Must Read – A Tribute To Ramoji Rao By Eenadu Employee

Cherukuri Ramoji Rao would not ring any bell in your mind but Ramoji Rao will definitely strike a chord in your heart. Ramoji Rao attained immense credibility that his name itself turned into a brand in the industrial sector, which speaks volumes about his dedication and determination. In fact, integrity and credibility are the hallmark of Ramoji’s character.

The general public would know less about his character and ideologies. On the outside, people would only know that he supported the TDP and helped the party chief N. Chandrababu Naidu rise to power.

All this talk would keep you wonder as to who am I and how could I know so much about Ramoji Rao.

Having worked with Eenadu organization for a very long period, I am an employee at the managerial-level and have an experience of being in a key post implementing the decisions taken by the management.

Fondly called as the chairman by the employees, Ramoji Rao earned the respect owing to his wider knowledge and bigger perspective in taking key decisions. It is necessary to know Ramoji Rao’s personality and value system to respect him.

Of the numerous employees who leave the Eenadu organization having worked in managerial positions, only a few Employees leaving the who rose to key positions in Eenadu group people who left the organization would show exhibit their hatred and disregard towards Ramoji Rao. This is mainly because of vested interest.

The primary necessity to grow and secure high positions in Eenadu group is not caste. The entire system in Eenadu group has been set in such a manner that employees having little talent but are hardworking will definitely be singled out and made to ascend the ladder, without any caste discrimination. This is the greatness of Ramoji Rao.

Let us consider a few prominent people in Telugu states.

Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy, Kurasala Kannababu, Kommineni Srinivasa Rao, and many more started their life in Ramoji School and had been very ordinary people then. But, later in their life they had risen to prominent positions. Ramoji is known for transforming individuals into reckoning forces.

In fact, if the film producers can venture to take his life’s incidents and decisions as movies, they will be able to picturize nearly 50 movies without doubt. However, I will let you know about only five important events in his life now.

YS Padayatra

It is believed that Ramoji Rao and Eeenadu are puppets in TDP’s hands. People are of the opinion that Eenadu focuses only on TDP’s interests and benefits. But, this is not true. Only a few people will know about this fact. Situations have changed now but five years ago, they were different.

Sensing the public’s encouraging response to former CM late YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s padayatra, the editorial team had several doubts over its media coverage. Mustering courage, the editorial team raised the issue before Ramoji who replied that the newspaper always protects the interests of the people. If people are wanting YSR, let us respect their aspirations. We have no right to go against them, he said. This is true and the readers can crosscheck this with those who had worked in top-notch positions in Eenadu.

Ramoji Rao and YSR had animosity against each other and it is a public secret. There had been pleas from YSR to Eenadu not to write anything against his government and he even tried to woo Ramoji Rao making several offers but he did not yield. He stood by the public and replied that the newspaper would continue to question the mistakes and faults of the Congress government.

The enemity between them widened and even went to character assassination of Ramoji Rao and also posed problems in the functioning of Margadarsi Chits. But Ramoji remained unfazed and sent a message that he was prepared for the worst and finally, YSR had to come to the table to make peace.

YSR Chopper Crash

When YSR died in a chopper crash, Ramoji Rao tried to visit his bereaved family but many said that it would lead to several doubts on him.

At that time, Ramoji said: “YSR is a gentleman. Personally, I do not have any rivalry with him. His family is in grief and condoling them is my duty. I will not care about what others speak, he said and reached Hyderabad from the Ramoji Film City.

After visiting YSR’s family and reaching the guesthouse, the editorial team tried to have an idea on the coverage of YSR’s demise.

When the team tried to broach the issue and question him, Ramoji said that his demise was a tragedy and iterated that the newspaper would continue to stand by the people. The popular leader YSR’s valediction should also be matching his personality. There is no need of any doubt. For the next few days, Sakshi newspaper, owned by YSR’s son Jagan Mohan Reddy, fell short before Eenadu in covering YSR’s death. Eenadu carried a lifesize image of YSR on the front page the next day after his demise and Sakshi people requested that they should also be given an original copy of Eenadu newspaper.

Ramoji Vs Jagan

The feud between Ramoji and former CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy is nothing new. While Sakshi published cartoons showing Ramoji Rao naked, Eenadu refrained from any such image. Ramoji Rao only said that the Eenadu editorial had some ethics of its own and that the limits should not be breached.

Whenever anyone crossed the limits, Ramoji Rao used to pacify them. It is not that there was no animosity between Ramoji Rao and YS Family but all that is a part of duty. Ramoji only fought against those who differed with his ideology to stand for the people but not personal.

In the recent past, there has been a change in Eenadu writing style after the government tried to arrest him and his daughter-in-law in connection with the Margadarsi episode. He was not so disturbed even by his naked caricature published by Sakshi but attempts to arrest him and his family members brought agony to Ramoji Rao.

When YS Jagan Mohan Reddy was the opposition leader and wanted to meet Ramoji Rao, the latter invited him and even spent more than two hours without showing any disrespect for the treatment being meted out to him in Sakshi newspaper. This reflects Ramoji Rao’s maturity in thought and act.

Punctuality

Ramoji Rao respects time and if he gives an appointment to anyone at a particular time, he ensures that he is ahead of the schedule but never behind. Ramoji Rao might not be paying heavily to his employees but he ensures that they lead a comfortable life with the earnings from his organisations. He is a disciplined man and is very strict in ensuring that his employees are also disciplined.

News space for owner

Usually, owners of media houses would like to get their photographs and those of their family members published in prominence in their newspapers but Ramoji Rao was completely against it. He never liked to be the focus of the media. If his photo occupied a big space on the newspaper, the editor was reprimanded for the mistake the next day. At one point of time, he even made it clear that there is no need of his photos in the newspaper. Use that space to publish news necessary for the public, he said. He opposed unnecessary publicity.

It was only in the last few years that there has been some change in this policy.

Eenadu gets utmost priority

Ramoji Rao was into many trades but his favourite remains Eenadu newspaper. He ensured that some special standards were maintained to attract the readership for the newspaper. He never compromised on the quality of the content just to earn to some extra revenue. It is true that money is backbone for every organization but Ramoji Rao never compromised on the quality of the news published in his newspaper.

Initially, he even decided the amount of ads on each page and the editorial used to stick to the norm. He never let the space to be sold even when customers offered crores of rupees. He insisted that only news should be published in that space.

The Eenadu editorial team was given ultimate priority even when there used to be several other wings and sections. When the advertising department used to try to explain him the importance of increased revenue, he used to argue that their ads have no value without the editorial team’s news and views on the page. The advertisements are only a result of the editorial team’s efforts in filling the pages with meaningful news and opinions.

Ramoji is a legend and will continue to live in the hearts of journalists and commoners even after his death for the immense contribution in shaping Andhra Pradesh’s politics and future.