Tragedy of Hyderabad resurfaces after 50 years

Express News Service
Last Updated : 16 Sep 2011 09:56:47 AM IST

HYDERABAD: If all goes well, Tragedy of Hyderabad, a first person account of the tumultuous events leading up to the merger of Hyderabad with the Indian Union, penned by Mir Laik Ali, the last Prime Minister of Hyderabad State, may be available in Indian markets from September 17.

The book, first published in Karachi in 1962, was banned by the Indian government. Publishers in the US and the UK too had refused to publish it. However, now, the Deccan Archeological and Cultural Research Institute and the 1969 Telangana Movement Founders’ Forum have reprinted the book, which speaks about the “hidden facts of the tragic history of Hyderabad State”.

“We have added correspondence between Ali and the government, which reveals more hidden secrets,” forum co-convenor Chiranjeevi Kolluri told Express. Chiranjeevi claimed Hyderabad did not merge with India on September 17, 1948 and said the Nizam rule was continued till January 26, 1950. “September  17 has no significance. It was not the merger or Liberation Day,” Chiranjeevi contended.

According to him, it was not liberation but “encroachment” by the government on Hyderabad State. He further claimed that Mahatma Gandhi had opposed the Congress party in Hyderabad as there was no British Raj in the erstwhile State. “It was NG Ranga who tried to establish a unit,” he said.

Ali had written the book after fleeing to the US in 1950. It contains several chapters including After the Partition, Hyderabad States and the Nizams, Hyderabad State Congress, Hindu Mahasabha and Others, the Razakars, Formation of an Interim Government,  Munshi - The Agent General, Gandhiji and his Assassination and Collapse of Resistance and Surrender.

On whether a banned book could be brought out, the forum co-convenor said it had been a long time since it was banned and hoped that no obstacles would be created this time.

Chiranjeevi said so far the book had not been available in India, not even pirated copies.

Tragedy of Hyderabad reprinted after 50 years

Tragedy of Hyderabad, the first person account of what happened during the merger of Hyderabad in the Indian Union, penned by none other than Mir Laik Ali, the last Prime Minister of Hyderabad State will be available in Indian markets from September 17. The book, which was first published in Karachi in 1962, was banned by the Indian government in those days. Even publishers from USA and UK were unwilling to publish the book in late 50's.
Deccan Archeological and Cultural Research Institute has reprinted the rare book of Ali, which speaks about the "hidden facts of the tragic history of Hyderabad State"
After the military action, Ali was house arrested and kept in Begumpet, where Amrutha Mall stands. Then Ali fled to USA in a secret manner on March 3, 1950.
After reaching USA, Ali penned the book of his experience during and after the Hyderabad State's merger with the Indian Union. But, he faced difficulty in getting printed his book. Publishers in USA or UK refused to print the book. Subsequently, Ali printed the book in Pakistan.
"1969 Telangana Movement Founders Forum" along with Deccan Archeological and Cultural Research Institute reprinted the book, which originally runs into around 300 pages. "We have also added extra information in the book. Apart from the original book penned by the Ali, we have also added the correspondence between Ali with Indian government, which reveal more hidden secrets to the people," Forum co-convenor Chiranjeevi Kolluri told Express. He said that so far the copies of the book were not available in the country.
This book would reveal the facts behind the merger and dispel the misnomers, he said.
Chiranjeevi said that Mahatma Gandhi opposed Congress party unit in Hyderabad, as there was no British Raj in the state. It was NG Ranga who tried to establish a unit. All the Nizams were born in Hyderabad and they were considered natives, Chiranjeevi said.
He said that Hyderabad did not merge with India on September 17, 1948, except Ali's statement in Hyderabad radio on that day, which was forced by KM Munshi. The Nizam rule was continued till January 26, 1950. September 17 has no significance. It was not the merger or liberation day it was encroachment by the government on Hyderabad State, Chiranjeevi contended.
 Ali's book contained several chapters including After the Partition, Hyderabad States and the Nizams, Hyderabad State Congress, Hindu Mahasabha and Others, the Razakars, Formation of an Interim Government,  Munshi - The Agent General, Gandhiji and his Assassination and Collapse of Resistance and Surrender.
The book will at Urdu Ghar, Moghalpura in the city on September 17.

