ్యాఖ్యానించింది.
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బహదూర్ జంగ్‌కు, నిజాంకు ఇది భూమికి సంబంధించిన క్రయవిక్రయం మాత్రమే. 150 ఏళ్ల క్రితం నిజాం పూర్వీకులు ఈ ప్రాంతాలను ఈస్ట్ ఇండియా కంపెనీకి విక్రయించినప్పుడు ఎలా ప్రజల ఆకాంక్షలను పరిగణనలోకి తీసుకోలేదో ఇప్పుడూ అంతే. బ్రిటన్ చేస్తున్న యుద్ధానికి ఏడో నిజాం అప్పటికే భారీగా విరాళాలు ఇచ్చాడు. శత్రు సేనలను ఛిన్నాభిన్నం చేయటానికి ఒక యుద్ధ నౌకను (డిస్ట్రాయర్) అందించాడు (దీనికి హెచ్ఎంఏఎస్ నిజాం అని పేరు పెట్టారు). హైదరాబాద్ స్టేట్ నుంచి 50 వేల పౌండ్లు, తాను వ్యక్తిగతంగా మరో 5 లక్షల రూపాయలను కూడా విరాళంగా ఇచ్చాడు. నిజాం దగ్గర ధనం ఉంది. బ్రిటిష్ వారికి అది అవసరం.
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1942, జనవరి ఒకటవ తేదీన జాల్నాలో జరిగిన ఎంఐఎం 13వ వార్షిక సమావేశాలలో బహదూర్ జంగ్ 15 వేల మంది ప్రతినిధుల ముందు ఈ డిమాండ్‌ను మరొక సారి పునరుద్ఘాటించాడు. ఫిబ్రవరి 1వ తేదీన మద్రాసు నుంచి వెలువడే డక్కన్ టైమ్స్- 'బహదూర్ జంగ్ డిమాండ్‌ల పట్ల బ్రిటిష్ ప్రభుత్వం సానుకూలంగా ఉంది. ఈ మేరకు ఒక నోటిఫికేషన్ అతి త్వరలోనే వెలువడుతుంది' అని పేర్కొంది. ఈ సమయంలోనే (1942లో) మచిలీపట్నం జర్నలిస్టుల అసోసియేషన్- 'ఉత్తర సర్కారు జిల్లాల్లో భాగంగా ఉన్న మచిలీపట్నంలోని ఏ ప్రాంతాన్ని కూడా నిజాంకు ఎటువంటి పరిస్థితుల్లోను తిరిగి ఇవ్వకూడదు..' అని తీర్మానం చేసింది. ఈలోగా బ్రిటిష్ పాలకులే కోస్తా, రాయలసీమ ప్రాంతాలను హైదరాబాద్ స్టేట్‌కు తిరిగి ఇవ్వటానికి నిరాకరించటంతో ఆ వివాదం అంతటితో ఆగిపోయింది. బహదూర్ జంగ్ ప్రతిపాదనను- తెలుగు వారందరినీ ఒకే ప్రభుత్వం కిందకు తేవాలనే ప్రయత్నంగా కూడా మనం చూడవచ్చు. కాని 1939-42 మధ్య కాలంలో అది కోస్తా ఆంధ్ర, రాయలసీమ ప్రజలకు ఆమోదయోగ్యం కాలేదు. అయితే పదేళ్ల తర్వాత నిజాం తన రాజ్యాన్ని కోల్పోయిన తర్వాత- వీరే తెలంగాణాలో తమ ప్రాంతాల్ని విలీనం చేయటానికి ఉత్సాహంగా ముందుకొచ్చారు.

Source: ఆంధ్రజ్యోతి

Safeguarding the many histories of India

Opinion » Op-Ed    March 8, 2014
Updated: March 8, 2014 01:27 IST

Chapal Mehra

Wendy Doniger’s book was Penguin’s to protect but freedom of expression is ours to safeguard; our responsibility is collective and so should be our response

It’s hard to tell the truth, harder still to accept it. The truth by its very nature is neither polite nor palatable. But for a country that equates the truth with victory, we seem to be increasingly intolerant of it. A growing conservatism seems to be upon us with the intention to reduce our ability to debate, argue and differ. The recent out-of-court-settlement between Penguin India and a right wing Hindu outfit that resulted in the decision to pulp a scholarly work on Hinduism by Wendy Doniger signals the growing dominance of a conservative and intolerant section of Indian society.

This conservatism can be traced as far back as the ban on Salman Rushdie’s The Satanic Verses. The ban is significant because it provided political legitimacy to intolerance and censorship. The fundamentalists were quick to realise the need to manufacture intolerance and attack our diversity and freedom of expression, their arch enemies, on the basis of religion. Not surprisingly, since then, the attacks on our cultural freedoms have only increased.

A quick skim through recent acts of cultural intimidation is revealing. Oxford University Press, a leading academic publisher, buckled rapidly under pressure and withdrew an excellent academic book on Shivaji because it hurt regional sentiments. India’s noted painter M.F. Hussain lived and died in exile, hounded by fundamentalists because of what he painted decades ago. But the most recent and shameful act was when India’s celebrated poet academic A.K. Ramanujan’s work on the Ramayana was removed from the Delhi University syllabus and later withdrawn from print by OUP.
Disallowing diversity

What do we learn from these arbitrary acts of censorship, cultural intimidation and bullying? That most institutions charged with protecting our diversity of thought and freedoms of expression are buckling under this conservatism. How can a leading publisher acquiesce so easily to bullying or the possibility of an adverse court ruling? By choosing to pulp or withdraw their books they seem to agree that an alternative narrative cannot exist. Clearly, they have abandoned their role as guardians of ideas and the written word.

Yet, is the publisher alone to blame? The courts of late seem strangely inclined towards conservatism. Politicians, across the board, lead this conservatism. They want to regulate the media, censor books and ban movies. But most disturbingly, we as a people seem least interested in the truth and comfortably numb in our pursuit of attainment and entertainment. What should we as a liberal, secular and tolerant India do?

Protest. This book was Penguin’s to protect but the freedom of expression is ours to safeguard. Our responsibility here is collective and so should be our response. Authors and writers have already urged Penguin to take this matter to a higher court. This settlement and every other act of oppression should be challenged in court and outside to assert our identity as a diverse and tolerant people who celebrate not silence but alternative histories and perspectives.

Groups like Shiksha Bachao Andolan Samiti must be made to realise that this form of cultural bullying or censorship is acutely un-Indian and will not be tolerated. In India, we have always had many histories. Far from being a source of conflict, these have strengthened our diversity and philosophical thinking. Where others see conflict, we have seen interdependence and tolerance — an idea deeply embedded in the Indian nation.

These groups, who also misrepresent Hinduism, must be made to realise that their action is also deeply un-Hindu. The religion has within itself sufficient conflicting history, ideology and philosophy. While there are commonalities, no single deity, book or idea defines Hinduism. Hence, there can never be one Hindu way or one Hindu history. To try and reduce the religion to a single history is to insult Hinduism itself. Every Hindu must speak up to defend the plurality and inclusiveness of this religion.
Defence against offense

Finally, to ban or withdraw any book, without sufficient discussion or dissent, is to diminish and offend the reader. Such an action seems to suggest that either the Indian reader does not have the capacity to handle diverse ideas of religious history or should not have access to diverse and alternative histories. We must protest to defend our right to read and independently judge the truth and merit of each argument because our right to ideas is the most fundamental freedom any civilised society offers.

This conservatism that arm-twisted Penguin into pulping this book must be made to realise that India’s diversity is non-negotiable. If we don’t fight this, our ability to debate and argue will slowly vanish. We will then be left with only one version of history and a broken idea of Indianness, because it’s not about Hinduism or Doniger but what we represent as a people. If we cannot exist with tolerance and diversity, what else defines being Indian?

(Chapal Mehra is an independent New Delhi-based writer.)

Source: The Hindu

శ్రీ కౌముది మార్చి 2014

నాకూ సంబురం లేదు - కంచ ఐలయ్య

Published at: 01-03-2014 07:30 AM

దేశానికి స్వాతంత్య్రం వచ్చిననాడు గాంధీ, అంబేద్కర్, నెహ్రూ ఎవరూ గుర్రాలు, ఒంటెల్ని ఎక్కి ఊరేగి సంబురాలు జరుపలేదు. ఫిబ్రవరి 26న హైదరాబాద్‌లో ఫ్యూఢలిజం ఎంత పూనకంతో ఎగిరిందో మనమంతా చూశాం. ప్రజలు కోరుకునే నాయకులెవరూ ఇటువంటి సంబురాలు చెయ్యరు. కనుకనే తెలంగాణ జాగ్రత్తగా ఉండాల్సిన అవసరముంది.

