The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Reporter's Diary

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 11, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Reporter's Diary

What a name!

EVERY THIRD colony that springs up in the city has a similar name. You can find Gandhi Nagar, Nehru Nagar and Ambedkar Nagar in every nook and corner of the city. Then come the ones named after gods like Sri Rama, Sri Krishna, Venkateshwara Swamy, Saibaba, Raghavendra Swamy and Ayyappa Swamy. A bit more enterprising residents come up with some fashionable names and the copycats are ready there too. The point is people are finding it hard to find a name that would save them from identity crisis.

But the developers of this colony are either short of names or got bored with the names of gods and politicians. So they aptly named it "One More Colony". Don't be surprised if someone follows it up with "Another Colony" and "Yet Another Colony".

* * *

WHAT DOES R.P. stand for in the name of the Additional DGP, Provisioning and Logistics, R.P. Singh? Responsive and Progressive Singh? At least, that was how the former Hyderabad Commissioner was referred to at a function organised by the "Friends of Iran Society" on Monday.

First, it was one of the members of the society who, while showering praises on Mr. Singh referred to him as Responsive and Progressive Singh for his remarkable work as Hyderabad Police Commissioner.

But, a while later, none other then the Assembly Speaker, K.R. Suresh Reddy (who was the chief guest for the function), chose to call him by the same "name". As the audience smiled "in support" of the new name, Mr. Singh in his usual style chose to smile too. Did someone say "Naam badal dala!."

* * *

PUBLICITY FOR politicians, pressure for policemen. With Congress men vying with each other to brush shoulders with the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, during his `Nagara Bata' organised on city fringes on Sunday, police had a tough time making security arrangements.

The recent exchange of fire between police and the Left wing extremists had cast a shadow on the ongoing peace talks. "These minor incidents may mean different things to different people. But our sole concern is security of the Chief Minister in the backdrop of the naxals' claymore mine attack on N. Chandrababu Naidu earlier," a police officer explained. But, all security norms were thrown to the winds with enthusiastic supporters surging ahead to shake hands with Mr. Reedy. Local Congress leaders pushed one another to prove to the public their proximity with the VVIP. "Politicians make every possible gimmick to prove they are close to the VVIP. But, when some mishap takes place, they blame us for security lapses," a policeman observed.

* * *

From the time tsunami wreaked havoc, a spate of relief programmes was taken up to provide succour to the affected people.

Cricket stars too chipped in with their charity match in Australia and donated tidy sums. It was in this backdrop that the limited overs cricket match between senior IPS officers and film actors was played on Sunday at the Gymkhana Grounds. People who had come to the playground wondered aloud if this match too was in that category.

The smiles of the senior cops vanished and jaws dropped when asked if this was true. They sheepishly stated that the match with the film actors was decided long ago and yes, they would hold another match for the benefit of the tsunami victims.

By R. Ravikanth Reddy, Vikram Sharma, Marri Ramu, V. Geetanath

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