Babu chooses Balayya to checkmate Jagan

V V Balakrishna
Express News Service
Last Updated : 13 Sep 2011 12:03:41 PM IST

HYDERABAD: Actor Balakrishna’s announcement on Sunday that he would contest the Assembly elections in 2014 and take an active part in the  affairs of Telugu Desam is being viewed as part of party president N Chandrababu Naidu’s strategy to strengthen the party in coastal districts where Kadapa MP YS Jagan Mohan Reddy is making inroads.
  Political analysts feel that Balakrishna made the announcement only after obtaining the nod from Naidu.
  Naidu, who has strained relations with some members of the family of party founder and former chief minister NT Rama Rao, wants to project Balakrishna as an icon of the family by bringing him to the forefront.  According to Naidu’s calculations, Balakrishna’s plunge into electoral politics will help the party revive its sagging spirits. The main opposition party has been facing several problems including mass desertions by its leaders and MLAs.
 As of now, the party is worried over the YSR Congress making incursions into its traditional strongholds and Naidu is intent on arresting it before it will be too late. Naidu, analysts say, has chosen Balakrishna to do the job since the son of NTR has the mass appeal and will be able to wean away the youth who are coming under  Jagan’s spell in the Andhra and Rayalaseema regions.
 The actor has a strong fan following in Anantapur, Nellore, Chittoor and Kurnool districts in Rayalaseema and in several districts in Andhra. His entry into electoral politics is also likely to trigger a `caste war’ during the next elections.
 Jagan and Balakrishna represent the two dominant castes which have been dominating the state politics for a long time.At the ground level the TDP cadre across the state are jubilant over  Balakrishna’s decision to enter into active politics. They burst crackers heralding his plunge at several places on Sunday soon after his announcement.
 TDP MLA P Keshav said: “Balakrishna can contest any seat from Anantapur district. I will vacate my Uravakonda seat if he wants to contest from there. For that matter, any MLA will come forward to make room for Balakrishna.
  Another MLA and president of Krishna district TDP D Umamaheswara Rao too made a similar offer. “Balakrishna can contest from any Assembly constituency in Krishna district. He is most welcome,” he said.
  Asked for his reaction, Chandrababu Naidu said Balakrishna was helping the party and even campaigned for it in the 2009 elections. “It is nothing new. Balakrishna has worked for the party in the past. If he is willing to serve more by plunging into active politics, he is most welcome. As party president I will honour him and encourage him,” he said.

Narne regained control over StudioN : Nandamuri-Nara family feud intensifies

VV Balakrishna
Express News Service
Last Updated : 12 Sep 2011 12:21:58 PM IST

HYDERABAD: After a temporary lull, it seems the Nandamuri-Nara family feud is intensifying and the gulf widening further. In the latest battle, NTR Jr, the son-in-law of Studio N channel promoter Narne Srinivas, is said to be making moves to take control of the Telugu news channel.

For over a year now the channel has been run by Chandrababu Naidu’s son, Lokesh, who took over the management from Srinivas.

It was Naidu who fixed NTR Junior’s marriage to Srinivas’ daughter, Lakshmi Pranati.

But the discord between the Nara and Nandamuri families surfaced even before the marriage.

Nandamuri Harikirshna raised a banner of revolt against Naidu and even distributed pamphlets.

The family feud soon turned into a war between the scions, Lokesh and NTR Jr. There was even talk of NTR Jr and Lokesh fighting it out to emerge as the ‘political heir’ of party founder and family patriarch NT Rama Rao.