ఆంధ్రప్రదేశ్ రెండుగా విడిపోయింది. తెలంగాణలో పై వర్గాలు సంబురాలు చేసుకుంటుంటే, సీమాంధ్ర ప్రాం తాల్లో పై వర్గాల్లో విషాదం కనిపిస్తుంది. నేను తెలంగాణ వాణ్ణి. చిన్నప్పటినాటి చదువురీత్యా తెలుగు వాణ్ణి, భారతీయుడిని. ఈ ప్రక్రియ అంతటితో నాకు సంబురపడాలనే తపన కలుగలేదు. కొంతమంది అంటున్నట్లు తెలుగు ప్రజలు విడిపోయినందుకు కాదు. నేను తెలుగువాదిని కాదు, ఆంగ్ల భాషా అభివృద్ధి వాదిని.

రాష్ట్రాలు విడిపోవడం, రెండు దేశాల మధ్య సంఘర్షణ వాతావరణాన్ని ఇరు పక్కల సృష్టించడానికి నేను వ్యతిరేకం. శారీరక పోరాటాల కంటే రెండు ప్రాంతాల మధ్య ఒక మానసిక పోరాటం జరగడం, ప్రజాస్వామిక వాతావరణం దెబ్బతిని, ప్రజల మధ్య ద్వేషాలు పెరుగడం... ఈ క్రమంలో జరిగిన పెద్ద నష్టం. నష్టాన్ని పూడ్చడానికి మానవత్వం కీలకమౌతుంది.

ఇరుపక్షాల్లో ఇది ప్రజలందరి పోరాటం అని చెప్పినప్పటికీ రెండు ప్రాంతాల ఆధిపత్య వర్గాలు, కులాలు ఒక యుద్ధ వాతావరణాన్ని సృష్టించాయి. ఒక ప్రాంతపు ఫ్యూఢల్ శక్తులు, మరో ప్రాంతపు పెట్టుబడి ఆధిపత్య శక్తులు గత మూడేళ్లుగా బాహాబాహీకి దిగాయి. ఈ నరాల యుద్ధం టీవీల్లో జరిగింది. అది అన్ని ప్రాంతాల శ్రమ జీవుల్ని, ముఖ్యంగా దళితుల్ని, ఆదివాసుల్ని, వెనుకబడిన తరగతుల వారిని గందరగోళపర్చింది. చివరికి బిల్లు రెండుసభల్లో అదే మానసిక యుద్ధ వాతావరణంలో పాసవ్వడంతో పరిస్థితి భీకర మానసిక ఉప్పెన ఆగిపోయి ఒక పక్క కొంత సంబురాలు, మరోపక్క కొంత ఓటమి ఓదార్పుల్లో ప్రజలున్నారు. ఈ స్థితిలో 1956 నుంచి 2014 నాటి ఈ ప్రజలు సమైక్య రాష్ట్రంలో ఉన్నప్పుడు లాభనష్టాలు మరో కోణం నుంచి అంచనా వేయాలి.

1956 ముందు తెలంగాణ గ్రామాల్లో పాఠశాలలు లేవు. ఇక్కడి భూస్వామ్య శక్తులు సైతం ఆధునిక విద్య లేక బడులే బందీఖానాలనే స్థితిలో ఉన్నారు. సీమాంధ్ర ప్రాం తంలో బ్రిటిష్ వలసవాదం, క్రిస్టియన్ మిషనరీలు విద్యను ఆదర్శవంతమైందిగా, ఆంగ్ల విద్యను అవకాశాల పట్టుకొమ్మగా ప్రచారం చేశారు. ఆ విలువలు గ్రామ స్థాయి వరకు పాకివున్నాయి. ఆనాడు రాష్ట్రం సమైక్యతను సంతరించుకోకపోతే తెలంగాణలోని భూస్వామ్య పాలక వర్గాలు దాని అభివృద్ధిని ఆకాంక్షించే వారే కాదు. రాజకీయ పాలకులే కాక అటునుంచి హైదరాబాదుకొచ్చిన బ్యూరాక్రటిక్ శక్తులు విద్యాకాంక్ష కొంత ప్రయోజనం ఒనగూర్చింది.

సమైక్యరాష్ట్ర అభివృద్ధి క్రమంలో కమ్మ మైగ్రెంట్స్ (ఎక్కువగా క్రైస్తవ మైగ్రెంట్స్) ఈ ప్రాంతం వచ్చి సెటిల్ అయ్యారు. వరంగల్, ఖమ్మం, నిజామాబాద్, ఆదిలాబాద్ జిల్లాల్లో వీరి ప్రభావం వ్యవసాయం ఆధునికత మీద, అంటరానితనాన్ని తగ్గించడంలో విద్యా వ్యాప్తిని పెంచడంలో చాలా వుంది. ఇక్కడి కరుడుకట్టిన రెడ్డి, వెలమ భూస్వామ్య సంస్కృతికి, క్రైస్తవ కమ్మల సంస్కృతికి చాలా తేడా ఉం డేది, ఉన్నది. ఉదాహరణకు చెన్నరావుపేట మండలంలోని తిమ్మారావు గ్రామసంస్కృతి పరిశీలిస్తే ఈనాటికీ తేడాతెలుస్తుంది. ఆ గ్రామ ప్రభావం మొత్తం తాలూకా మీద పడిందంటే అతిశయోక్తికాదు. ఇన్ని పోరాటాలు, ఒడిదుడుకుల మధ్య కూడా విద్యారంగం తెలంగాణలో ఈ స్థాయికైనా ఎదిగిందంటే సమైక్యత ఫలితమని చెప్పక తప్పదు.

విద్యారంగం, ఆధునిక వ్యవసాయం, పట్టణ సంస్కృతి, తిండి, బట్ట వంటి వాటిలో ముందంజలో ఉన్న వారి ప్రభావం వెనుకబడిన వారిమీద పడుతుంది. తెలంగాణ భూస్వాములకు విద్యలో పోటీపడాలనే ఆలోచన సమైక్యతలో వచ్చిందే. అయితే ఇక్కడి భూస్వామ్య వర్గంలో ఈనాటికీ సాంఘిక సంస్కరణ లేదు. అందుకే వీళ్ళు 'తెలంగాణ పునర్నిర్మాణ'మంటే ఇక్కడి నుంచి విద్యారంగాన్ని, జీవన విధానాన్ని, ఆంగ్లేయ విద్యను మళ్ళీ వెనక్కి తీసుకుపోవడమా అనే అనుమానం నాకైతే ఉన్నది.

గత నాలుగేళ్ళు తెలంగాణలోని మూడు అగ్ర కులాలు సంపూర్ణ ఐక్యతను సాధించాయి. ఇక్కడి భూస్వామ్య వర్గానికి ఒక రాజకీయపార్టీ వచ్చింది. సంఘ సంస్కరణతో ముడివడని ఏ రాజకీయ ఉద్యమమైనా అగ్రకుల ఆధిపత్యాన్నే పెంచుతుంది.

రాజకీయ రంగంలో సమైక్యత వలనే జరిగిన కొన్ని కీలక మార్పులున్నాయి. అందులో ముఖ్యమైనవి పటేల్, పట్వారీల రద్దు. అవి రద్దు చేసిన రోజుల్లో ఎన్.టి.రామారావు పాలన మీద ఇక్కడి రెడ్డి, వెలమ, బ్రాహ్మణులు ఎంత కోపంగా ఉన్నారో మనకు తెలుసు. దీనికి తోడు తాలూకాలను రద్దుచేసి మండలాలను ఏర్పర్చడం. ఇది కూడా ఇక్కడి భూస్వామ్య ఆధిపత్యం మీద పెద్దదెబ్బ తీసింది. ఈ వ్యవస్థ ఎన్నికల రంగంలోకి ఒక కొత్తదనాన్ని తీసుకొచ్చిపెట్టింది. ఈ వ్యవస్థను పునర్నిర్మాణం పేరుతో ముందుకు తీసుకెళ్తారో, వెనక్కి తీసుకెళ్తారో తెలియదు. తెలంగాణలో ఇప్పుడు మాత్రం భూస్వాములను ప్రశ్నించే చైతన్యం జీరోస్థాయికి చేరుకొని వున్నది. ఇది టీఆర్ఎస్ ఘనత. తెలంగాణ భూస్వాములు ఆ పార్టీకి చాలాకాలం విధేయులుగా ఉంటారు. అది కాంగ్రెస్‌లో విలీనమైనా ఆ శక్తులదే పైచేయి.

