My Father
… Mr. Y.S.Prakash Reddy Second son Pulivendula
I am Y.S.Prakash Reddy, the sixth one of our family and the fourth survived and second male child. I am told that one brother elder to me died in his childhood. My father had recorded the names – first son: Ananda Reddy; second: Prakash Reddy; third: Joseph Reddy. Second son who died was Prakash Reddy whose name was given to me as I was the next. Even though I am the second son in the family, I looked after all the family matters as elder brother, Anand Reddy moved to Hyderabad after his marriage. I had to take the responsibilities of the whole family which I only regard as a blessing from my father and grace from God. I used to have access with everyone and everybody used to come to me for their needs. Thus I commanded respect from everyone. In any kind of important situation, we brothers used to get together with one mind. Whenever my brother used to come home, or we go to Hyderabad, brothers used to be friendly and closely knit. In 1973, October, there was an advertisement for three tenders: Renigunta - Balapalle Railway contracts. My tender was accepted for first and third work. My tenders were named in the name of Y.S.C. Konda Reddy & Company. Second tender went to a contractor from Anantapur by name Hampi Reddy. Unexpectedly in 1974 April, the rates of diesel 17 and petrol including the spare parts of the trucks had gone up tremendously. Many spares for the trucks were not even available, and also the labour cost gone up which resulted in the downfall of our income. By the end of 1974, though we could complete the first tender, there was no returns of investment on the other hand there was a big loss consequently we were unable to take up the third tender which was about to be suspended. If it would have happened so, we loose only Rs.20,000/ - as deposit, if we go for continuation of work, everyday we may loose two to three thousand Rupees in addition to the loss of deposit. I consulted my father, whether I can give up this contract as I was heading towards a big loss. But he instructed me to put all that we have earned out of contracts and continue the work in order to avoid defame that Konda Reddy had run away from the contract. Therefore, on his encouragement, we continued the work. In those days, my father’s younger brother was in dolomite mining work in Kodur. He had extended financial assistance for us which we eventually cleared as our bills were paid. At the same time, because of bankruptcy the contractor of the second Reach. Mr. Hampi Reddy committed suicide and his work had gone to the Nellore contractors. During 1976, due to floods in Diviseema of Guntur district there was a big loss for us for which my father approached the concerned engineers to reimburse the loss, but in vain. On the other hand they informed, unless we complete the work we would not get the payment even for the work attended. In such crises, we had to sell some of our properties. My father got fed up with the negotiations that took place with the officers and left home by instructing us – stop the work, pack up everything and come back home. Before leaving, my father said to the officers “People understood the greatness of Jesus only after His crucifixion”, you did not understand even the risk we had taken. Then the officers came to me and asked me to continue the work with a promise to make all payments with in two months, and they advanced some payment and asked to consult my father. Along with my father, I went to Bangalore and consulted with the chief engineer to continue the work. In 1978, we finished the work, submitted all the bills and came home. We were able to realize Rs.6, 00,000/- from railways on arbitration.
Family Division Among our brothers, we never had a dispute on properties. However in 1979, we divided our properties, eventhough I didn’t like it. I invited my father to come and live with us. But he decided to be with my younger brother, to assist him in his agriculture works as he was not able to manage alone. In fact, we spared some arrangements for my father’s livelihood. But he returned a portion of it saying “as father, I have a responsibility. When you are earning much money I was able to spend freely for my expenses. Now, my sons are in crises, I don’t like to keep money in the bank for me”. Tears rolled in my eyes. From that day onwards, I decided to establish my own factory. As children are growing in their education, I was not able to spare my time for the contract works and railway court cases. Some how, my routine of studying the Bible was disrupted. However, I continued in my habit of singing Christian hymns until I go to bed. My wife never seized in her daily prayers and continued to be faithful to God. 19
Some times, I used to share with my close friends about my religious life for which they opened my eyes saying -” because of your wife’s prayers your business and all your traveling are safe. Any disaster would happen while you travel in the nights, but nothing has happened to you. Never your car broke down. Don’t you think that this is all because of her prayers to God?!” At the time when I was laying foundation to my factory, my father questioned “you are busy with your work in mines and visiting offices, and children are busy with their college education and who will look after the factory?” I replied, “People usually say that Konda Reddy is always in the mission, I want to hear the same thing again, and therefore I ask you to be in the factory not because you would earn me a big business”. My father curbed my audacity – “there is not much benefit from the factory, moreover I have already spent Rs.20, 000/- from the investments.” As father, he had to say that to me. .I insisted him that he would be in the factory, neither for profits nor big business. Also in connection with hospital construction work of my brother in law, Sri Gangi Reddy, my father several times came to me for consultation. I think my father had held so much confidence and respect that no father would have done.
