PV contemplated to quit politics: Prof Haragopal

Warangal: Exceptionally talented former Prime Minister late P V Narasimha Rao, often referred to as ‘Apara Chanakya’ by political pundits, once desired to quit politics as he was disgusted with the complexities of Indian polity.

This was revealed by Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) National Fellow Prof G Haragopal while delivering the fourth PV Narasimha Rao Memorial Lecture at Kakatiya University on ‘Knowledge, Politics: Plato Philosopher King’. He recalled his experiences with Narasimha Rao during the lecture. Two months before former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination, P V Narasimha Rao was seriously mulling over making an exit from politics and taking up research work through Swami Ramananda Thirtha Memorial Trust with which he was associated.

“Narasimha Rao remarked, referring to his life, that the individual’s rise or fall was inconsequential in human history. He tried to overcome the limitations of power prevailing in his times,” Haragopal said. Narasimha Rao, who was having such qualities, conquered the evil effects of power and changed the course of Indian history by leading the nation in the most trying times. His success could be attributed to his skill in identifying right talents for right places. Appointing former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as Finance Minister in his cabinet and choosing Prof G Ram Reddy as UGC Chairman stood as examples for such skill, Prof Haragopal pointed out.