దళిత బహుజన చైతన్యం 1985లో కారంచేడు సంఘటన తరువాత ఒకరూపం దిద్దుకుని తెలంగాణజిల్లాల్లోకి పాకింది కూడా ఆంధ్ర జిల్లాల్లో పుట్టిపెరిగిన అంబేద్కరిజం వల్లనే. నాలాటి వాళ్ళకెంతో మందికి బొజ్జా తారకం, కత్తి పద్మారావు, జెబీ రాజు వంటివారి నుంచి అంబేద్కరిజంపై పాఠాలు నేర్చుకునే అవకాశం దొరికింది. ఇది సమైక్య రాష్ట్రమై ఉండకపోతే ఆ బంధమేర్పడేది కాదు. ఆ తరువాత వచ్చిన మాదిగ దండోరా చుట్టూ ఏర్పడిన పెద్ద సంస్కరణ చైతన్యం సమైక్యరాష్ట్రంలో వచ్చింది. కృష్ణ మాదిగ తెలంగాణవాడైనా, ఆ చైతన్యం పునాదులు ఒంగోలులో పడ్డాయి.

అంతకంటే ముఖ్యంగా వాళ్ళు తమ తమ పేరు మార్పిడి, మాదిగ వాడల్లో ఆత్మగౌరవ పాఠాలు నేర్చుకున్న విలువలు అటు నుంచి ఇటు దిగుమతి అయినవే. టీడీపీ ఓట్ల రాజకీయం కోసమే అయినా రిజర్వేషన్ వర్గీకరణ వచ్చాక దాన్ని అమలు చేయించుకునే ఉద్యమం రాష్ట్రాన్ని ఊపేసింది. దానికి 2009డిసెంబర్ ప్రకటన తరువాత తెలంగాణ ఇస్తామని కేంద్రం ప్రకటించిన అనంతరం వచ్చిన ఉద్యమానికి చాలా పోలిక ఉన్నది. అయితే మాదిగ దండోరా ఉద్యమానికి బలమైన సాంఘిక సంస్కరణ లక్షణమున్నది.. ఒకప్పుడు కమ్మ క్రిస్టియన్లు మైగ్రెంట్స్‌గా వచ్చి తెలంగాణలో మార్పు తెచ్చినట్లే మాదిగ దండోరా ఉద్యమంలో బలమైన భూమికను పోషించింది క్రిస్టియన్ మాదిగలు.

నాకు తెలిసి తెలంగాణలో ఒక్క భాగ్యరెడ్డివర్మ ఉద్యమంలో -అదీ సంస్కృతీకరించబడ్డ రూపంలో తప్ప కులాలను కదలించిన ఉద్యమాలు పుట్టలేదు. అందుకుకారణం తెలంగాణ భూస్వాముల్లో సంఘ సంస్కర్తలు ఎదక్కపోవడం. ఆ రకంగా మాదిగ దండోరాతో వచ్చిన చైతన్యం అనన్యసామాన్యమైంది. దానితో రాష్ట్రంలోని మాలలు కొంత ఇబ్బంది పడ్డప్పటికీ అది తెలంగాణ జిల్లాల్ని, గ్రామాల్ని ఏ ఉద్యమం చెయ్యనంత మార్పుకు గురిచేసింది.

రాష్ట్రాలు విడిపోయాక రాష్ట్రాల అభివృద్ధికి విద్యారంగం మూలం. దీన్ని గత పదేళ్లుగా తెలంగాణ ప్రాంతంలో కుప్పకూల్చారు. రాష్ట్ర సాధన రాజకీయరంగానికి వదిలివేయకుండా విద్యారంగం బాధ్యతగా చిత్రీకరించారు. అందువల్లే విద్యార్థులు, ఉపాధ్యాయులు రోజూ రోడ్ల మీద ఉన్నారు. దీనివల్ల రేపు అధికారంలో ఉండే ఫ్యూఢల్ శక్తులకు పెద్దగా నష్టం ఉండదు. కానీ తెలంగాణ ప్రాంతపు దళిత బహుజన వర్గాల్లో ఒక బలమైన బ్యూరాక్రటిక్ క్లాస్ రూపొందదు. జీతం తీసుకునే ఉద్యోగులు మాత్రమే కాదు, ప్రతినిత్యం పనితనాన్ని, జ్ఞానాన్ని పెంచుకుంటూ వ్యవస్థ సమర్థతను పెంచే ఉద్యోగ వ్యవస్థ ఏర్పడాలి. దానికి బ్యూరాక్రటిక్ డిసిప్లిన్ చాలా అవసరం. అది అభివృద్ధి కావాలంటే పాలక వర్గం దూరదృష్టికలదిగా తయారవ్వాలి.

గత అరవై ఏళ్ల నుంచి తెలంగాణ ఫ్యూఢల్ వ్యవస్థ ఎందుకు బలహీన పడలేదు? పెట్టుబడిదారీ వర్గం ఎందుకు ఏర్పడలేదు? మున్ము ందు ఏర్పడ్డా దాని కుల వర్గ స్వభావం ఎలా ఉంటుంది? అనే ప్రశ్నలు కీలకమైనవి. ఇంతకాలం ప్రతి దానికి ఆంధ్రులను తిట్టిన శక్తులకు ఇక్కడ అభివృద్ధి కాముక మేధావివర్గాన్ని డెవలప్‌చేసే వ్యవస్థలు రూపొందకపోతే తెలంగాణ ఇంకా వెనక్కిపోతుంది అని తెలుసు.

ఇక్కడి అగ్రకుల రాజకీయ శక్తులు తెలుగుదేశం అధికారంలో ఉన్న కాలాన్నంతా తీవ్రంగా ద్వేషించుకున్నాయి. ఆ కాలంలో కింది కుల ప్రాతినిధ్యం కాస్తా పెరిగింది. ఇప్పుడంతే కసితో ఎస్.సి., ఎస్.టి.లను ముఖ్యంగా బీసీలను అణగదొక్కాలనే శక్తులు తెలంగాణ ఉద్యమకాలమంతా బలపడ్డాయి. అగ్రకుల ఆధిపత్యాన్ని అడ్డుకోగలిగే కింది కులరాజకీయ శక్తులు ఎదుగలేదు. మీడియా కూడా వాటిని ఎదగనివ్వకుండా జాగ్రత్తపడుతున్నది. మీడియా తల్చుకుంటే నాయకుల్ని ఎలా తయారు చెయ్యగలదో కేజ్రీవాల్ ఎదుగుదల మంచి ఉదాహరణ.

అగ్రకుల నాయకత్వం వైరుద్ధ్యాల్లో ఉన్నప్పుడు దళిత బహుజన నాయకత్వం ఎదగడం కొంత సులభం. ఆ స్థితి కోస్తాంధ్రలో కాంగ్రెస్ పార్టీ చుట్టూ కొంత కనబడుతంది. అక్కడి ప్రాంతీయ పార్టీలు ముగ్గురు అగ్రకుల నాయకుల చేతుల్లో ఉండడంతో కాంగ్రెసు కిందికులాల మీద ఆధారపడక తప్పదు. కానీ తెలంగాణలో పరిస్థితి అది కాదు. టీడీపీ కూడా ఒక బీసీనో, ఎస్.సి.నో బలమైన నాయకుడుగా ఎదుగనిచ్చే పరిస్థితి కనబడటం లేదు. ముందు ముందు వాళ్ల అవసరాలరీత్యా సీమాంధ్ర ప్రాంత నాయకులు కూడా, తెలంగాణ అగ్ర కులాలతో గూడుపుఠాణీ చేసే అవకాశమే ఎక్కువ ఉన్నది.

టీఆర్ఎస్, కాంగ్రెస్‌లో చేరకుండా ఉంటే రాష్ట్రం సాధించిన ప్రతిష్ఠను ఒక్క అగ్రకులం మూటకట్టుకొని మిగతా రెండు అగ్రకులాలను (రెడ్డి, బ్రాహ్మణ) తాబేదార్ల ద్వారా బుజ్జగించి కింది కులాలను తొక్కేసి ఆ ప్రక్రియకు పునర్‌నిర్మాణం అని పేరు పెట్టే అవకాశం లేకపోలేదు. అది కాంగ్రెస్‌లో విలీనమైతే పరిస్థితి కొంత వేరుగా ఉంటుంది.

రాష్ట్రం ఏర్పడ్డాకే సామాజిక న్యాయం గురించి మాట్లాడాలి అన్న మేధావులు కొత్త రాష్ట్రంలో కుటుంబ ప్రయోజనాలకే అధిక ప్రాధాన్యమిచ్చే అవకాశం లేకపోలేదు. దిక్కులేని శక్తులు కమ్యూనిస్టుల మీదనో, విప్లవకారుల మీదనో ఆధారపడే అవకాశం లేదు. ఆ శక్తులన్నీ 'జై తెలంగాణ' జెండాలు మోసి కనిపించకుండా పోయాయి. కొద్దో, గొప్పో ఉన్నవి అగ్రకులాల అనుబంధంతో ఉన్నాయి.

