Epaper
Here are some interesting aspects about Telugu Desam president and former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s school days. We reproduce what the Telugu Desam’s official website says about Chandrababu Naidu when he was a student in Naravaripalli village in Chittor district. The TD’s website seeks to compare Chandrababu Naidu with Nepoleon Banaparte. Here goes the website of Telugu Desam:
Sitting class, he learnt history carefully. But geography he ignored, for he had decided by then to change the maps of Europe.” – Goethe on Napoleon Bonaparte’s early development.
School – Babu, what is the capital of the World? Hyderabad, of course, Sir!
Neither the lessons of life in Naravaripally, nor of the classroom in a school in Chandragiri were lost. The mind was powerful, even if the hands and legs were not. Thin and lanky, he did not look strong, but the ruthless determination possible only to an Arian made him completely fearless. And everyone around held him in awe, and respect.
He took his lessons most carefully, understanding everything, questioning everything. But there had to be erratic moments of passionate despair. “Which City was considered the capital of the world… where all roads led during 600 BC?” He knew the books said Rome. He did not agree. He would answer angrily, Hyderabad.”
“Come on…Babu you know the answer.” But once decided he would not change his mind. Not for one mark in a class test. Hyderabad is the capital of the world. The five great cities on the globe were twin cities, Visakhapatnam, Tirupati and Vijayawada. He was thinking of the future… not history.
“It can’t be done…” the teacher would say sadly. He understood the boy. But he did not know him well enough. “We Indians can do anything, we Telugus can achieve anything… we must want to do it… that’s all.”
Amma at home and the teachers at school were perplexed, and yet silently proud. The mother would talk, father would be silent, everyone would talk, father would be silent, everyone would just wonder, “Why don’t you eat, play like other boys?” “We must clean our village…and everyone must work together…we must make our village better. If each one can clean his house, then why can’t we all work together and make the village?” No one understood, many an adult smiled, but everyone soon did his bidding. He was a leader…their son… they just followed.
History and mathematics, Telugu and geography, everything came easy, but he knew he had much more to learn, much more to understand. School or home, neighbourhood or village. Work everywhere work. Everyone work. Only work, for work alone can make a difference. Years passed by and he kept learning and improving. His Mother taught him hard work and patience, his father taught the value of silent perseverance. The village taught him the problems… his neighbourhood taught him the huge inertial ineptitude that would come his way.
But he knew the answers too. Change mindsets, carry everyone along… anything can be done. And one day, yes, Hyderabad would be the capital of the world. Little Babu knew he could do it. And would!
