Manoeuvring through master plan maze - 1
Episode 13
Part - 1
My wife Gopi and I were packing up to leave Tirupati for good when I noticed a big crowd outside our bungalow. (After a four year stint as TTD Executive Officer, I had been transferred ). Straightaway I recognized some faces in the crowd. I could not forget them because they had rained stones only a few months earlier to vent their anger against me. Even as their presence baffled me, my personal assistant Narayana rushed in to tell me why they had come. I was surprised.
Within a few days of my taking charge as TTD Executive Officer in 1978, I decided to have first hand knowledge of the state of affairs from the pilgrim's viewpoint. So I entered the queue sheds like any other ordinary devotee, reckoning that TTD staff would not recognize me since I had landed in Tirumala only a few days earlier.
It was a bitter experience. Pilgrims had to wait an excruciating 12 to 18 hours before they could have 'darshan' of the Lord. They had to sit on benches without backrests and that too in sheds, with asbestos sheet roofs. As the sun beat down mercilessly on the roof, the pilgrims underneath bore the brunt of the radiating heat. The young and the old were shouting for water to quench their thirst. Each shed could accommodate 500 to 600 pilgrims. The TTD staff, who locked up the sheds, sauntered outside. After inordinate waiting in the sheds, the pilgrims moved finally into the darshan queue. That queue ran almost for a kilometer. The pilgrims had to go up and down climbing steps and crossing bridges over roads before they could enter the sanctum sanctorum. By then, they were all sweating and panting. Hardly did they stand and close their eyes in front of the Lord to pray when the staff shooed them away to make way for others. For me it was a revelation. Pilgrims, who had traveled hundreds or thousands of miles, had only a split second glimpse of the Lord after what seemed to be endless waiting.
It was a bitter experience. Pilgrims had to wait an excruciating 12 to 18 hours before they could have 'darshan' of the Lord. They had to sit on benches without backrests and that too in sheds, with asbestos sheet roofs. As the sun beat down mercilessly on the roof, the pilgrims underneath bore the brunt of the radiating heat. The young and the old were shouting for water to quench their thirst. Each shed could accommodate 500 to 600 pilgrims. The TTD staff, who locked up the sheds, sauntered outside. After inordinate waiting in the sheds, the pilgrims moved finally into the darshan queue. That queue ran almost for a kilometer. The pilgrims had to go up and down climbing steps and crossing bridges over roads before they could enter the sanctum sanctorum. By then, they were all sweating and panting. Hardly did they stand and close their eyes in front of the Lord to pray when the staff shooed them away to make way for others. For me it was a revelation. Pilgrims, who had traveled hundreds or thousands of miles, had only a split second glimpse of the Lord after what seemed to be endless waiting.
After 'darshan', the devotees would step out of the temple through the 'maha dwaram'. Climbing a few steps they could enter Sannidhi Street. It was not a street - just an overcrowded narrow passage. The 150 yard long lane was barely six feet in width. It presented a picture of total chaos and confusion, thronged as it was always with people. There were shops on either side of the lane. Hawkers selling pictures, balloons, and trinkets moved from one end of the street to the other all the time. Brokers took pilgrims for a ride and pickpockets had a free run. After the devotees made their way through the crowd, they reached a half-finished temple tower('mondi gopuram') and a makeshift shelter for Bedi Anjaneya Swami, who shared the scanty accommodation with unauthorized barbers. To the right of Sannidhi Street, (where the 'asthana mantap', canteen and free dining hall are now located). there was a huge slum of 1100 unauthorized structures like huts and sheds with tin/asbestos roofs. Next to the Sannidhi slum, there were a couple of other slums with 500 sheds and huts including the one at the site where the present queue complex is located. They resembled the notorious Bombay slums.
I quickly realized that the holy temple of Lord Srinivasa lay amidst narrow lanes filled with filth, cheats, brokers and vendors, asbestos sheet sheds and slums. Pilgrims had to play the modern version of the snakes and ladders game before they could have the split second 'darshan' of the Lord. The situation distressed me immensely.
I quickly realized that the holy temple of Lord Srinivasa lay amidst narrow lanes filled with filth, cheats, brokers and vendors, asbestos sheet sheds and slums. Pilgrims had to play the modern version of the snakes and ladders game before they could have the split second 'darshan' of the Lord. The situation distressed me immensely.
I asked senior TTD officials as to why such an appalling situation in Tirumala had not been remedied. They pointed out that several attempts had indeed been made to improve matters. Plans had been drawn up for a modern queue complex for the convenience of pilgrims. But nothing could be done unless all the unauthorized structures and slums around the temple were cleared. The authorized mutts with their many unauthorized tenants, private encroachments, and illegal occupation of TTD structures skirting the temple on all its four sides had to be shifted elsewhere. There was a need to regulate shops, which had sprouted and proliferated without any rule or rhyme. Whenever an attempt was made to clean up the mess, the affected parties rushed to courts and obtained stay orders. All of them pursued businesses or occupations that centered round the temple. As a result, to protect their own interest, a powerful lobby had emerged. Whoever was the Executive Officer and whatever was the change he sought to bring in, his hands were quickly tied down with cases in courts of law.
In 1978 , the TTD was facing innumerable stays and litigations connected with its efforts to clear encroachments and deal with the menace of illegal occupation. A number of cases had been filed in courts ranging from those at Tirupati to the Supreme Court in Delhi.
Instances of brokers cheating and thieves stealing from pilgrims were very common as they took advantage of the perpetual 'Jatra' like atmosphere. The appalling conditions disillusioned and depressed me. I agonized: Could we not do something? Should we abandon Tirumala to exploiters? I had only questions but no answers.
In 1978 , the TTD was facing innumerable stays and litigations connected with its efforts to clear encroachments and deal with the menace of illegal occupation. A number of cases had been filed in courts ranging from those at Tirupati to the Supreme Court in Delhi.
Instances of brokers cheating and thieves stealing from pilgrims were very common as they took advantage of the perpetual 'Jatra' like atmosphere. The appalling conditions disillusioned and depressed me. I agonized: Could we not do something? Should we abandon Tirumala to exploiters? I had only questions but no answers.
I went through all the old records religiously. I could see that all Executive Officers who had preceded me, were hardly indifferent to Tirumala's development. They too were seized with a burning desire to develop Tirumala. For instance, the TTD board had cleared several development projects like the construction of a modern queue complex. Even the foundation stone had been laid. But, paradoxically, there was just enough room in the slum to accommodate the foundation stone. About 599 huts and sheds housing more than a thousand families had to be demolished for the queue complex to come up.
But how did Sri PVRK Prasad work through this complex situation. And slowly as we read though experiences , should we start assuming Lord wanted Sri Prasad to come on as a Executive Officer to complete some major tasks??
But how did Sri PVRK Prasad work through this complex situation. And slowly as we read though experiences , should we start assuming Lord wanted Sri Prasad to come on as a Executive Officer to complete some major tasks??
OM NAMO SRINIVASAYA
OM NAMO NARAYANAYA
OM NAMO VENKATESAYA
OM NAMO NARAYANAYA
OM NAMO VENKATESAYA