దేశానికి స్వాతంత్య్రం వచ్చిననాడు కూడా గాంధీ, అంబేద్కర్, నెహ్రూ ఎవరూ గుర్రాలు, ఒంటెల్ని ఎక్కి ఊరేగి సంబురాలు జరుపలేదు. కానీ ఫిబ్రవరి 26న హైదరాబాద్‌లో ఫ్యూఢలిజం ఎంత పూనకంతో ఎగిరిందో మనమంతా చూశాం. ప్రజలు కోరుకునే నాయకులెవరూ ఇటువంటి సంబురాలు చెయ్యరు. కనుకనే తెలంగాణ జాగ్రత్తగా ఉండాల్సిన అవసరముంది. సీమాంధ్ర ప్రజల్లో ముఖ్యంగా శ్రమ జీవుల్లో, బరువు బాధ ఉంటే, రెండు రాష్ట్రాల్లోని వారంతా కలిసి కష్టాలు పంచుకుందామని చెప్పాల్పిన అవసరం ఎంతైనా ఉన్నది.

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సుప్రసిద్ధ రచయిత, సామాజిక శాస్త్రవేత్త

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తెలంగాణ వచ్చింది.. బిడ్డ లేడాయే

Published at: 28-02-2014 04:07 AM

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ఆదుకునే వారు లేక దుర్భర జీవనం

సిరిసిల్ల, ఫిబ్రవరి 27: తెలంగాణ వస్తే కష్టాలు తీరుతాయన్నాడు. బాధలు తొలగుతాయని కన్నతల్లికి భరోసా ఇచ్చాడు. తెలంగాణ రానే వచ్చింది. కానీ ఆ తల్లికి దుఃఖం మిగిలింది. కష్టాలు తీర్చుతానన్న ఒక్కగానొక్క కొడుకు కనుమరుగయ్యాడు. తెలంగాణ కోసం ఆత్మత్యాగం చేసుకుని అమరుడయ్యాడు. కరీంనగర్ జిల్లా సిరిసిల్లలో ఆత్మాహుతికి పాల్పడిన విద్యార్థి వెంకటేశం తల్లి విజయ దీనగాథ ఇది. భర్త నర్సయ్య అనారోగ్యంతో మృతి చెందడంతో బీడీలు చుడుతూ కొడుకును చదివించింది. అతన్ని ప్రయోజకుడిని చేయాలని తపించింది. పదో తరగతి వరకు ప్రభుత్వ పాఠశాలలోనే వెంకటేశం 500పైగా మార్కులు తెచ్చుకుని అందరి మన్ననలు పొందాడు. కొడుకుపై ఎన్నో ఆశలు పెంచుకున్న విజయ.. 2010లో అతన్ని ప్రైవేట్ కాలేజీలో చేర్పించింది. అప్పటినుంచి వెంకటేశానికి పరిచయాలు పెరిగాయి. తెలంగాణ ఉద్యమం తీవ్ర స్థాయిలో ఉన్న దశలో అన్ని కార్యక్రమాల్లో చురుగ్గా పాల్గొనడం మొదలుపెట్టాడు.

తెలంగాణ మీటింగ్‌లు ఎక్కడ జరిగినా వెళ్లేవాడు. దీక్షలు జరిగితే దండలు వేసుకొని కూర్చునే వాడు. బాగా చదువుకోవాలని తల్లి చెబితే.. అంతకంటే తెలంగాణ ముఖ్యమని బదులిచ్చేవాడు. అప్పటికే వెంకటేశం తండ్రి అనారోగ్యంతో మంచాన పడ్డాడు. తల్లి బీడీలు చుడుతూ ఇంటిని పోషిస్తోంది. చిన్న రేకుల షెడ్డులో నివాసం. తెలంగాణ ధర్నాలు జరుగుతున్న సమయంలోనే 2010 డిసెంబర్‌లో భర్త చనిపోయాడు. తల్లీకొడుకులిద్దరూ మానసిక వేదనతో కుంగిపోయారు. తండ్రి మరణంతో ఇంటిపట్టునే ఉన్న వెంకటేశం టీవీకే అతుక్కుపోయాడు. తెలంగాణ వార్తలనే చూస్తూ గడిపాడు. తెలంగాణపై జరుగుతున్న పరిణామాలు, తలెత్తుతున్న అనుమానాలతో వెంకటేశం కలత చెందాడు. రాష్ట్రం వస్తుందో లేదోనని ఆందోళనకు గురయ్యాడు. 2010 డిసెంబర్ 23న ఉదయమే తెలంగాణ ధర్నా ఉందని చెప్పి బయటకు వెళ్లాడు. సిరిసిల్ల బస్టాండ్ సమీపంలోని కొత్త పెట్రోల్ బంక్ వద్ద రోడ్డుపైనే జై తెలంగాణ నినాదాలు చేస్తూ ఒంటిపై కిరోసిన్ పోసుకున్నాడు. నిప్పుకణికగా మారి కూడా తెలంగాణ నినాదాలను ఆపలేదు. స్థానికులు అతన్ని ఆసుపత్రికి తరలించినా ప్రయోజనం లేకపోయింది.

అండగా నిలుస్తాడనుకున్న కొడుకు మృతితో విజయ గుండెలు పగిలేలా రోదించింది. ఒకే నెలలో భర్తను, బిడ్డను పోగొట్టుకొని అనాథగా మారింది. ఆమెకిక కన్నీళ్లే మిగిలాయి. మూడేళ్లుగా వారి జ్ఞాపకాల మధ్యే ఒంటరి జీవితం గడపుతోంది. 'తెలంగాణ వస్తే కష్టాలు పోతాయని చెప్పి... నన్ను కష్టాల్లోనే ఉంచి వెళ్లాడు. అమ్మా మన బాధలు తీరుతాయని చెప్పిన కొడుకు తెలంగాణ వచ్చినంక లేకుండా పాయే. తెలంగాణ రాష్ట్రంతో నా కొడుకు ఆత్మ శాంతిస్తుంది' అని తన మనసులోని బాధను 'ఆంధ్రజ్యోతి'తో పంచుకుంది. కొడుకు చనిపోయినప్పుడు అందరూ వచ్చి దండలు వేసి మేమున్నామంటూ భరోసా ఇచ్చారు. ఖర్చుల కోసం రూ. 25 వేలు ఇస్తున్నామంటూ టీఆర్ఎస్ నేతలు డబ్బులు చేతిలో పెట్టారు. కానీ లెక్క చూస్తే అవి రూ. 21 వేలే ఉన్నాయని విజయ తెలిపింది. ఆ తర్వాత ఎవరూ ఆమెను పట్టించుకోలేదు. బీడీలు చుడితేనే పూట గడిచే పరిస్థితి ఆమెది. తెలంగాణ రావడంతో తన కొడుకు ఆత్మ శాంతిస్తుంది... అది చాలంటూ సంతృప్తి పడుతోంది.

ఏ ఆసరా లేక పేదరికంలో మగ్గుతున్న వెంకటేశం తల్లికి సాయం చేయదలచిన వారు స్టేట్ బ్యాంక్ ఆఫ్ హైదరాబాద్, సిరిసిల్ల బ్రాంచ్ ఖాతా నెంబర్ 62312713609, విజయ పేరిట డబ్బు జమ చేయవచ్చు. ప్రత్యక్షంగా సాయం అందించాలనుకున్నవారు.. 9618902074 నెంబర్‌లో సంప్రదించవచ్చు.

Source: ఆంధ్ర జ్యోతి

US Exhibition to Tell Story of Indian-Americans

By PTI - WASHINGTON    Published: 26th February 2014 08:31 AM

Last Updated: 26th February 2014 03:16 PM

     Indian-American actor Kal Penn | AP

A first-of-its-kind exhibition, chronicling the vibrant history of Indian-Americans and their over 200-year-long journey from being "exotic outsiders" to being the "faces and voices" of America's future, will open at a prestigious museum here Thursday.

Christened 'Beyond Bollywood: Indian Americans Shape the Nation', the exhibition opening at the Smithsonian Institute's National Museum of Natural History is aimed at deepening the understanding of the community.

Spread over 5,000-square-foot, the year-long exhibition will explore the heritage, daily experience and diverse contributions of the community members to the American society.

The highlighted artifacts include a dress worn by First Lady Michelle Obama designed by Indian-American Naeem Khan; the 1985 National Spelling Bee trophy awarded to the first Indian American winner, Balu Natarajan; and Mohini Bhardwaj's 2004 Olympic Silver Medal for gymnastics.

"This wonderful exhibition deepens our understanding of the American experience as lived by the Asian Pacific American communities who have journeyed from being exotic outsiders to being the faces and voices of the future. We are excited to present an exhibition that we hope will excite and inspire generations," said Konrad Ng, director of the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center.

The exhibition recognises approximately 17 million people of Asian and Pacific Islander descent in the country, whose number is expected to climb to 41 million by 2050. One in every 100 Americans has a family connection to India.

