PV gets his due

Ushering in economic reforms and steering India out of economic crisis by integrating the country with global market remains the single biggest achievement of Pamulaparthy Venkata Narasimha Rao, who was posthumously conferred with the highest Indian civilian award, Bharat Ratna, on Saturday.

The first and only Telugu Prime Minister, he also has the distinction of being the first Prime Minister outside the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty to complete a full five-year term.

PV, as the late leader was popularly known, earned a niche for himself in the state and national politics as a scholar-politician, a polyglot and an astute strategist.

He had served Congress at various levels and became the Chief Minister of combined Andhra Pradesh in 1971. He rose to national prominence, held several key portfolios including External Affairs and Home, and was credited with drafting the new education policy.

The services of PV, who was disowned by his own Congress party and was allegedly humiliated even in his death, got due recognition after formation of Telangana state with the new state’s first Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao invoking the legacy of ‘Telangana bidda’.

Born on June 28, 1921 in Vangara village in Karimnagar district (now in Telangana), PV also served as a Union Minister.

PV, who was elected to the Parliament in 1972, held several Cabinet posts under Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi including Foreign Minister from 1980 to 1984. Described as ‘political Chanakya’ by many, PV managed to complete the full term despite being just short of a majority in Parliament.

He, however, had to face the allegations of political manipulations to stay in power. He had the dubious distinction of being the first to face criminal charges and accusations in and out of the top office. He was cleared in all the three cases he faced trial in before his death.

PV has many firsts to his credit, first PM from South India and the first out of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty to complete a full term. PV also had the distinction of becoming the first Chief Minister of the united Andhra Pradesh (1971-72) from the Telangana region after the violent Telangana movement of 1969-70. His daughter, Vani Devi, MLC from Telangana, thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for rising above politics to confer Bharat Ratna on Narasimha Rao.