Hailing him as the future leader, Lokesh’s supporters erected his cut-outs and banners near the Mahanadu venue in May while not a single portrait, cut-out or banner of NTR Jr or Harikrishna was seen. An upset Harikrishna refused to make the customary address. Deciding to put a stop to the feud, Naidu declared that party workers were the real heirs of NTR.

But the expected patch-up between the two families did not take place.

Till the 2009 general election Naidu had made it a practice to invite Harikrishna, Balakrishna, their siblings and other members of the NTR family to his residence and host lunch for them. But the get-togethers have stopped now, except in the case of Balakrishna. NTR Jr too has not visited Naidu in the recent past.

Recently Naidu initiated a tradition to wish the party leaders on their birthdays. Several TDP leaders celebrated their birthdays in the presence of Naidu. In contrast, Harikrishna celebrated his birthday in Delhi last week and did not bother to meet Naidu.

No new films to Be launched: Producers, employees at loggerheads

VV Balakrishna
Last Updated : 05 Sep 2011 11:17:18 AM IST

HYDERABAD: T Venkatesh Yadav, a native of Bhongir in Nalgonda district, took his first steps into the film industry on Sunday with the shooting of his yet-to-be named movie, based on the novel Anaitikam of Yandamuri Veerendhra Nath, being formally launched here at Rama Naidu Studios. The opening saw many Telanganites congratulating Yadav on producing a movie at a time when the growing feeling is that the industry is dominated by Andhra producers.

But perhaps, the timing of Yadav’s entry with `2 crore in hand is wrong. What with film producers and employees in the four southern states at loggerheads over the latter’s demand for a 30 to 50 per cent hike in their wages. With the producers not ready to oblige, they have decided to not to produce any movie from November 1 and to finish all the current shootings before the end of October.

The producers have decided not to allow the start of any new movie from Monday onwards. So, in a way, Yadav is lucky and hopes to finish his movie by November. “I too heard of the latest controversy over increase of wages,” Yadav told Express after the muhurat shot of movie. “The wages for film workers are very high. Of the `2 crore budget, around `70 lakhs will be spent on workers’ wages,” he said and added, “I am now in a hurry to complete my film by October end and plan to finish the movie in two schedules.”

On the first day of the launch of his movie itself, Yadav observed that the first two hours of the call-sheet is wasted on arrangements. “But if the day’s shooting is delayed by half-an-hour, the workers demand extra money. The wages are too high and the demand for satellite rights has also decreased. I doubt is I will get back my investment back,” Yadav said.

These problems are not inherent only to debutantes like Yadav. Most big producers in all the four southern states are also against the steep hike in wages demanded by the employees. To discuss the wage issue, the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce held a meeting in Chennai on Sunday where producers from all four states - Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala - met and decided on not allowing the start of any production after September 5. The producers will also meet Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa on Monday and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Wednesday to represent their case.

There was also a discussion on giving giving wages in two categories. Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, which mostly produce big budget movies, should pay higher wages to employees, whereas low budget movie makers in Kerala and Karnataka should pay lesser wages. “We will abide by whatever decision taken by the South Indian Film Chamber,” Natti Kumar, Producer Sector Chairman of AP Film Chamber of Commerce (APFCC) told Express over phone from Chennai.

Tollywood had been hit badly in the last one year as film workers were on strike for over 45 days in two schedules.

Their demand then too was an increase in wages. After a prolonged strike, film makers in the state, who feared that a delay in production would lead to budget shortfall, hiked the salaries of some of the workers by 30 per cent. This angered the producers in Tamil Nadu.

“The film producers were paying the hike in principle. APFCC is still to enter into an official agreement with us,” said Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao, president of the AP Film Industry Employees Federation.

If the AP Chamber decides to implement the South Indian Chamber’s decision, the producers in state are unlikely to officialise the deal. But such an impasse would lead to another strike by employees. “If the producers fail to make an official agreement honouring their earlier commitment, we have no other option but to strike work again,” warned Venkateswara Rao.