Family intact I think, I had better access with my father than anybody else. In my business affairs he was very much keen in advising me. His concerns were great. We several times argued, agreed to disagree, convince each other and even there were times that we cried together. In some situations, 20 he used to blame me of my stubbornness. I have no words to express my feelings when he says, “I am at peace only when I am with you”. I think my life received its meaning when my father approved me with such compliments. What more do I need! Once, we brothers went to my father and spoke to him harshly on some matter and returned home. He was much hurt. Slowly we realized that particular day was 13th July 1993 which was his birthday. We all became very guilty and tendered our apologies to him by telephones, promising him that we all will listen to what he says. We really did not realize how much we hurt him. Next day morning, we all personally went to him to beg his pardon. It was about 10 am when my younger brother, Joseph Reddy called me by phone and said that the medical treatment to father was administered and found that there was blood mixed with puss in his lungs. I could not control my emotions and broke out. Immediately I went to the hospital. By 2 pm I received the medical report which said that my father had cancer. On the advice of my brother in law, Dr. Gangi Reddy, we took my father to Medwin hospital, Hyderabad to arrange Chemotherapy. After 23 days, we brought him back to Dr.Gangi Reddy’s hospital. I spent the whole day with my father, singing “Nadipinchu naa nava……..” until he went to sleep. Morning when I return to hospital, my father asked me not to leave him alone. I promised him that I would be with him until he discharged. Therefore even if I go on camp, immediately I was returning to the hospital. Because of his blessings only I did not have to go on camp for orders. Instead the orders were coming to me.
It was remarkable that when my father before dying, put his hands on each one of us saying “God bless you”, many people from my Pulivendula town thronged around him for his blessings. During his 3 months time, in my brother-in-law, Dr.Gangi Reddy’s hospital, my maternal uncle Sri Chenna Reddy and his sons Janardhan Reddy, Rajasekhar Reddy served him with much love and care. My father was always an upright man without letting anybody to blame him. Even if anybody blames him, he would never retaliate but come home and quietly feel sad in himself. In spite of all the difficulties and busy schedules, he was spending time in prayers. While he was in the hospital, he was listening to the gospel. Prayer was his life line. He never gossiped about anybody. During his last days, he was expressing his desire to die on a Sunday. Accordingly on 14th November 1993, at about 5.30 pm he remembered uncle Prabhudas and later on he entered into the eternal rest on a Sunday. For me, as my father taught, only in the confidence of our Lord Jesus Christ, through prayers, I have been getting good results in anything I do. God has provided me everything in my life. There is nothing that I would want. This is all because of the grace of Lord, blessing of my father and ever prayerful life of my wife, Smt.Padmavathi. Whenever I go to church, and sit beside Uncle Dr.Purushotham Reddy, I feel I am in the presence of my father. I always feel the loss of my father.
Spiritual Discipline All our brothers and sisters still cherish the spiritual discipline that our father taught us. And hence, we are able to live with all our amenities in the church and in the society. The following words always come to my mind in my spiritual journey – 22
1.
He has made everything beautiful in its time.
2.
That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God.
3.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 Ecclesiastes 3:13
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might. Ecclesiastes 9:10
4.
And without faith it is impossible to please God.
5.
The LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.
6.
Psalm 147:11
The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment.
7.
Proverbs 10:21
My son, keep your father’s commands and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
8.
Hebrews 11:6
Proverbs 6:20
Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice. Proverbs 16:8
9.
Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.
Proverbs 16:32
10. The memory of the righteous will be a blessing.
Proverbs 10:7
11. The righteous man is rescued from trouble, and it comes on the wicked instead.
Proverbs 11:8
12. Those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.
1 Peter 4:19
13. All these people were still living by faith when they died. Hebrews 11:13 14. In the way of righteousness there is life; along that path is immortality. Proverbs 12:28 15. The spirit returns to God who gave it.
