Features: Magazine | Literary Review | Life | Metro Plus | Open Page | Education Plus | Book Review | Business | SciTech | Friday Review | Young World | Property Plus | Quest | Folio |

Humility and etiquette were the hallmark

T. VENKATESWARA RAO, the first Mayor of Vijayawada city, unravels the days of yore when he moved closely with the who's who of the nation, including Indira Gandhi.

WELCOME MA'M T.Venkateswara Rao welcoming Indira Gandhi at Gannavaram airport. Chanumolu Venkata Rao, P.V.Narasimha Rao (partially visible), Kotla Vijayabhaskara Reddy are also seen

It was indeed a memorable moment for me. Though it happened nearly two-and-a-half decades ago, I remember it well. October 19, 1982 - Prime Minister Indira Gandhi made a flying visit to Vijayawada. A galaxy of Congress leaders came to receive her at the Gannavaram airport.

Being a senior leader of the Communist Party of India, I was at the airport just for protocol. Chief Minister Kolta Vijayabhaskara Reddy and several stalwarts of the Congress party had come to receive their leader. The crowd jostled to get closer to the Prime Minister and offer her bouquets and garlands, but I waited with patience for my turn to offer her a garland.

Pleasant surprise

But I was in for a pleasant surprise when, pushing aside all the party bigwigs, Indira Gandhi headed straight towards me. After accepting a garland from me, she asked my permission to enter the city.

In the United States, even the President has to take the permission of the mayor before entering a city. Though national leaders did not bother to take permission, the mayors were informed about their visits. Now even that is not being done.

Indira Gandhi, who toured the world extensively, was sure to know the importance of such niceties. Another stalwart of the Congress party who became Prime Minister of the country, P.V.Narasimha Rao (standing behind Vijayabhaskara Reddy in the picture) and Mylavaram MLA (a senior member of the party who worked as a Minister) Chanumolu Venkata Rao were witness to her etiquette.

Courtesy call

Leaders those days observed protocol. Despite being the Minister for Municipal Administration, Sarojini Pullareddi waited to receive me at the entrance when I made a courtesy call on her at her residence. And when I left, she came right up to the car to see me off.

In my long career as a councillor, I was elected as the mayor of the city twice (once directly). I had the opportunity to receive several top leaders -- presidents, vice-presidents and prime ministers - who visited the city. I, however, remember my meeting with Indira Gandhi because of the importance she gave to tradition and etiquette. I am a stickler for protocol and tradition myself. I ensured that all members who were elected to the municipal corporation general body observed protocol without fail when I was the mayor.

(As told to G. V. Ramana Rao)

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail