Naanna Meru
PARVATHAMU, AMMA DHEERA VANITHA Mr. Y.S.Manohar Reddy 5th Son, Pulivendula
M eru parvathamu stands for courage, stability, grandeur and firmness. Dheera vanitha means courageous lady. Before I share my memories of my father, I must say few words about my mother who shared with us her life of love, affection and friendship. We always feel happy about our mother who has toiled so much in building up our future. Her role as mother is matchless in our ideal family. Especially she poured out her love on me in several ways which I cannot forget. She is a gracious and great lady. She diligently argued against untouchability even in those traditional days. My father was a man of great personality who stood firm in all kinds of difficulties and hurdles. He was a courageous man who lived his life for the sake of principles and faith he stood for. Spotlessness, self confidence, quality, reliability and so on are embedded in his mind. We are indeed blessed for having a father like him. I cannot express my joy when my brother Sri.YS.Prakash Reddy asked me to share my experiences with my father to be incorporated in this book. I appreciated his idea and thank him for this opportunity. My father‘s ambition was to make me study well and become a doctor. My brother Y.S.Prakash Reddy also tried very much to send me 72 for medicine. But the financial situation of our family in those days was just enough for our education and marriages. I could not fulfill the desire of my father. My ambition was to fulfill father’s desire somehow to make at least one of our family members to do medicine and my last son YS.Arun Kumar Reddy could fulfill it. In my childhood I often used to go along with my father to the farm works where I used to see his piousness and hard work. Once he decides anything he never took it back. During 1976-’77 he got a contract in Renigunta – Balapalle railway section. Having known that he was heading towards a big loss because of the rise in the prices, double the cost of diesel and so on he never took back from that contract but completed the work even at the cost of selling our property. During that contract work, one day, I had slight fever and I came to my room after fixing up the labour on work, in order to have my breakfast. Just at the same time my father entered into the room and severely scolded me for showing no I interest in the work and having not made arrangements for the next day’s work. In fact, because of my fever I ignored to arrange sand and gravel for the next day. Next day my father personally took me to the work place and explained to me the procedures of all that I was supposed to do and I was simply happy for the gentle way my father taught me. I erected a workshop in Pulivendla in April 1979. Even though my father did not approve it in the beginning, later on he and my uncle C.V.Subbareddy encouraged me very much. Having a desire to see me as a doctor my father did not like the idea of workshop. When he had observed the way the workshop was running, He really appreciated me. 73
Having seen so many people getting jobs my father expressed his desire that I should start ITI School and give free education to the poor students. But I had to refuse to my father’s advice because of our limited financial situation. However as days passed by the words of my father were lingering in my ears and I took it as my responsibility to help educating the poor children. My father, not only cared for his family, but he also cared for others in their difficulties. I was traveling to Dharmavaram once in the car through Kadiri Ghat. We saw a big stone at the third corner on the road. At that time it was very hard for trucks to climb the Ghat, so they used big stones for support. My father stopped the car and asked me to remove the stone. He made me remove all the stones in the corners of the ghat road. He didn’t like others to face the difficulty with the stones even though the stones were not a problem for our car at that time. I felt very happy for doing so. In 1993 July my father deteriorated in his health suddenly. He was brought to Hyderabad Medwin hospital. I was there with him. I could not bear the sight of my father suffering especially when they were extracting fluid from the spine of my father. Even now I remember that and feel sad. I always question why such suffering for my father who believe so strongly in Jesus Christ and proclaim his Gospel so much. He came back to Pulivendula and received treatment from my sister Sugunakka and Gangireddy bava. After few months on 14th Nov 1993 which was a Sunday he departed into heavenly bliss. I was really privileged to have a chance to serve my father at least for that short period. 74
I did not have the privilege of serving my parents much. They always stayed with my younger brother. Once they visited our home and said that they would stay with us only. I felt so happy that at least now I got the chance of serving them. But they left on the very next day to my brother’s house again. I felt very sad but compromised that their happiness is more important for me. I can say that my brother took very good care of my parents and I often felt that I may not take that much care. After my father’s demise even now my mother is staying with my brother Joseph Reddy. She is happy and comfortable there. I learnt from my father to love everyone, help the poor and destitute, rescue those who depend upon us, life of hard work, reading the Bible regularly and praying. The best tribute that we can give to my father is to continue to live in the religious life of faith which he taught to us.
Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. Pro.3:3-5