Today is the unfortunate day the State lost YS Rajasekhara Reddy four years ago.  It was on 2nd September 2009 that the people of the State after worrying for his whereabouts for one full day came to know of his demise by air crash in Nallamala forest.

In the present days it is very hard for a person to satisfy everyone around him.  But YSR achieved it.  He made happy his family members, his close associates, his party men, the people of the State and also the party’s high command.   YSR was famous for giving boons.  Whoever approached him was given what was asked.  His intimate ones adored him for his generosity.  

Rajasekhara Reddy was known as Rajanna by his intimate ones and as YSR by the general public of the State.   We realize what is meant by health only when we fall sick that is the absence of the health.  An able person’s abilities can be best understood only in his absence.  

YSR handled the situation in the State single handed.  Although Telangana demand was there, the State operated without any hindrances in the normal life style of the people of the State.  As long as he was holding the reigns, Central Government never interfered in the affairs of the State.  He also handled opposition party well.  Welfare activities went on smoothly.  He totally controlled the State wearing a smile.  He was seen calm and poised even when the entire Assembly was in tension.  He also satisfied the Congress Party High Command by naming the welfare activities after Rajiv Gandhi.  

The present day situation in the State and in the Congress party in the State clearly indicates that YSR is a missing link in the mechanism of coordination in the State’s affairs. 

He made padayatra for 1475 kilometers for three months in hot summer that brought him close to the people of the State and brought him a thumping win in 2004 general elections.  He won again in the elections in 2009 but as the destiny has it, he met an untimely death soon after assuming power for the second time as Chief Minister.  

Although his son YS Jaganmohan Reddy was not welcomed by the Center, YSR could not be disowned by it.  In the political field particularly, most of the people at present believe in the hearts of their hearts that YSR could have handled the present situation more efficiently and at ease.   Although his close associates got blamed and are charged in various cases afterwards, he never subjected any one to the unhappy events during his life time.  Everyone was having a feeling of security in his presence.  Only his absence due to untimely death made a difference.  

So many take birth and die on the earth but only few are remembered.  YSR was one of them.  He is remembered today on his death anniversary by many people of the State from all walks of life.  And that is what everyone dreams of achieving in their lives!

-SriJa