Rulers need philosophical outlook towards politics: Prof Haragopal

Warangal: Exceptionally talented former Prime Minister late PV Narasimha Rao, often referred to as ‘Apara Chanakya’ by political pundits, once desired to quit politics 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 the topic ‘Knowledge, Politics: Plato Philosopher King’. He shared his experiences with Narasimha Rao during the lecture.

Two months before former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination, PV 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 that the individual’s rise or fall is inconsequential in human history while referring to his life. He tried to overcome the limitations of power prevailing in his times,” Haragopal said.

Explaining the limitations and dehumanising effect the power would have on individuals, the Professor noted that only a person having scholarly traits, familiar with history, literature and philosophic outlook towards political power would overcome such things.

Narasimha Rao, who was having such qualities, had conquered the evil effects of power and changed the course of Indian history by leading the nation in 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 stand as examples for such skill, Prof Haragopal pointed out.

When he chose Prof Ram Reddy everyone criticised him saying that the selection was made because Ram Reddy belonged to Karimnagar district, from which PV Narasimha Rao hailed. But he did not bother since he acted like a philosopher rising above caste and creed and chose non-political people to serve the country.

Prof Haragopal, who is a faculty member at Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Hyderabad, suggested to Indian universities to adopt Narasimha Rao’s Roman à clef ‘Insider’ as a reference book to analyse Indian politics. The lecture was organised by PV Narasimha Rao Memorial Trust in association with Kakatiya University. The Trust chairperson and PV Narasimha Rao’s daughter Vani Devi presented an account of works undertaken by the Trust in propagating Narasimha Rao’s memories and work.

University Registrar Prof M V Ranga Rao, University College Vice-Principal K Damodar Rao and Prof K Sitarama Rao were present at the programme. PV’s family members and a large number of students and faculty members of the university were present.