Bapuji’s Nellore Meet : Parakala Prabhakar

Parakala.org : Sri Konda Laxman Bapuji’s Sadbhavana Meet on Sunday, 20th November went off peacefully in Nellore. He was able to put forth his views on the division of the state without any disturbance. He not only argued for the need to create a separate Telangana State, but also said that the state should be divided into three. He batted for separate Rayalaseema also. He said he was in favour of smaller states, no matter how many.

Speakers in the meet expressed their views unhindered. Nobody barged into the meet. Nobody shouted slogans outside the venue. Nobody hurled abuses. Nobody tried to manhandle anybody.

Some prominent leaders who are for Visalandhra went to the venue, met Bapuji and other speakers. They greeted him, conveyed their respects to him, felicitated him with a shawl and left the venue.

Some of the speeches at the meet were less than dignified, if you go by the newspaper reports. 

Uncharacteristically, even Bapuji crossed his familiar line of argument. He said that only capitalists opposed the division of the state. Never mind. That’s what he wanted to say, and he said it. It was his wisdom. So be it.

The group that invited Bapuji and his companions is a pretty smallish one. It’s presence in Nellore is insignificant. The organisers were unfamiliar to the public life of Nellore. The strong and powerful players in the political and social scene of Nellore are strong integrationists. There were integrationists even during the 1972 Jai Andhra agitation. It is well known that during that phase Nellore was a hot bed of separatism. 

Separatism, however, is a very faint voice in Nellore now.

Notwithstanding the strong integrationist opinion, notwithstanding the anonymity of the organisers of the separatist meet, Bapuji’s meet went off peacefully.

What does this indicate?

It clearly shows that Visalandhra Vaadana is self-confident and secure. It is not afraid of anyone organising a meet to propagate a contrary view. It’s self-confidence is revealed by the fact that staunch integrationists met the visitors and showed their respect. It indicates that the integrationists are not against separatists as individuals but are only against separatism as an idea. They only disagree with the separatists on their vision of the future of Andhra Pradesh. Integrationists have shown that one can disagree without being disrespectful and undemocratic or disruptive.

Voices of integration are not loud and shrill. They are dignified. But they are clear.

Voices of separatism are loud, shrill, abusive and disruptive. They are a cacophony.

Nellore meet brought out this contrast into bold relief. The meet revealed the petty mindedness of separatists everywhere – in the Coastal area, in Rayalaseema and in the Telangana.

If Bapuji’s mission is Sadbhavana as he claims it is, it would have earned him respect if he had invited an integrationist to speak at his meeting. If he had given a public commitment that he would take an integrationist along with him and provide a platform for airing the argument, Bapuji would have lived up to the expectations of people who value spirit of tolerance in public life.

Has separatist pettiness polluted Bapuji’s Sadbhavana too?