QUOTES

"We are discussing the matter with the South Indian Chamber and will abide by whatever decision is taken by them. The employees federation even dictates the number of drivers to be engaged by producers. Producers have personal drivers and cannot hire more. We will also not recognise the drivers' union. The employees federation is also restricting new membership by demanding `3 lakh as deposit even from a petty worker to get a membership card. If the federation allows free membership, the producers can talk directly to the workers.
- Natti Kumar, AP Film Chamber of Commerce (APFCC) producer sector chairman

The APFCC had agreed in principle to hike the wages by 30 per cent. Some of the producers are also paying accordingly. However, they must formalise the agreement. If the AP producers follow the TN producers, the employees have no other option but to strike work again. Also, around 14,000 employees are dependent on the industry. If the membership opened in a big way, it would affect the interests of the existing members who have been dependent on the industry for more than 30 years. We will open membership every year to a limited extent. Moreover around 600 drivers depend on the industry. If producers engage their own driver, what will be the fate of these drivers.
- Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao, President,AP Film Industry Employees' Federation

The industry suffered a lot for three months due to the strike. The Chamber and Federation must break the ice. In the next two months around 25 to 30 films are expected to start shootings. I hope the producers meeting finds a solution acceptable to all.
- N Sankar, Producer and director



THE DEMANDS

Producers
* The first call sheet should be 12 hours while the second must be of 8 hours
* Equal beta for all cameras
* Food should be served in buffet system
* Employees must not insist on the number of drivers being engaged

Employees
* The first call sheet should be 12 hours while the second only six hours
* Producers must engage more drivers who are dependent on the industry

***

Employees, who work in over 24 different kinds of craft are vying for a pay hike of 30 to 40 per cent.

Employees                    Hike
Production assistant          Rs 350 to Rs450
Lightsman                         Rs 300 to Rs 400
Makeup man                    Rs 350 to Rs 450
Hair dresser                      Rs 350 to Rs 450
Jr artist (with dialogue)      Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,200
Jr artist (without dialogue)  Rs 300 to Rs 500
Group dancers                  Rs 350 to Rs 550

***

25 New Movies Likely to Be Hit
As decided by the South Indian Chamber, the APFCC has decided not to launch new movies from Monday onwards till the deadlock with employees is resolved. The decision will affect 25 small and big budget movies which were to be launched in the next couple of months
* Usaravelli starring NTR Jr
* RR Movies starring Raviteja
* Puri Jagannath's film starring Chiranjeevi
* Tivikram's film starring Allu Arjun
* Unnamed movie starring Allari Naresh
* Unnamed movie starring Prabhas
* 'Businessman' starring Mahesh Babu likely to be delayed

Naidu’s family worth Rs. 37.9 crore

Express News Service
Last Updated : 03 Sep 2011 09:50:07 AM IST

HYDERABAD: Assuming a high moral ground vis-a-vis YSR Congress chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, who is under the CBI scanner for his alleged ill-gotten wealth, TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday declared his family’s assets -- valued at Rs. 37.92 crore -- in a move he described as a “new trend in the country’s politics.” “This is the acquisition value...the market value may vary from time to time,” Naidu said, referring to his networth, at a press conference here.

Significantly, his disclosure came on the second anniversary of the late YS Rajasekhara Reddy whose name also figures in the CBI’s FIR against Jagan.

The TDP leader himself is worth Rs. 39.88 lakh.

His wife Bhuvaneshwari, though, has properties to the tune of Rs. 39.57 crore besides liabilities of Rs. 2.38 crore.

His Stanford-educated son Lokesh, who looks after the family’s businesses, owns Rs. 6.82 crore and owes Rs. 9 lakh.

His daughter-in-law Brahmani is worth Rs. 3.22 crore.

“I am setting a new trend in the country’s politics by declaring not only my assets but also those of my son Lokesh and daughter-in-law Brahmani.

