Tribute to YSR

For reasons unknown to me, I cried inconsolably when the news of YSR death reached me. Worse of it, I was far away in South Korea, having not slept throughout the night when the news of missing chopper has surfaced, till the next day, well over 36 hours from the time I woke up a day before, never losing hope that a miracle was in store.

Why? I've only seen him once more than 12 years ago, never benefited in any manner, nor a sycophant of YSR. 342 shocking deaths following his tragic death testify his immense popularity among the population. Not just congress party supporters, but scores of common people counted him as their own representative. Importantly his burial, and outpouring of grief mesmerized me the importance of losing a true mass leader, son of the soil.

He projected himself pro-poor, genuinely working to uplift the bottom of society. True to the core with a heart of economist, I know none of his schemes would contain poverty. Don't mistake him for pro-poor policies, he is equally long-sighted, with infrastructure improvement, be it scores of PPP (public-private-partnership) projects, including airports, express ways, shipping ports, special economic zones (SEZ), irrigation projects. The last of which would prove beneficial in the long run, because droughts are going to be a common place in near future, due to global warming. Like rest of many congress rulers, he promoted communal harmony, bit of minority appeasement, left-leaning policies (pro-poor), centrist approach with his development agenda, all in all I rate him 7 on a 10 scale.

Now come to the bashing, there are countless allegations against him, there might be a bit of truth to some allegations, he was associated with few bloody hands early in his career, and the amount of constant dissident voice he practiced, so much so that he was branded eternal dissident.

But nothing explains  the overwhelming amount of grief  that followed his sudden death. From the various accounts that I've personally heard, he has few qualities that endear his followers even more loyal to him. He never displays arrogance, even after becoming head of the state, he treats lift boys to IAS officers with equal respect. Several accounts testify he helps even his bitter critics when they seek help.

Is there something to learn from YSR. One that immediately strikes me is his hard work, a single goal to become chief minister of Andhra Pradesh. He constantly reinvented himself identifying with the cause of people,  meticulously moved his pawns, never losing sight of his goal. He never lobbied for short term benefits, like minister posts throughout his career. A true, living memory of what hard work would transform a common man to a finer politician fondly remembered.

He is not the only tragedy, India has lost several leaders in accidents and assassinations. I only wish India realizes the importance of protecting it's leaders. Enough is enough, we can't afford to lose yet another.