Journalists from Telugu area

Veteran journalist`s association of Andhra Pradesh brought out OUR LEGENDS OF THE FOURTH ESTATE during 2011. It is good reference material about past and present journalists both working and retired too.
The volume covered 369 journalists with brief biodata and with pictures.
5 journalists in USA are selected who are Telugu origin persons- under the banner-our folks in foreign media. They are: J.V.Lakshmanarao from Chicago Tribune; Raju Narisetti, managing editor of Washington post; Pemmaraju Uma from TV media; Ravi R. Ponnangi and S. Venkatnarayana.

The journalists are categorised  as The legends, Dear departed, Leading Lights and Vintage vistas.
The living and present working journalists are put under the caption : Captains and foot soldiers with their picturs and names only.
Rest of the journalists are given with brief available biodata which is definitely useful for reference and further research.
Several titles of journals were printed which brings nostalgic memories. Some activities of journalists were depicted in pictures along with prominent politicians and statesman.
1/4 demy size book is priced at Rupees: 300/
 $ price is not mentioned.
The volume can be obtained at: Plot 24, Journalists colony, road 3, Banjara Hills Hyderabad 500034,India

The Editorial board for this volume consists : G.S.Varadachari, Dasu Kesavarao,(for English),
T.Udayavarulu,, and coordinated by Mr Konda Lakshmanarao.
The Editors hoped to bringout next edition with all corrections and more definitive information and additional journalists too.
This is welcome effort.
By Innaiah Narisetti

Agehananda Bharati`s rare lecture on philosophy

Here is the M N Roy centenary memorial lecture by late Agehananda Bharati( died in 1990) at Ambedkar open university, Hyderabad India during 1987.See the link:
http://www.theradicalhumanist.com/index.php?option=com_radical&controller=article&Itemid=56&cid=416&task=single

Agehananda Bharati was Austrain turned in to Indian monk and later under the influence of Humanist philosopher M N Roy turned as Rational thinker. He taught cultural anthropology in Syracuse university, USA.Toured and lectured Far East, Asia, Europe. Contributed several articles and written his autobiography under the title: Ochre Robe.
It was banned in India but later expanded American edition cameout.
At the invitation of me he delivered two talks in Hyderabad and we could trace one. Rekha Saraswat , editor of Radical Humanist magazine put the lecture in utube video.
This is first time to come out in that format.

Innaiah Narisetti

No need of God to create universe!

PHILOSOPHY IS DEAD

LONG LIVE SCIENTIFIC METHOD!!

Out standing scientist Stephen Hawking along with Leonard Mlodinow declared positively that philosophy is dead.

Alarming to philosophy lovers, of course.

During 1940s M.N.Roy, humanist philosopher  warned that unless philosophy takes into consideration the philosophical consequences of modern science, it cannot survive.

That is exactly the reason why Stephen Hawking emphatically said that philosophy is dead.

The Grand Design is the latest book in which the authors proposed M-theory as unified development which Einstein dreamed of.

The philosophy has to answer the questions faced by modern world but fail to do so. What are they?

“Why is there something rather than nothing?

Why do we exist?

Why this particular set of laws and not some others?”

Hitherto people thought that everything was created by god. They did this out of ignorance. For every natural event like thunder, lightning, rain, fire, oceans, earth, planets, stars ancient people imagined gods behind them .Hence they worshiped them to get favors and to escape calamities. So many gods were created and several religions emerged out of peoples ignorance.

For the first time Ionian Greek thinkers put systematic rational thinking which changed the minds of people.

Thales, Miletus, Pythagoras, Anaximander, Empidocles,  Democritus  and few others are in the list. Their thought influenced generations but again religions camouflaged their causation.

Ptolemy ( 85-165 AD) through his 13 volume treatise convinced the world that earth is the center of the universe and also earth is flat. Christians accepted that theory.It continued until Galileo ,and Copernucus, Kepler radically changed our concepts and thinking. Sun is the center of the universe and earth goes round the sun. The rational thinkers suffered in the hands of fanatic Christian authorities. They regretted much later and accepted their mistakes.

As scientific thinking, innovation, discoveries progress , different theories emerged and some of them look diametrically opposed to each other.

Now it is established that four forces are certain namely:

Electro magnetic, Gravitation, weak nuclear force, and strong nuclear force.