Through a rich collection of photographs, artifacts, art  and interactive learning stations, visitors will experience the Indian-American story and explore the many dynamic roles the community members have played in shaping America.

Masum Momaya, curator at the Asian Pacific American Center, said that after going on display for at least a year at the museum, the exhibition will travel for up to five years with the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service.

"Beyond Bollywood" is the first major national exhibition to focus on Indians in America.

"Despite the fact that Indians have been here since 1790 and now number more than 3 million, we've been largely left out of this country’s history," she said.

"Beyond Bollywood marks a significant step toward not only documenting the history of Indians in America but also imprinting this history onto the collective conscience of this country," she added.

Visitors, she said, will be surprised to learn that the first person of Indian-origin to set foot on Indian soil came in 1790, just 14 years after this country was founded.

Source: The New Indian Express

Prime Minister's speech in Rajya Sabha on Telangana Bill: full statement

All India | NDTV.com | Updated: February 20, 2014 19:57 IST

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh speaking in the Rajya Sabha

on February 20, 2014.

New Delhi:  Amid massive sloganeering and chaos, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced a special package for Seemandhra in a debate on in the Rajya Sabha on the controversial bill which creates a Telangana state by bifurcating Andhra Pradesh. Following is the Prime Minister's full statement:

Mr Chairman Sir,

I have listened very carefully to the views expressed by the Leader of Opposition and all the other members who have spoken, especially those from Andhra Pradesh. The Home Minister has already mentioned the specific steps our Government will take to address the concerns of all regions of the state, particularly of Seemandhra.

I would like to make a few further announcements in this regard.

First, for purposes of Central assistance, Special Category Status will be extended to the successor state of Andhra Pradesh comprising 13 districts, including the four districts of Rayalaseema and the three districts of north coastal Andhra for a period of five years. This will put the state's finances on a firmer footing.

Second, the Bill already stipulates that the Central Government shall take appropriate fiscal measures, including offer of tax incentives to the successor states in order to promote industrialization and economic growth in both the states.  These incentives will be along the lines extended to some other states.

Third, the Bill already provides for a special development package for the backward regions of the successor state of Andhra Pradesh, in particular for the districts of Rayalaseema and North Coastal Andhra Pradesh. This development package will be on the lines of the K-B-K (Koraput-Bolangir-Kalahandi) Special Plan in Odisha and the Bundelkhand special package in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

Fourth, I would like to reassure Honourable Members that if any further amendments are needed to facilitate smooth and full Rehabilitation & Resettlement(R&R) for the Polavaram project, they will be given effect to at the earliest. Our government will execute the Polavaram project - let there be no doubt about it.

Fifth, the appointed day for the formation of the new State will be so fixed in relation to the notified date so as to enable preparatory work relating to personnel , finance and distribution of assets and liabilities to be completed satisfactorily.

Sixth, the resource gap that may arise in the successor state of Andhra Pradesh in the very first year, especially during the period between the appointed day and the acceptance of the 14th Finance Commission recommendations by the Government of India, will be compensated in the Regular Union Budget for 2014-15.

Sir, I hope these additional announcements will demonstrate our steadfast commitment to not just the creation of Telangana but also to the continued prosperity and welfare of Seemandhra.

Source: NDTV 

____________________________________________________________________

This blogger's opinion:

PM's announcement of special package to Seemandhra is to ensure passage of bill in Rajya Sabha. It has no details except referring to the Bill that was passed in Lok Sabha. The Bill is incomplete in respect of Seemandhra. And there is no guarantee that Congress will win let alone form government in next elections. Further the party that forms the new government is not bound to honour the promises announced by the previous government. PM should have included his announcement of package in detail in the bill. Then extend sitting of Parliament and voted in Lok Sabha. Then his package has validity, now it is like writing in the sand. As wind blows over it you can't read anything.

If Seemandhras really feel the hurt with the process of bifurcation (indicative of protests throughout the region) they should think twice before voting Congress or BJP in the ensuing election.

____________________________________________________________________

Read the following from Times of India: 

TNN | Feb 21, 2014, 05.57 AM IST

Seemandhra feels cheated, frets over special package

Chaotic endgame

Opinion Editorial

February 20, 2014   Updated: February 20, 2014 03:02 IST

End-stage mistakes grab disproportionately greater attention than blunders at the beginning. With the Congress and the Central government bungling at almost every stage in the handling of the agitation for a new state of Telangana, the mismanagement of the vote on the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill should have been no surprise. The chaos and confusion, and the blackout of television coverage, on the day the Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha all pale into insignificance when seen in the context of the larger failures to find a political consensus, and to reduce differences over crucial issues in the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. Whether it was due to a technical glitch, or a “tactical glitch” as the Leader of the Opposition, Sushma Swaraj, described it, the blackout of coverage by Lok Sabha TV was only a minor part in the Telangana endgame. Flip-flops and cynical political manoeuvring were part of the Congress strategy right from the beginning on the Telangana issue. Petty electoral calculations ensured that the party leadership led the government in the decision-making process. Indeed, too much was left to the very end as part of a deliberate strategy of buying time and averting a debate and discussion in Parliament. The highly charged spectacle of violence and disruption in the Lok Sabha over the Telangana Bill in the last few days is the culmination of the cumulative mistakes of the Congress and the Centre. 

If the Congress can take any credit from these sordid happenings it is in the browbeating and arm-twisting of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Although the BJP had a pronounced pro-Telangana stance even before the Congress committed itself to the bifurcation, the party resorted to doublespeak on the issue in an attempt to discomfit the Congress. But later the Congress managed to put the BJP in a fix, and eventually to lend support to the Bill. The two parties appeared to have read each other’s mind very well: to blame the other for any failure to pass the Bill. The BJP blinked first. The party, which did not have substantial political stakes in Andhra Pradesh, was hoping the Congress would alienate both pro-Telangana and Seemandhra sections if it failed to push the Bill through. But there was also the danger that the Congress might turn around and blame the BJP for its doublespeak and allowing the Bill to lapse. In the end, the two parties appear to have decided to share the credit for creating Telangana rather than blame each other for failing to have it passed. Irrespective of how the two parties manoeuvre the Bill through the Rajya Sabha, there is very little comfort to be had from such bipartisanship. 

Source: The Hindu

Lights, Camera off, Action: That’s the scene in LS as it passes Bill to split Andhra Pradesh

Express News Service | New Delhi | February 19, 2014 2:21 am


The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill, 2014 was adopted by voice vote along
with several official amendments. (PTI Photo)

The contentious bill that will split Andhra Pradesh and allow the creation of Telangana, India’s 29th state, made it through the Lok Sabha Tuesday despite opposition, tumultuous scenes and a controversial “blackout” of the live TV broadcast of the proceedings.

The house passed the Andhra Pradesh Re-organisation Bill, 2014, by voice vote even as those opposed to it demanded a division vote and termed the process a “sham” and a “black day for democracy”.



Around 3.10 pm, Lok Sabha TV stopped showing the live feed of proceedings in the house as Speaker Meira Kumar went ahead with the process of passing the Bill and then moving amendments pushed by members from across parties.

The government also moved a series of official amendments after leader of opposition Sushma Swaraj indicated that her party backed passing the Bill. Only Swaraj and pro-Telangana Union minister Jaipal Reddy of the Congress spoke briefly on the Bill.

Armed with posters, MPs from the CPI(M) and a few others from Andhra Pradesh stormed the well and shouted slogans against the bifurcation of the state through the proceedings, rendering the Speaker’s words inaudible.

One of them tore a copy of the Bill and flung its pieces in the air.



A number of amendments moved by MPs, notably Saugata Roy of Trinamool Congress and Asaduddin Owaisi of AIMM, were defeated by voice vote even as both demanded a division vote, which the speaker did not allow.

Instead, the speaker resorted to a “headcount” of MPs for and against the Bill and the amendments by asking them to stand up — a move Roy and Owaisi protested against.

“We are not a herd of sheep, we protest this move by you, madam. We want division vote,” Roy was heard shouting. “The idea that is India is being challenged today.”

Seeing that the opposition BJP did not join the protest, a number of protesting MPs too stormed the well and alleged that both the government and the opposition had reached an understanding “to pass the bill by flouting established processes”.

Independent MP from Assam, S K Bwiswmuthiary chanted anti-bifurcation slogans through the 90-minute process.

But the fact that there was no live broadcast of the proceedings visibly irked a number of MPs who shouted that it was “a black day for democracy”.

The TMC’s Roy also lodged a protest in writing saying that Rule 367 had been flouted by not going for a division vote.

The ruckus continued nonetheless as Shiv Sena MPs along with SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav stood up to join the protests.



With both Rahul and Sonia Gandhi in the House, Congress MPs Sanjay Nirupam and Mahabal Mishra moved to the well ostensibly to assuage the protesting MPs. Former minister Pawan Kumar Bansal and Finance Minister P Chidambaram were seen directing the treasury benches in their participation in the voice voting.

