| Author | Message | ||
     Shawshank Side Hero Username: Shawshank Post Number: 4360 Registered: 08-2008 Posted From: 173.95.184.250 Rating: N/A |
Well said .. "Dharma" is that which upholds, nourishes or supports the stability of the society, maintains the social order and secures the general well-being and progress of man-kind. - Supreme Court of India | ||
| Lovetilludie Side Hero Username: Lovetilludie Post Number: 3518 Registered: 02-2008 Posted From: 117.200.3.119 Rating: N/A |
 | ||
| Kodamasimham Junior Artist Username: Kodamasimham Post Number: 409 Registered: 07-2009 Posted From: 68.102.171.48 Rating: N/A |
http://ibnlive.in.com/blogs/ahmedalishaik/2200/53787/i-will- remember-ysr-forever.html | ||
| Kodamasimham Junior Artist Username: Kodamasimham Post Number: 408 Registered: 07-2009 Posted From: 68.102.171.48 Rating: N/A |
It was the most difficult coverage of my career. I never thought that I will be forced to report the death of a person whom I admired the most. Being a crime reporter, I have reported innumerable deaths in the last 13 years. People died due to bomb blasts, train and road accidents and various other reasons. Over the years, like many other reporters, I became so inert that I stopped feeling bad about anybody getting killed, especially if he is a politician. But YSR's death changed everything. "CM Sir, one small sound-byte in English," "Sir please spare five minutes for the national channels," and similar requests that I made to YSR in the last 5 years started echoing in my mind, soon after we got confirmation about his death on last Thursday. Most of the time, YSR accepted those requests. He used to look at the waiting reporters of national channels with a smile and walk towards them. He used to start with a big "Yes!" and used to answer almost all the questions that we used to pose. For any journalist getting Chief Minister's reaction on an important issue was the most difficult thing, but for me, YSR made it the easiest thing to do, several times. I got his exclusive interviews or sound-bytes in Bhadrachalam, in Kurnool, in Gangavaram and many times in Hyderabad. Despite objection from his security personnel, I used to stand on his way with a confidence that YSR will talk to me if he sees me. Since YSR used to speak only in Telugu during official functions, I used to take advantage of that. I used to stand on the other side of security corridor and simply shout, "CM Sir, one small sound-byte in English," and YSR used to oblige, most of the time. Like many other politicians in the South, YSR too maintained a distance with the national media. But he was always available for comments on all important issues, including the controversial ones. When Hyderabad police was being accused of helping Gujarat Police on Sohrabuddin's fake encounter, I tried to get his reaction. YSR was scheduled to attend the May Day function at Ravindra Bharathi and I was standing with my cameraman at the entrance. While he was about to enter the auditorium, I called him, "CM Sir, just one question." He stopped and turned towards me, "Yes!" "Is it true that Hyderabad Police helped in Sohrabuddin's fake encounter?" He could have easily avoided giving an answer, but he replied, "To the best of my knowledge, this information is incorrect." He answered the most controversial question without adding more to that controversy. That exclusive sound-byte was in the headlines of CNN-IBN for one full day. I was happy because I got an exclusive sound-byte, but YSR never upset because I tried to drag him into a controversy. Though I interacted with him several times while he was the Opposition Leader, but the most memorable interaction was the one that I had after the 2004 election. Almost all news channels predicted that the Congress was all set to return to power. I met him at his residence for an interview. I started by asking, "Should we assume that we are talking to the next chief minister?" He laughed and said, "Don't assume anything. The next chief minister will be decided by the Congress Legislature Party after results." Despite knowing well that he would be the undisputed candidate for the chief ministerial post, YSR never projected himself as the one. He was the most balanced leader who knew how to avoid political controversies and confrontation with the Congress High Command. Five years later, after 2009 elections, again I was interviewing him at his residence. "Do you think Congress has won the elections primarily due to 'YSR Factor'?" I asked. Again, YSR gave the expected reply. "There is nothing called YSR Factor. We won the elections because of Congress party and its policies." I think he was among a few politicians who knew what to speak, when and how. On Wednesday morning, when we got information that YSR's chopper did not land at Chittoor at the scheduled time, initially I treated that as a routine delay. For confirmation, I called up his media advisor Chandrasekhar Reddy. He told me that the CM's helicopter has made an emergency landing in Kurnool due to bad weather and YSR was safe. The news was already flashed by CNN-IBN and all other channels. Till afternoon, we maintained that YSR was safe. I grew a little suspicious when I started getting conflicting information from my sources in the Police Department. A very senior police official even told me that YSR has been traced and due to security reasons his exact whereabouts were not being disclosed. I believed him as I had no reasons to suspect his credibility. Another information came at around 3.40 pm saying YSR was returning to Hyderabad in an army helicopter. While climbing the stairs of the conference room of C-Block for the first media briefing on the issue scheduled at 4 pm, I told in my phoner that this information looks credible as the authorities have something concrete to talk about at 4 pm. But unexpectedly, we heard the most shocking words, "CM is still untraceable." In every phoner or live-link thereafter, I tried to maintain that YSR was safe and alive. The suspense continued till the next day. Since I was in Hyderabad, I was tracking the information being given by different vernacular channels from Kurnool. By around 11 pm, all the vernacular channels flashed saying, YSR's helicopter has been traced. We were still hopeful. "They are saying helicopter and not the debris. That means YSR should be alive," we thought. But a few minutes later, came another flash saying, "five bodies found near the site." Though I knew that only five passengers including YSR were on board, for some reason, I was not willing to believe that YSR was among the dead. In my live-link with CNBC Awaaz, I maintained the same stance, "Yes, five bodies have been found, but it is yet to be ascertained that YSR was among those killed." By noon, it was confirmed that YSR was dead. For the first time, I don't remember, after how many years, I cried over somebody's death. Someone who was not related to me; someone with whom I had very limited interaction and someone who didn't knew me personally, made me cry. I couldn't control my emotions and went to an isolated corner in my office to shed my tears. I was shocked and didn't feel like doing anything. Many other journalists have gone through the same experience. Despite all the controversies that surround a politician, YSR has won the hearts of almost everyone in the state. He was a true gentleman. Always smiling and always cheerful. Despite being the most powerful man in Andhra Pradesh, he has never ever shown a sign of arrogance. As a journalist, I'm bound to meet and interact with many politicians in future, but I'm sure I will never see another YSR in my lifetime. "CM Sir, I know you will never give me a sound-byte again, but I will always remember you for your smiling face and your "Yes!". |
