Details of releasing function of book MAHASWAPNAM MAHATMA GANDHI compiled by Dr Nagasuri Venugopal, Asst Director, AIR, Hyderabad Sri Ravela Somayya, the publisher, Dr Nagasuri Venugopal,the editor, Justice B Sudarshan Reddy, released the book ; Sti P Janardhan Reddy, a Gandhian who presided the event ; Advocate Sri Pratapa Reddy, the chief guest and Sti M Papi Reddy , who received the first copy (from left to right)
On the ninth of August – the fateful day in 1945 on which an atomic bomb was thrown on the city of Nagasaki in Japan, the second bomb to bring the World War II to an end – a small book of about 135 pages, THE MAGINIFICIENT DREAM (Mahaswapnam) was released at Hyderabad commemorating the pacifist philosophy of the Mahatma.It is an attempt to compile the editorials of the veteran editor Narla Venkateswara Rao, the path breaker of journalism in Telugu (popularly referred to as V.R.Narla). The idea itself is the brainchild of Dr. Nagasuri Venugopal (at present with AIR) to show how a rationalist and atheist like V.R.Narla was so much appreciative of the life of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. It is well known that the staunch crusader of atheism, GORA, has also lived with the Mahatma in his Ashram for some time to understand him and succeeded in convincing him that Truth is higher than God. Thus, it is clear that Gandhi earned the respect of even his opponents for his sincerity and honesty by living his ideals. He proved to be a practical leader and succeeded to lead the freedom movement. Incidentally, he gave a gift of Truth and Non-violence to the body politic as the only way out of the present society dominated by guns and bombs in the hands of egocentric politicians.
The editorials of Narla are selected for the purpose of giving a perspective to the present generation to understand Gandhi. Narla asserted that Gandhi became a leader not because he wanted to be one; he became a leader because history thrust that responsibility on him, and he found himself unable to escape from it. Narla pointed out that Gandhi was not the first to postulate non-violence. Buddha and Jesus pleaded for it. But it is Gandhi that gave a practical perspective for it, to realise it in practice against brutal violence. By that he earned a place beside the two prophets. He condemned the idea of making India a Hindu State and dedicated his life to achieve harmony between the followers of various religions. Narla descried the assassination of Gandhi as something more frightening than an earthquake or volcanic eruption. He considered his birth as a fortune of India and at the same time it is an unbearable shame that he was assassinated by one of us. Partition of Indian subcontinent is the greatest crime in history, worse than even the Holocaust. The agony felt by Gandhi was unbearable and he wished for an early end to his life. The assassination came as if to fulfill his sad wish. The memory of the people is very short. The society travelled so far that the assassin is being applauded as a patriot worth emulation!
While compiling the editorials of Narla the compiler also felt it necessary to expel the notion that Gandhi was antagonistic to science and technology. He contributed his own articles for the purpose. He explained the deep friendship between Gandhi and Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia during their lifetime. In addition, he has added translations of rare articles about Gandhi by Anu Bandyopadhyay, Jawaharlal Nehru and Vincent Shien. Thus, in spite of being small, the book succeeded in giving a comprehensive view of Gandhi and his ideals and practical life. Dr. Nagasuri Venugopal deserves congratulations for it.
The book was released by the learned Justice B. Sudarsan Reddy (Retd) of Supreme Court of India. He explained the various aspects of Gandhi's philosophy and how he was prepared to sacrifice himself to solve delicate problems. He also explained how he was instrumental in shaping the freedom movement with his moral authority. Mr. K. Pratap Reddy, the Senior Advocate and sincere believer in Gandhian philosophy lamented that those who are in power are only using the name of Gandhi whenever necessary to get credibility but always undermining his ideals. He asserted that Gandhi is more relevant and necessary today than when he was living. The meeting was presided over by the veteran socialist and former MLA Sri P. Janardan Reddy.
The book is published by Ram Manohar Lohia Samata Trust and Lohia Vignana Samiti under the auspices of Sri Ravela Somayya. He organized the meeting to bring Gandhi to the notice of the elite of the city lest they forget. His continuous efforts to uphold the torch of Socialism and Gandhism must be encouraged.
Jawaharlal Jasthi
Hyderabad, 16 August 2019