Dr. Yeduguri Sandinti Rajasekhara Reddy(1949-2009)

During the journey of one’s life, one meets with, and hears about scores of personalities, but there are only a few who leave an indelible impression on one’s heart – former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Dr. Yeduguri Sandinti Rajasekhara Reddy, who died in a helicopter crash on Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009, was one such personality. Four others, traveling with him on that fateful day, also died in the crash over Nallamalla forest area in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh.

YSR, as he was fondly called, was a leader of the masses. Without a shadow of doubt this charismatic, devout Christian was a man of conviction, integrity, task-orientation and determination. The welfarist approach he adopted, where he didn’t forget that his power was dependent on the support and confidence of the common man, won him the gratitude and support of people at large. It was the successful implementation of his populist measures like health insurance, irrigation projects, National Rural Employment Gurantee Scheme, etc. that brought him close to the hearts of Andhraites. His positive approach, that endeared him to the masses, is evident from the fact that Mr Reddy, on the day of the crash, was on his way for a surprise inspection of development schemes in Chittor village . The sixty year old, also known as “KING OF KADAPPA”( due to his family estate near Pulivendula in Kadappa district of Andhra Pradesh), was so well loved by the people, that the news of his sudden demise triggered a spate of suicides and deaths due to shock in the state.

YSR is the ninth Indian VIP to die in an aircrash since nuclear scientist Homi Jehangir Bhabha died in an plane accident in France in 1966. This tragedy is a grim reminder of the deaths in aerial crashes of Indian personalities like Sanjay Gandhi, Madhavrao Scindia, G.M.C. Balayogi, S. Mohan Kumaramangalam, O.P.Jindal, Surendra Singh, Dera Natung and C. Sangma. Perhaps one of the first Indian political leaders to die in a plane crash was the freedom fighter Subhash Chandra Bose – on 18th August 1945 in present day Taiwan, but many insist to this day that he survived that crash.

YSR will always be remembered as a powerful leader and a dynamic human being. He has left a mark of distinction in his capacity, and the vaccum created by his untimely demise will be difficult to fill. We, as a Nation, pray to the Almighty to bless our Great India with similar leaders of vision, determination, conviction and other  qualities that will help our country to  emerge as the super power of the 21st Century.