The Bill will now be brought to the Rajya Sabha.

Union minister from Andhra Pradesh, K Chiranjeevi, told reporters that while he had no intention of resigning at the moment, he would join in to stop the bill from being passed in the upper house.

Source: The Indian Express

A Cruel Twist of Fate

By K Naresh Kumar - HYDERABAD

Published: 17th February 2014 09:12 AM        Last Updated: 17th February 2014 09:20 AM

As a writer, playwright and screen play specialist, Vijay Tendulkar, obviously needs no introduction. In his writing career spanning more than five decades, Tendulkar has written 27 full-length plays and 25 one-act plays. Several of his plays have proven to be Marathi theatre classics. His plays have been translated and performed in many Indian languages.

One such play Hatt Teri Kismet, translated by Vasant Dev into Hindi, was staged at Lamakaan on Saturday night by Udaan Performing Arts. Originally written in the ‘70s, this play, a political satire in essence, talks about the unabashed addiction of power politics. Smartly customised to suit the current situation, the theatre group made it very contemporary and interesting.

In what seems to be turning into a popular format of Udaan - just two main characters on stage - the 70-minute play takes off right from the beginning when an out-of-power Chief Minister (Saurabh Gharipurikar) is shown plotting his return to the coveted chair. He comes in contact with an aam aadmi (Ashutosh Patwardhan) in the process, who quizzes him on various issues -- most of them trying to understand how these scums operate in society. The Chief Minister-in-waiting boasts about his survival in the quicksand of politics and how he is always self-centred and focused, often at the cost of his family and their desires. In fact, some of the comments the politician makes are dangerously close to reality -- especially when he says that ‘all that he does is strengthen the hands of the PM who is otherwise dumb and controlled by the Delhi madam’.

The unexpected twist comes when the politician decides to exchange his dress with that of the commoner when he sees an angry crowd approaching him and wants to escape their wrath. Along with the costumes, the faces also get inter-changed and voila! All hell breaks loose. This is the first swipe of bad luck that affects the politician.

Before his very eyes, the neta sees the commoner assume all those traits and characteristics which he possessed while he gets demoted to being pushed to a clerical position, where he inches up slowly in a year’s time. During this period, the commoner, now the Chief Minister goes from strength to strength and the original politician is now frustrated and desperate to come back to his original slot at any cost. He manages this by cunningly overpowering the commoner physically and assuming his original personality.

Once again the crowd returns and thrashes the original Chief Minister black and blue for being a terrible and corrupt administrator and rewards the commoner, who enjoys a second stroke of luck, the opposite effect of the politician who gets the rough end of the stick once more!

Liberally plucking anecdotes from day-to-day happenings and aptly placing it in the plot (like the LPG cylinder subsidy and allusions to the common man and his corruption-affected life), the play takes potshots at the authoritarian power structure of Delhi politics and the people who run it, blissfully oblivious to a myriad of problems.

A 100-strong audience thoroughly enjoyed the show on a windy evening.

Source: The New Indian Express

Love in the times of Telangana-Seemandhra

Sulogna Mehta,TNN | Feb 15, 2014, 04.10 AM IST

VISAKHAPATNAM: 'True love knows no reason, no boundaries, no distance. It has a sole intention of bringing people together to a time called forever.' So what if wily politicians are conspiring to play villains in the real life love stories of many couples hailing from the two regions of Seemandhra and Telangana with their bifurcation moves, the much-in-love couples in the city celebrated Valentine's Day leaving behind the division blues for the day.

Like the pyaar-kiya-toh-darna-kya attitude of final year engineering students R Geethika and D Sudhir who are going steady. While Geethika hails from Hyderabad but has been living in Vizag for the last few years due to her dad's posting, Sudhir is from the Port City. "Our parents don't know we are in a committed relationship though a few of our trusted friends and cousins are aware of it. After passing out of college, we will seek the blessings of our parents and nothing can stop us from getting married. We won't let bifurcation cast its shadow on our love as it is being carried out by politicians with vested interests. It's one language, one culture and above all, one country for us," said Sudhir, chilling out with Geethika on Beach Road.

Twenty-six-year-old Swapna Reddy from Hyderabad who got married to her 29-year-old sweetheart Kiran Kumar from Vizag, on V-Day last year. "I met Kiran when he came to Hyderabad on work. When so many inter-state, inter-culture, inter-religion, and even cross-country marriages are happening these days, who cares about Telangana and Seemandhra in the matters of the heart?" averred Swapna, currently pursuing her MBA.

Regional politics has no room in the lives of Karunakar Rao, 28, from Srikakulam and Vimala, 27, from Hyderabad who had a love marriage three years ago after years of online courtship. "We fell in love even without meeting each other. And finally jab we met, we decided to tie the knot despite objections from our families owing to our different backgrounds and castes. But we never bothered about such superficial differences. So why should we fight over Hyderabadi biryani, Telangana's garela pulusu or coastal Gongura mutton now?" quipped Karunakar, a private sector employee.

And while the families of yet-to-be-married couple V Saritha, hailing from the Port City, and Sunil from Hyderabad are a worried lot, the couple, which got engaged in December last year, are resolute. "There's no question of breaking our alliance just because of an illogical political decision. But our families are worried about fixing the wedding date, which was supposed to be sometime in the middle of this year. With elections coming up, the auspicious date now needs to be carefully selected as there's every possibility of agitations and strikes, both in Telangana and Seemandhra, over the bifurcation issue. Conducting a marriage in the midst of such chaos would be quite risky and we wonder if we would have to postpone the ceremonies till things settle down," pointed out Saritha.

However, there are some who are worried about the future of their children. Like private-sector employee T Ravi, who hails from Hyderabad. "My wife belongs to Prakasam district of coastal Andhra. We have been married for two decades and have lived in three different states but were never prepared for this kind of a disturbance in our own state. Though the bifurcation issue has not impacted our family relations in anyway because it's all a political move, we are worried about the higher education of our children as far as seats in medical and engineering colleges are concerned. The purchase of new property and its safety is also doubtful at the current juncture so we have to reconsider our investment plans carefully."

(Names of most couples have been changed on request)

Source: Times of India

New portraits of Bard of Avon found

International » World    Washington, February 14, 2014    Updated: February 14, 2014 02:42 IST

PTI

 

A then newly discovered portrait of William Shakespeare in March 2009. Photo: AP 

 

Scientists have discovered two previously unknown portraits of English playwright William Shakespeare — one which shows a youthful Bard of Avon and another which shows his whole person for the first time.

Hildegard Hammerschmidt–Hummel, a professor of English at Mainz University, Germany, said he subjected the images to fundamental tests of identity and authenticity, and found they were “true–to–life portraits of Shakespeare.”

One portrait, possibly painted around 1594, when Shakespeare was about 30 years old, depicts only the facial features of the Bard of Avon.

Hung in the bedchamber of Prince Franz (1740—1817), in the Gothic House of the Dessau—Worlitz Garden Realm, the portrait was seized by the Soviet army in 1945.

Archival research shows Prince Franz brought the picture from his trip to England from 1763 to 1764. Records show it was given to him as a gift by Thomas Hart, a distant relative of Shakespeare, ‘Discovery News’ reported.

Short stature

The second portrait shows the whole person of Shakespeare for the first time.

“We can see he wasn’t a very tall man,” Hammerschmidt—Hummel said. The painting shows Shakespeare at the age of 50, about two years before his death and it portrays the Bard as an affluent, older gentleman living in retirement.

The portrait shows Shakespeare sitting on an elaborately carved chair, holding a book in his left hand and resting his right hand on the head of a dog, which is sitting to his right. Careful examination of the image has determined the breed of the dog, which appears to be a Lurcher, a cross between a Greyhound and a working dog.

“I am calling it the Boaden Portrait because I found it in a rare, richly illustrated edition of James Boaden’s work of 1824,” Hammerschmidt—Hummel said.

Source: The Hindu

శ్రీ కౌముది ఫిబ్రవరి 2014

5 Places Where People Slow Down Aging

Posted By Kaitlyn Wells on Feb 05, 2014

FIRAT SOLA via Flickr


Around the world, people are living longer, healthier lives than ever before. One area this is most visible is in the number of centenarians, or people living to the age of 100. In 1840, there were 90 centenarians in the United States—one for every 189,000 people—according to United States Census Bureau records. Today, there are more than 53,000—or one for every 5,800 people. Though we know people are living longer, we don’t necessarily how they do it.

After discovering that there are longevity hot spots where people tend to live especially long, writer Dan Buettner spent the last 12 years locating and documenting these areas, dubbed “blue zones.” “I increasingly was interested in mysteries that dealt with the human condition,” says Buettner, a National Geographic fellow.