Einstein came out with theory of relativity which radicalized the world concepts. At micro and macro levels there are particle, light, wave theories and also different concepts of universe. There are several dimensions. New Quantum theory again totally changed the thinking process.

Big Bang theory ( originally named by Fred Hoyle), Expanding theory, steady state theory and others also came out.

If so may realities and conflicts are there, which one is true and which one is not?

Are there many universes and if so each universe must be having its own laws too.

These are mind boggling theories.

Stephen Hawking came out with his M-theory where in synthesis and reconcialation  is possible. Positive energy of matter can be balanced by negative gravitational energy according to Stephen. The universe creates itself due to gravity. This spontaneous creation is the sufficient reason for the existence of universe, says Stephen and Leonard.

Thus M-theory is not only miracle, mystery but real too.

THERE IS NO NEED TO INVOKE GOD FOR SUCH DESIGN. Wonderful , excellent conclusion of Stephen Hawking.

What about intelligent design, then? It is only cunning way of introducing blind faith of religion in round about way.

      Is this end of all?

No. There is no end in Science. Scientific method  is ever growing and continuous process. All theories are tentative. If some thing better and provable theory emerges, people  support it. One great virtue in scientific method is: Self correction .It is not there in holy books, religions and blind faiths. This self correction only leads humans ever progressive and forward looking.

( please see : The Grand Design by Stephen Hawking, Leonard Mlodinow: Bantam books, New York pp 200;

Also Science and philosophy by M.N Roy)

INNAIAH NARISETTI

Nanduri Rama Mohan Rao

Mr Nanduri Rama Mohan Rao ( 1927-2011) was journalist who popularised science for laypersons. He worked in Andhra Patrika daily, Andhra Jyothi daily and published articles, and books.

For long time he worked with Mr Narla Venkateswararao and emulated his editorial style. People at one time thought that Mr Narla Venkateswararao was writing, even though late Narla was taking rest in Hyderbad and only lent his name to the daily. At that time I happened to be the Bureau chief of Andhra Jyothi daily in Hyderabad.

Incidentally both Ramamohan Rao and myself were honored by American Telugu association in New York at their second conference  in 1992.

Innaiah Narisetti

Unique Radical Humanist Mr Narayana Musini

Unique Radical Humanist in Telengana

Under Nizam`s rule in former Hyderabad state no freedom is allowed to citizens until the formation of Andhra Pradesh in 1956.

While Radical Humanist movement was vigorously campaigned for human values in Andhra area, the neighboring Telengana area was denied all such golden opportunities.

At such critical juncture Mr Musini Narayana from Telangana came into contact with Radical Humanists in Andhra and particularly the writings of M.N.Roy. He was deeply impressed with Radical thought which he adopted his life mission.

Narayana Musini

Born ( 1929)in a weavers community family at Janampet, Mahaboob Nagar district, Andhra Pradesh.Narayana studied upto post graduation. His father Mr Sivaiah was Ayurveda practitioner while his mother Venkamma was simple house wife.

Mr Narayana joined government service in revenue department as Taslidar.

Simultaneously Narayana came in touch with Radical Humanist movement in Andhra and with the literature of Radical Humanism, especially the writings of M.N.Roy.

From the day he joined government duty, Narayana started propagating the ideas of Radical Humanism to villagers, teachers and students. He always carried latest issue of Radical Humanist magazine and monographs of Radical literature.

Narayana was mainly attracted to the ideas of decentralization, power to people, recall of elected representatives, education as power and so on.

Narayana took the help of school teachers to spread the Radical Humanist philosophy in a practical way.

Mr Narayana participated in several study camps, meetings, conferences of Radical Humanism held in Andhra area and thus came closer to Mr Avula Gopalakrishna Murthy, M.V.Ramamurthy, Mr Avula Sambasivarao Mr N. Innaiah and others.

While doing government duty, Mr Narayana encountered several hurdles for his straightforward approach and radical ideas.

Encounter with Jalagam Vengalarao

As Block development officer in Kallur, Khamma district where Mr Jalagam Vengalarao was powerful local congress leader, Mr Narayana was appreciated very much. But when personal favoritism came up, Vengalarao was angry  since Narayana did not favor any nepotism of Vengalarao. His brother Kondalarao was local leader who sought favour but Narayana did not support. As a result Narayana was shunted to a corner place in the state-Srikakulam district.

Facing Higher authorities:

Mr Nukala Ramachandra Reddy was revenue minister in Andhra Pradesh who appointed Mr Narayana for enquiry into land grabbing cases.  In due course Mr Narayana had to give notice to Mr M .T.Raju, who was then chief secretary of Andhra Pradesh. Instead of appreciating the approach of Narayana, again he was transferred !

Narayana did not budge.

He did service as Block development officer, as revenue officer; as special officer in Printing press in Kurnool; as training officer for village officers called patwaris and Patels; finally retired as special deputy collecter in Hyderabad revenue board.

While participating in Radical Humanist meetings, Narayana used to raise many doubts and put legitimate questions for clarification.He was friendly to poor and down trodden and helped them as far as possible.

He raised his children in secular way. His daughter Suvarna got married Mr Vijaya Kumar, bank officer. The marriage was performed in secular way where Mr N.Innaiah participated as special guest.

Narayana named his last son after M .N.Roy. Now Mr Manavendra lives in Vancouver, Canada.He married Konkini bride Vijaya in a secular way, had one daughter and also adopted one  helpless boy.Now he is into social service with the inspiration of his father

Narayana , his wife and family members

Mr Ravi Prakash, another son followed the foot steps of Narayana in developing the Junior college teachers association.He is now living in Atlanta , USA.Another daughter Sujatha married an engineer , lives in USA.

Dr Raghuramulu, the brother in law of Narayana retired from Nutrition labs in Hyderabad who followed the scientific approach of Mr Narayana. Mr Raghuramulu vigorously participated in secular training camps.

Narayan died in 2003 who  lived a simple but honest radical humanist life.

The speciality of Narayana is his raise as Radical Humanist in Telengana, which is historical and memorable.

Innaiah Narisetti

My books in Google site

Several of my previous publications both in English and Telugu, also few Translations into Telugu like Richard Dawkins God Delusion are kept in the site of Google. I did not notice this until my friend C Bhaskararao brought to my notice.
Here is the link:
http://www.google.co.in/search?tbm=bks&tbo=1&q=innaiah+narisetty&btnG=#hl=en&tbo=1&tbm=bks&sa=X&ei=VctfTtSjIMzzmAXWm5Ev&ved=0CCwQBSgA&q=innaiah+narisetti&spell=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=770449b58f1c2dc6&biw=1680&bih=835

Orator, Humanist Narahari Guttikonda

Guttikonda Narahari

profile

1918-1985

Guttikonda Narahari was born (August 10,1918) in Yelavarru, Tenali tq, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh, India. His parents were Mr Anjaneyulu and Mrs Raghavamma. His sister Velaga Satyavathi raised him,as she had special affection towards him.. He received his early education at Thurumella George coronation board school. His training under the head master, Dakshinamurthy, gave him good grounding in language skills. Yelavarthi Rosaiah, Mallampati Madhusudhana Prasad were his contemporaries. After his secondary school education he went to Rangoon, Burma (now Yangoon Myanmar) at the age of 17, and worked for two years as a journalist.

      After he returned from Rangoon he joined Andhra Christian college, Guntur, and graduated with a degree in xxxxx(subject) in 1940/2?.

He married in April,1944 Sarojini, his maternal uncle`s daughter, a native of Gudavalli, Repalle tq.  The wedding was performed in a secular function which was in vogue during the pre independence period. Marriage was registered in Government registrar office and the weding vows were taken in Telugu instead of the religious ritual Sanskrit.
 

While in college Narahari was exposed to the the political philosophy of the Radical Democratic Party founded by M.N. Roy.  While still a student  he started working as a volunteer for the Radical Democratic party propagating the humanist ideals of M.N.Roy.  Narahari was sought as teacher in the study camps and training classes of Radical Democratic party. He   exposed the incongruities and weaknesses in the Congress and Communist party ideologies  during the political study camps organized in the1940s. At All India level also he participated in study camps conducted by M N Roy, Ellen Roy in Dehradun, Kolkata, Mussorie, and Delhi. He continued to attend until 1976the study camps even after the death of Roy. As a loyal propagandist of the party program and principles his contribution to the party was recognizes and he was selected in  (year) to the position of Andhra state secretary.

