A Jinxed Plane Grounds the President
Episode - 5
Part - 1
All of a sudden the aircraft started swaying in the skies. And moments later, it crashed, ploughed through the ground for a few hundred yards and screeched to a halt. Its nose and tail had fallen apart, while the engines spewed sparks and smoke. Yet , the aircraft did not burst into flames. As a passenger, I missed many a heartbeat but thankfully survived.
Part - 1
All of a sudden the aircraft started swaying in the skies. And moments later, it crashed, ploughed through the ground for a few hundred yards and screeched to a halt. Its nose and tail had fallen apart, while the engines spewed sparks and smoke. Yet , the aircraft did not burst into flames. As a passenger, I missed many a heartbeat but thankfully survived.
As I took part in the Padmavathi 'teppotsavam'(float festival) at Tiruchanur in the middle of July 1981, I received a phone call from the Chief Secretary. The gist of the call was that President Sri Neelam Sanjiva Reddy, then spending his summer at Rashtrapati Nilayam at Bolarum in Secunderabad, would like to visit Tirumala and spend 10-15 peaceful days atop the Hills, the abode of the Lord.
The message was unusual. Normally, the President visits Tirumala for a day or two. Even then the TTD found it taxing to make all the arrangements for the sojourn of the President. Making security arrangements for the President, providing accommodation and food to the President and his personal staff, security personnel, the Minister-in-waiting from the State Government and his staff and VIPs calling on the President, was a Herculean task.
The day - to day administration naturally suffered on such occasions. If the President, that too a former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, were to stay for 10-15 days at Tirumala, the TTD had to shoulder a great burden. Good cottages had to be reserved in large numbers in advance, putting common pilgrims to hardship in the process. In addition, whenever the President chose to visit the Temple, the 'darshan' for common pilgrims had to be halted, much to their annoyance and inconvenience. The President might spend ten days peacefully, but, what about others visiting Tirumala in quest of peace?
I explained all these aspects to the Chief Secretary and finally requested him: "Please draw the President's attention to the attendant problems". The Chief Secretary told me that he had already briefed and reasoned with the President. Yet the President was keen on spending two weeks atop the Hills quietly as an ordinary pilgrim, without inconveniencing anybody and without entertaining visitors. Would it be possible? I expressed my misgivings to the Chief Secretary. The Chief Secretary, however , assured me that he would speak to the President once again, at my request.
The very next morning, the Chief Secretary called me over the phone to say, "I have told him everything. But the President insists on staying atop the Hills. He says that he would like to worship the Lord not as the President of India but as an ordinary pilgrim. He wants the arrangements to be made without any pomp and show. "If you can arrive here today, I will take you to the President. Try if you can convince him". He puts down the telephone. What else could I have done? I rushed to the airport to catch the only flight to Hyderabad in the afternoon.
Those days an 'Avro' flight used to leave Tirupati at 3-30 pm and land in Hyderabad around 5-00 pm. As I left for Renigunta airport, I sought from Additional Superintendent for Police Ravulapati Seetarama Rao (working with the TTD) and TTD Vigilance Officer Janardhan Naidu, details about the Presidents earlier visits. I also asked for some information on the security plans for the President's visit. They turned up at the airport as I got into the plane. The aircraft took after a brief delay caused by our discussions.
I was seated in the aisle seat of the ninth row. Seated beside me by the window was the then Cultural Affairs Minister, Mr.Bhattam SriRama Murthy. We briefly spoke to each other about the President's visit. As the aircraft took off, thoughts also took a flight. How could I convince the President that his stay for 10-15 days would cause a lot of inconvenience to pilgrims? He might say that no attention be paid to him and that he would like to stay as a common pilgrim. Was it possible? He was a great devotee of the Lord. In two years during my tenure as Executive Officer, he had already visited Tirumala four times for short stays. Even then, in the name of security, transport, medical and health arrangements etc. 500 to 600 officials and staff were put on the job. How about his relatives , friends and political leaders? How could we look after all of them and provide accommodation, food , 'darshan', security for so many days? Oh God what would happen to pilgrims? I was jolted out of my thoughts by the turbulence in the flight. The aircraft swayed as it had lost balance.
OM NAMO SRINIVASAYA
OM NAMO NARAYANAYA
OM NAMO VENKATESAYA
What happened next , read in the upcoming episode 6 , " A Jinxed plane grounds the President , Part 2 " to be published on 31st Dec 2016.
OM NAMO NARAYANAYA
OM NAMO VENKATESAYA
What happened next , read in the upcoming episode 6 , " A Jinxed plane grounds the President , Part 2 " to be published on 31st Dec 2016.
6. A Jinxed plane grounds the President , Part 2
31st Dec 2016
31st Dec 2016