Those in politics should be transparent,” Naidu said, pointing out that he had been submitting details of his and his wife’s assets to the Assembly Speaker as also the Election Commission since 1999.

The immediate trigger for the TDP chief’s decision seems to be the Jagan Mohan Reddy-run media group Sakshi’s digs at his recent anti-graft protests.

Naidu had hit the streets seeking to play a role in the anti-graft stir launched by Anna Hazare.

Sakshi has also been running a series of stories on Naidu’s alleged corruption particularly after the CBI raids on Jagan.

“By declaring the assets, I want to put an end to those slinging mud at me,” Naidu said without referring either to Jagan or his media.

Further explaining himself, he said, “I have been in politics for the last 32 years and three other members of my family depend on business for livelihood.

One should not depend on politics for livelihood.” He recalled that he was the first chief Minister in the state to ask ministers to disclose their assets before Assembly Speaker in 1999 and was the first to declare the assets of his entire family.

Naidu said he had 77.40 acres in 1986 and it was given to his brothers.

Naidu donated 3.74 acre land to community needs in his native village.

The remaining land was sold to his relatives at nominal cost.

“All my family’s assets are declared.

No member of my family has any other assets except those declared.

If anyone proves that we have more assets, I will give them away to him as an incentive,” Naidu challenged.

Interestingly as per Naidu’s declaration, his house in Jubilee Hills is pledged with the Vijaya Bank.

His wife Bhuvaneswari also pledged a building in Punjagutta, a semi-permanent ware house in Chennai and a five-acre agriculture land with various banks.

Naidu’s son Lokesh too has pledged five-acre agriculture land in the city with a bank.

The Heritage Foods Pvt Ltd owned by the Naidu family also has debts to the tune of  Rs. 98 crore.

Heritage’s market capitalisation is Rs. 214 crore.

Naidiu’s family has 48.2 per cent share in Heritage.

'Jiten was falsely implicated in murder case' : Wife

VV Balakrishna
Express News Service
Last Updated : 31 Aug 2011 09:23:21 AM IST

HYDERABAD: “I feel proud of my husband,” said Aparna Marandi, wife of Jiten Marandi, singer and people’s artiste who was awarded death penalty by a sessions court in Jharkhand.

Aparna Marandi, who was here on Tuesday to participate in a meeting organised by intellectuals to demand removal of death sentence from the Indian penal laws.

Sharing her views with Express, Aparna said that her husband had fought for the Adivasis and against the multinational companies which were looting the wealth of native Adivasis.

“My husband motivated people with his songs.

But, he is falsely implicated in the case of the murder of Jharkhand chief minister Babulal Marandi’s son Anup Marandi.” When her husband was jailed, she was pregnant and delivered a male child later.

Now, Aparna, also an activist fighting for the rights of Adivasis, is carrying forward her movement while struggling to feed her two-yearold son Alok Marandi.

Fellow Adivasis and locals are providing food and shelter to Aparna.

Though, the local dailies apologised for naming Marandi a Maoist, the police foisted a wrong case to suppress the voice of Marandi, Aparna said.

Aparna is now looking after his son, gighting against the exploitation of Adivasis and also fighting a legal battle for repeal of the death penalty on her husband.

All these tasks need money but Aparna is bold enough to face these hardships.

“Let us all condemn the stifling of the voice of people’s artistes.

Right from Bhagat Singh to Jiten all faced such suppression,” she told a gathering of intellectuals.

Pained by her agony to lead the life, the meeting appealed to the audience to contribute thei mite to her.

Within no time, around Rs 12,000 was collected and given to Aparna.

She brought some pamphlets, a statement made by Jiten that he had no role in the murder, which were distributed to the audience.

APCLC president Seshaiah said that right from its inception APCLC had been opposing the death penalty and assured Aparna of the rights activists’ support to her.

Several activists like Varavara Rao of Revolutionary Writers Association, Ratnamala, Gadar, Telangana Journalists Forum leader Ramesh Hazare and Siva Reddy were present.