He was a popular and effective pamphleteer and also contributed many incisive articles to several journals. Mr Narahari contributed articles in Telugu to Mulukola, weekly Telugu magazine from Bezwada edited by Bandi Butchaiah during 1940-50. Again he wrote articles in Prajamitra, Telugu magazine edited by Gudavalli Rama Brahmam, published from Bezwada and Madras.  During second world war period none of the journals were publishing the articles of Radical Democrats. Hence Mr Narahari made arrangements with Mr Bandi Butchaiah, editor of Mulukola, to allot two pages in each issue for Radical party issues and views. Accordingly Radicals contributed articles in that journal. In addition he was powerful  speaker in English and Telugu.

(He urged youth to resign their British government office positions and jump into freedom fight.

During the1946 general elections for the Madras assembly he was election campaigner for RDP for the Andhra region. He toured, along with Mr Tripuraneni Gopichand, Mr P.V.Subbarao, two other members of the party, the entire Andhra region and addressed meetings.  Mr Sriramulu was candidate in Gudivada, Krishna district. When Mr Narahari and Mr M V Ramamurthy attempted to organize a public meeting in Veerulapadu, Krishna district, communists hindered and Mr Bhaskararao, a communist objected. But Mr Vattikonda Rangaiah, hosted Radicals and the meeting took place. All the same Mr Sriramulu , Radical Democratic candidate got only 500 votes suggesting that the general public did not understand the Radical Humanist ideology. Most of the public were in sympathy with the ideologies of the communist party or of the Congres party.

Again in Bapatla constituency Mr Ravipudi Venkatadri contested as Radical candidate. Mr Narahari canvassed for him and held public meetings. During that campaign they faced the wrath of communists in Iduppulapadu village, near Parchur. Pullela Rattaiah, a friend of Narahari cooperated. But communists threw stones in the public meeting while Narahari was addressing. Venkatadri got1600 votes, where as Kolla Venkaiah  communist candidate received 10 thousand votes. But Mr Manthena Venkataraju, congress candidate won with 35 thousand votes. In these elections franchise was limited to tax payers, whose number was very limited.

Narahari grew tobacco in Gudavalli and Pesarlanka villages and then started Narahari, Choudary & co in Guntur in 1947.

To get contracts for his  tobacco business he  toured between 1954 to 1964 African countries, Australia, Japan, far east, England, Soviet Union,  China, and Czechoslovakia. He organized conferences to air the problems of tobacco merchants, gave speeches and contributed articles to the tobacco industry publications.

During 1972  general elections,  he,started political party called Kshatra Dharma Parishad. He contested from Guntur to Lok Sabha but lost the elections and his party folded.

He joined law course in Madras but could not complete.  But much later completed law course and took degree from Nagarjuna University. For brief period he practiced law in Andhra Pradesh High Court, at Hyderabad, in association with Mr N K Acharya, another rationalist advocate in Hyderabad.

He was a close friend of Kotha Raghuramaiah a congress member of the parliament from Tenali.  Among his other close friends  were Mr Avula Gopalakrishna Murty, Mr Alapati Ravindranath, Mr Koganti Radhakrishna Murty, Mr M V Ramamurthy, Bachina Subbarao , Mr N. V Brahmam, Mr Ravipudi Venkatadri, Mr Koganti Radhakrishna Murty, Mr Subrahmanyam Koganti .

At the request of late Narla Venkateswararao, editor Andhra Prabha, he sent the literature of M N Roy to him in 1955.M N Roy died in 1955 but Narla Venkateswararao ignored that news while the whole national press covered the news. Then Mr Avula Gopalakrishna Murthy chastised Mr Narla Venkateswararao , ridiculed his journalism. Then Mr V R Narla requested Mr Narahari to supply all the literature of M N Roy. That is how Mr Narahari supplied the whole literature of Roy which converted Mr Narla Venkateswararao into Radical Humanism.
A Close friend of Mr T. S .Paulus, Principal of Andhra Christian college, Guntur, Narahari, campaigned for him during which elections in favor of Paulus.

Narahari died on 27 march, 1985   in Hyderabad.
Narahari used to argue that Man is not only essentially rational but also have other essential qualities.He was influenced by Roy`s Philosophy and Science .When he lost heavily in tobacco business he had undergone depression and wrote poetry, and many essays   which are lost.

Mr V .K.Krishna Menon, defence minister in the government of India was his close friend.

Kondaveeti Venkata kavi dedicated the second volume of his poem Jawaharlal Nehru to Narahari.

by Innaiah Narisetti

Mr Narahari ,fourth from left, Mr Vunnava Chimpaiah ,second

from left with Mr V K Krishna Memon, External affairs minister of India

--