Through that research, he found several factors that might prolong health and life for people in blue zones. “Longevity is a consequence of constant, longterm little things,” Buettner says. “There’s no silver bullet.” Buettner shared the findings in his books The Blue Zones (2009) and Thrive (2010); here are some of the high points:

Ikaria, Greece: Enjoy a nap after tea
Residents of this Greek island are three times as likely to reach age 90 than people in the U.S. Living to nonagenarian status may be more likely when you get some bonus shut-eye.

Among Ikarian elders who regularly nap in the middle of the day (90 percent of them, according to a 2011 study in Cardiology Research and Practice), none of them exhibited symptoms of depression, while many of the non-nappers did. A broader study examining the sleeping behaviors of all Greeks found that those who cat-napped for at least 30 minutes had a 37 percent lower risk of dying from heart disease than those who didn’t.

Being under Sandman’s spell isn’t the only thing helping them live longer: They also regularly enjoy herbal tea. Traditional Greek teas include wild mint, which fights gingivitis and gastrointestinal disorders; rosemary for gout; and artemisia for blood circulation. Many local teas also contain mild diuretics that can treat hypertension. This may explain why Ikaria has half the rate of cardiovascular disease compared to the rest of the region.

Okinawa, Japan: Maintain positive relationships
Living to an average of 83 years old, Japan is the nation with the highest life expectancy in the world, reports the World Health Organization. Okinawans are especially long-lived, and are three times as likely to reach 100 as Americans. Buettner attributes that feat to close ties with social networks. “Having a grounding sense of purpose is something we see in all five Blue Zones,” he says.

Okinawans remain faithful to traditional Japanese culture, including an emphasis on maintaining lifelong friendships called moais, which provide emotional and social support. The moais are cultivated throughout adolescence, and the members become confidants for the rest of their lives.

Just the presence of moais can be a benefit, as it increases social interaction and support. Take for example, a study in Social Science & Medicine that examined the mental health of older adults in Japan. Those who weren’t married reported a higher positive well-being and less distress in their lives when they had social support. Simply put, the closer your friendships, the happier you’ll be.

Loma Linda, California: Eat your veggies
Sixty miles east of Los Angeles lies Loma Linda, where the proportion of people aged 85 or over is more than double that of the rest of California. Roughly four in 10 Loma Lindans are Seventh-day Adventists, whose adherents live longer than any other religious group in America, according to BlueZones.com. The Adventist faith endorses healthy living by discouraging smoking and alcohol consumption and encouraging exercise.

A recent study, funded in part by the National Institutes of Health’s National Cancer Institute, examined the eating habits of 73,000 Adventist from across the U.S. and Canada. The vegetarians in the group were 12 percent less likely to die of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and renal disorders combined compared to the non-vegetarians.

Another study found that female Adventist vegetarians live four years longer, and males live seven years longer, compared to other Californias. The study concluded that regular consumption of  nuts, fruit, cereal fiber, green salad, and polyunsaturated fatty acids (such as wild salmon, safflower oil, and peanut butter) was associated with reduced mortality rates.

Nicoya, Costa Rica: Drink some juice
In Nicoya a man at age 60 has twice the chance of reaching 90 as a man living in France, Japan, or the U.S. It may have something to do with their diet. Nicoyans typically eat their biggest meal in the morning and their smallest at night, which Buettner says helps them avoid overeating. “The Blue Zones eat a lot of food, but the key is their foods are calorically less dense,” Buettner adds. “It’s not that Americans are stuffing their face all the time, it’s that we’re eating a little too much every day—about 200 calories more than we should.”

Large quantities of tropical fruit, which are low in calories, are staples at meals in Nicoya. Oranges, sweet lemons, and a variety of banana are popular choices. Nicoyans also eat a couple of more distinctive fruits: maroñon, a red-orange fruit with more vitamin C than oranges, and the anona, a pear-like fruit rich in antioxidants. Some studies have shown an association between a reduced risk of cancer and diets that are high in foods that contain vitamin C, but lab tests studying use of vitamin C by itself have produced mixed results.

Sardinia, Italy: Take a walk
In addition to a large number of centenarians, Sardinia is also home to a remarkably high population of sheep considering its size. The Mediterranean island’s shepherd and farming community is loaded with centenarian men who, in their younger years, regularly walked up to five miles a day across rugged terrain to tend to their shepherding duties, according to Buettner’s site, BlueZones.com. Daily trips to the grocery store are also carried out on foot, and climbing the stairs in each multi-story home provides more exercise. 

Source: NAUTILUS

Why Microsoft Got It Right With New CEO Satya Nadella

By Cade Metz 02.04.14  9:35 AM

Satya Nadella, the new CEO of Microsoft. Image courtesy Microsoft

Though Bill Gates is stepping down as chairman of the board at Microsoft, we’re about to see a company that looks more like Gates rather than less.

This morning, in addition to announcing that Gates, the company’s co-founder and spiritual leader, will cede his chairman role to former Symantec CEO John Thompson so that he can spend several days a week at Microsoft in a more direct advisory role, Microsoft confirmed that its CEO post will be filled by 22-year company veteran Satya Nadella, who many say is cut from similar cloth.

According to those who know him, Nadella has an unusually firm grasp of both the technical and the business side of Microsoft, yet he also has a knack for pushing the tech giant in new directions. That bodes well for the company, which is still struggling to match the commercial success of rivals like Apple, Google, and Amazon in the technological areas most likely to define the future, including cloud computing as well as the rapidly growing world of smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices.
‘If you’re looking for your most Gates-like president — in terms of really having technology genius plus business genius — Satya seems like the best bet’

— Sam Ramji

“If you’re looking for your most Gates-like president — in terms of really having technology genius plus business genius — Satya seems like the best bet,” say Sam Ramji, the former head of open source software at Microsoft who worked under Gates and outgoing CEO Steve Ballmer for many years and, at one point, alongside Nadella.

The 46-year-old, India-born Nadella first joined the company in 1992 and spent the last three years running its Cloud and Enterprise group, the extremely lucrative — and rapidly changing — division that oversees the Windows Azure cloud service as well as the old-school data center software Microsoft sells to big businesses. But it’s Nadella’s personal demeanor that may truly set him apart from Ballmer.

Replacing the 57-year-old Ballmer — the big, boisterous, business-centric boss who has presided over the company since the turn of the millennium — Nadella will undoubtedly bring an added level of technical expertise to the CEO job, but also a more calm and considerate and collaborative way of dealing with both the Microsoft brain trust and those who work beneath him. That could be vitally important as he seeks to remodel a company whose internal culture is nearly as complicated as its vast empire of software, hardware, and internet services.

“The reason why I have mountains of respect for Satya is that he’s first and foremost a great and sincere and honest human being…It’s a weird thing to say, but that’s a rare thing at Microsoft, because you have so many hardcore technologists who have risen up through the ranks,” says Bill Hilf, a veteran of IBM who until recently worked under Nadella at Microsoft and now oversees cloud services at a third tech titan, HP. “He is able to connect with people, understand the dynamics between people or understand the impact something might have — not just to a product but to the people involved with it.”

The rub is that Nadella has never run a company on his own. Although he carries a business administration degree as well as engineering and computer science degrees, some say he can’t yet match the business and sales know-how or the executive experience of Ballmer or Gates — or, for that matter, some of the other candidates considered for the CEO job, including former Nokia chief executive Stephen Elop. “What Ballmer had in spades — in spades — is this incredible business instinct,” says Hilf. “He’s not the technologist Satya is, but I think the inverse of that is also true: Satya is not the business martial arts expert [that] Steve was.”
Change. But Not Too Much

On the whole, the choice makes enormous sense for Microsoft. The company is entrusting itself to someone who has proven he can shift its direction — push it into areas outside its comfort zone. It’s not just that Nadella guided the rise of Windows Azure. It’s that Azure and other technologies developed by his Cloud and Enterprise group now underpin Microsoft internet services such as the Bing search engine, the Skype internet phone service, and the Xbox Live online gaming service. And before taking the reins of the cloud group, he worked on research and development for Bing and eventually oversaw the search engine as a whole.

“He has proven not only that he understands the Microsoft culture, but that he can change it in very big ways,” says James Staten, a vice president and principal analyst with Forrester Research who has closely followed Nadella and his Cloud and Enterprise group through interviews with many people both inside Microsoft and out, including Nadella himself.
‘He has proven not only that he understands the Microsoft culture, but that he can change it in very big ways’

— James Staten

It’s also important that Nadella drove such change on the internet, which, in the years to come, will sit at the heart of everything the company does. Nadella deeply understands the way modern online services are built, says his old colleague Hilf, and that’s no small thing.

In tapping Nadella, Microsoft passed over not only Elop but other candidates with far more experience in the mobile market, another enormously important part of the near future of computing. But this is the area where Microsoft is furthest behind — and far less likely to catch rivals Google and Apple.

