Venkaiah garu: Life in service of Bharat

Today, India's former vice-president and respected statesman Shri M Venkaiah Naidu garu turns 75.

I wish him a long and healthy life, and also extend my greetings to all his well-wishers and supporters. This is an occasion to celebrate a leader whose life journey showcases dedication, adaptability, and an unwavering commitment to public service.

From his early days in the political arena to his tenure as vice-president, Venkaiah garu's career exemplifies his unique ability to navigate the complexities of Indian politics with ease and humility. His eloquence, wit, and steadfast focus on developmental issues have earned him respect across party lines.

Venkaiah garu and I have been associated with each other for decades. We have worked together, and I have also learned a lot from him. If there is one thing that has remained common in his life, it is the love for people. His brush with activism and politics began in Andhra Pradesh with student politics as a student leader. Considering his talent, oratory, and organisational skills, he would have been welcomed in any political party but he preferred to work with the Sangh Parivar because he was inspired by the vision of Nation First. He was associated with the RSS, ABVP, and then strengthened the Jana Sangh and the BJP. When the Emergency was imposed almost 50 years ago, young Venkaiahgaru immersed himself in the anti-Emergency movement. He was imprisoned and that too for inviting Loknayak JP to Andhra Pradesh. This commitment to democracy would be seen time and again in his political career. In the mid-1980s, when the great NTR's government was unceremoniously dismissed by the Congress, he was again at the forefront of the movement to protect democratic principles.