Hilf, Staten, and others argue, however, that Microsoft isn’t necessarily shifting its business away from phones or the rest of the consumer tech market. After all, its Xbox game console has become enormously popular in recent years, and the company just paid $7.17 billion to acquire Nokia, the Finnish smartphone maker where Elop was CEO. But the choice of Nadella is a statement that, in the coming years, cloud computing will be a more crucial field to dominate. After all, cloud services ultimately feed the mobile as well as the gaming world, providing a way for software developers and businesses to build and host and operate the mobile applications that run on a world of smartphones and tablets.

As Steve Ballmer once famously said: “Developers! Developers! Developers!” Through software builders, a company can not only grab intelligence about what’s happing in a market — including mobile computing — but gain a foothold that provides a means of improving and expanding consumer products and services.

What Microsoft doesn’t have is a brain trust with much experience working at the giants of Silicon Valley — companies like Apple and Google and Facebook and Twitter, which have come to define the modern world in ways that Microsoft does not. That includes not only Nadella but his lieutenants. But, for better or for worse, Microsoft typically doesn’t mix well with those steeped in the new Valley culture.

This is a nearly 40-year-old company based in Redmond, Washington whose business still rests on the success of traditional software such as the Windows operating system and the Microsoft Office suite of business software applications. It must straddle the old and the new, the Pacific Northwest and Northern California. For those who know the company well, it’s best to do this with leaders intimately familiar with the company’s unique culture. It’s best to it with a CEO who was there for its heyday as the king of computing — but realizes the world is now very different.
‘A Good, Unique Place’

When we sat down with Satya Nadella at a San Francisco restaurant in the fall of 2011, he was about nine months into his job running Microsoft’s Cloud and Enterprise group — though it wasn’t called that at the time. It was still known as Server and Tools, and many people were still asking whether Microsoft was serious about cloud computing, a technology that lets you rent computing power over the internet instead of buying and installing your own hardware.

“We’re as serious about the cloud as we are about evolving our businesses,” said Kurt DelBene, the head of the Microsoft Office group at the time, with a nod to Nadella, who sat beside him at the table. “We always look a little askance when we get the question, because it always seems odd to us. Particularly as engineers, we say: ‘[The cloud is] the way the world is moving.’”
It’s no small thing that Server and Tools is now known as Cloud and Enterprise — or that the new Microsoft CEO oversaw its recent transformation

Microsoft would continue to drive much of its business through traditional software, Nadella explained, including the server operating systems and databases and virtualization software offered by his Server and Tools group, but the company also realized that the world was moving towards online services like Azure and Office 365, services that businesses could use in lieu of buying traditional software. Because Microsoft offered both services and software, the company was in “a good, unique place,” said Nadella, a thin, extremely fit man who typically wears dark-rimmed glasses and keeps his head close to clean shaven.

Today, Microsoft still trails Amazon in the cloud computing market — very much so — but under Nadella, the Server and Tools group has significantly changed the way it operates, and in doing so, it has expanded the influence of Azure and other modern services. According to Bill Hilf, Nadella was instrumental not only in shifting Microsoft towards the new, more rapid way of building online services, but in moving the group to a new licensing model that encouraged the sales staff to sell online services as well as traditional software.

Crucially, the group embraced many modern technologies that Microsoft once avoided at all costs. The company now runs all sorts of open source software on Azure, including the Linux operating system, long held up as the enemy of Ballmer’s Microsoft, and this shift brings the company that much closer to the new computing paradigm fashioned by the likes of Amazon and Google.

It’s no small thing that Server and Tools is now known as Cloud and Enterprise — or that the new Microsoft CEO oversaw its recent transformation. It shows that Nadella understands how Microsoft must evolve in order to compete in the modern world — but also that the company must continue to push many of its older but still lucrative businesses forward. It’s called Cloud and Enterprise. Not Cloud.

This is one of the reasons Microsoft is intent on hiring from within, though corporate culture has a lot to do with it as well. Nadella hasn’t been with the company nearly as long as Ballmer, who joined as employee 30 in 1980, before Microsoft hit it big with the MS-DOS operating system on the first IBM PC. But the new CEO does have a good two decades in Redmond, working on a broad range of products, services, and research projects.
From India to Redmond

Nadella was born in Hyderabad, India, a southern city that was traditionally known for the pearl and diamond trades, but has now evolved into a major tech hub. Some call it “Cyberabad,” and it’s home to the largest Microsoft research and development operation outside the United States.

According to Reuters in India, Nadella is the son of a government official who worked in Hyderabad with the Indian Administrative Service, and he attended the elite Hyderabad Public School, alongside his future wife.
It looked an awful lot like Ballmer was reorganizing the company so he could personally push it into the next decade

Later, he studied electrical engineering as undergraduate in Mangalore, further south on the Indian peninsula. “When all other students will quietly listen to what I would teach, he will ask a lot of questions — ‘why does it have to be like this, why can’t we do it like this?’” one of his Manipal University professors told Reuters. “Sometimes, it felt like he was just testing my patience.”

Then, in 1988, carrying a bachelor’s degree in engineering, he moved to the States. After finishing a master of computer science degree at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a business administration master’s at the University of Chicago, he joined Sun Microsystems, then a hugely important and influential server and software company, working not on the business side but on the technical staff.

After joining Microsoft in 1992, he served as a vice president in the company’s business division — which oversaw Microsoft Office — and eventually took the reins of the R&D operation that served the company’s online services, including Bing. He then took over the entire Bing business, and in February 2011, he was named the head of Server and Tools — one of five Microsoft executives who reported directly to Steve Ballmer.

In July of last year, Ballmer significantly reorganized the company, placing a new set of lieutenants just beneath him. Some execs, like Kurt DelBene, departed, but Nadella remained. For Sam Ramji and others, this looked an awful lot like Ballmer was overhauling the company so he could personally push it into the next decade, but a month later, Microsoft announced that Ballmer would retire as CEO, saying the board would find a replacement within the next year.

At least in the press, Nadella wasn’t discussed as the heir apparent. When Microsoft acquired Nokia a month after Ballmer’s retirement was announced, Elop looked to be the new CEO in waiting. Even before Elop left Microsoft in 2008 to take the reins at Nokia, many insiders assumed he would one day succeed Ballmer. “He has so much charisma,” says Ramji. “We all thought: ‘That’s Steve’s bench. That’s the next CEO of Microsoft.’”

But perhaps because Nokia lost money hand-over-fist under Elop, because Nadella has more technical chops, or because Nadella has a much longer history inside Microsoft, the board has skipped over the Nokia man, and some now question his future at the company. Whatever Elop’s fate, many assume that Nadella will restructure the company yet again. “If you look at the leadership structure that Steve put in place just before he was forced out,” Ramji says, “he built a Microsoft that could only be run by Steve.”
Ballmer He’s Not

One thing that will surely change is the culture at the top of the company. Ballmer was very much a screamer — he’s even been known to throw a chair on occasion — and in many ways, his hard-nosed approach pervaded the company. But according to Bill Hilf, who worked closely with Nadella as the product manager for Windows Azure, the new CEO is extremely different.

“He is very inclusive. He brings people in and gets them excited to work on stuff, and that’s what I think his magic is — his authenticity and the way he is able to inspire people and not just push them,” says Hilf. “He can inspire them to do great work and get them motivated and excited. That’s really about him as a person: Whether he was running a technology company or a non-profit, he would have the same demeanor.”

Jason Hoffman, a vice president of corporate strategy at telecom giant Ericsson who spent many years competing with Nadella and Azure as the chief technology officer at San Francisco cloud company Joyent, says that Nadella is someone with unusual “grace” and that this grace is just what Microsoft needs. “This is the best thing Microsoft could do,” Hoffman tells us. “He’s always been an exceptionally thoughtful, calculating person.”

Whereas Ballmer often wanted to maintain as much control as possible over the people and businesses beneath him, Nadella is more of a collaborator. He provides firm direction — and he certainly has hard side, according to some — but he’s willing to give his lieutenants the freedom to make many of their own decisions. “Satya isn’t so ferocious about total control. He directs, but he also tends to look for innovation and insights for the people who work for him,” says Ramji.

Considering that the company was so slow to find its footing in the cloud and mobile markets under Ballmer, this is a welcome change. Ballmer’s 14-year tenure is littered with missed opportunities, as he clung to Microsoft’s old way of doing things. As the press so often points out, Nadella knows his technology, perhaps more so than Ballmer. But the bigger point, some say, is that Nadella can feed the other technical minds at Microsoft. “It isn’t just about knowing how to code,” Hilf says. It’s about getting the most out of all the others who know how to code.

Cade Metz is the editor of Wired Enterprise. Got a NEWS TIP related to this story -- or to anything else in the world of big tech? Please e-mail him: cade_metz at wired.com.

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Source: WIRED