Ecclesiastes 12:7
16. Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. John 14:1-4 23
Mother’s love, an embodiment of sacrifice There is a great significance for women in God’s creation. Even though it is written that through man woman was created, in the creation more importance is ascribed to woman. In any family, even though father is the head, mother’s sacrifice is more significant in rearing the children and nurturing the family. She sacrifices her life for the family. Even though the father built the house, mother runs the home. Mother passes through 3 difficult circumstances. First she conceives the children in her womb for 9 months. Second we can not explain her labour pains. Thirdly she rears children giving her own strength through lactation. Though father earns many facilities to the house, it is mother with all her talents and ability uses appropriately all of them and run the home forward. She doesn’t care for her health at the cost of the family. That is why it is said that, we should not accuse our mother and father. Among all kinds of sins that a man would commit, the biggest sin is accusing the mother. In our society, woman in her childhood depends upon her father, after marriage on her husband, in her old age on her children. In all the stages, the role of woman is greatly appreciable. We also can see in the third word on the cross, how Jesus Christ at the time of his passion with all his agony, handed over the responsibility of his mother to his disciple John. We must provide respect and freedom to all women in our family, church and in society. We should not make her feel lonely, and dump all the responsibilities on her making her psychologically oppressed and depriving the opportunity for female education. Reason for degrading values of women in the society is man not giving equitable opportunities to woman. My mother really corroborated the saying – “behind every successful man, stands a woman”. My father Sri Y.S. Chinna Konda Reddy was the only son to my grandparents Sri Y.S. Venkata Reddy and his first wife Smt.Lakshmamma. Smt.Lakshmamma died of sickness and my grandfather married Mangamma who gave birth to Sugunamma, Ratnamma, Prabhudas Reddy, Rajamma, Raja Reddy, Meramma, Purushotham Reddy and Kamalamma. Gradually, Sri Y.S. Venkat Reddy deteriorated in his health and my father, Sri Y.S. Chinna Konda Reddy had to take the family responsibility. My mother, Smt Rajamma was the daughter of Sri Pedda Subba Reddy, who was a cousin to Smt Mangamma. My mother had moved to Balapanur from her native place Rajupalem in her childhood for the sake of her education, but she could not get a chance to do so. In a family which is known for its education and having the credit of the first graduate of the district coming from this family, can anyone imagine an illiterate in this family? And that was my mother Rajamma. But for her tremendous virtues, she became the second daughter-in-law of Venkata Reddy and a wife to Chinna Konda Reddy, winning the favour of everyone around. Having given birth to 13 children, she also took care of boys and girls in the in-laws home with selfless love and concern, Smt.Rajamma became an exemplary personality. My father used to be on camp all the time, but we never felt his absence because of my mother. In nurturing 25 the children, with culture and integrity, though illitrate my mother became unique surpassing the educated persons. She was justified as daughter in law of Sri Y.S.Venkata Reddy because of her fine qualities and pious life. She was involved in her daily routine – wake up at 4.00 am, doing her morning prayers, milking the animal, cooking food for the entire household, cleaning the house and by evening measuring the wages to the daily labour, having evening prayers and going to bed at 9.30 pm. She was teaching to us values of life such as utilization of time, self-reliance and dignity of work, thus she became the prime teacher to all of us.
My mother – an exemplary personality Mother! you have struggled for us indefatigable. Meeting more than all our needs Though illiterate, you have taught to us all quick – parts. Discipline that never missed the mark. Un regrettable results of hard work. Among 13 members of big family, grown up age of 90's you have been toiling for us. Example of a mother to mothers, you have opened our eyes. “Love” was her trade mark, Kindness was her right. Anxious to invite everybody as your own – hospitality to all the guests. You have won the favour of everybody, bagged all blessings of God and Made yourself an adorable. Your son – YS Prakash Reddy In the midst of her tireless family life, without wanting anything, my mother always felt that she was an illiterate. She used to struggle to make out a headline in the news paper that I used to read when I was in 8th standard. Having seen her zeal, I bought an illustrated Bible with bold letters from the Bible women of our church. I was bringing that Biblical Books in my cycle' carrier and lost it somewhere. Having known this fact, my mother expressed her grief – “even God doesn’t like me to read ........” This pricked my heart so deeply. As all the children left outstations for their higher studies, total burden of housekeeping fell on my mother and due to her busy works, she had forgotten the little reading ability she gained. Because of her brought up in a highly Hindu traditional family, my mother lived with my father as a typical Indian house-wife. She proved her faith through the time of our family prayers. For the perfect meaning of the word “woman”, my mother’s life is a living witness. She was feeling bad whenever somebody ask her about her faith in Jesus for which she used to feel that she was illiterate nor could read the Bible nor can preach, she was always embarrassed. It is meaningless to think that reading ability and preaching ability are the conditions to have faith in Jesus. My mother was a believer who proved in her life the commandment “love thy neighbour as thyself”. My mother proved to be a complete woman with meaning and respect as a daughter to her parents, wife to her husband, a daughter in law, a mother, a mother in law, and a grand mother winning the hearts of everybody at each stage. If at all there is a second life, I long to be son of these parents. We are indebted to God and grateful to Him for giving us such wonderful parents. Whenever I read the Bible, and talk about my parents, it stucks to our hearts the words in Proverbs: 31:10-22.
“A good wife who can find?! She is far more precious than jewel The heart of her husband trust in her And he will have no lack of gain She does him good and not harm All the days of her life. She seeks wool and flacks and works with willing hands She is like the ships of the merchants; she brings her food from afar She rises while it is yet night, and provides food for her households And tasks for her maidens. She considers a field and buys it With the fruit of her hands, she plants a wine yard She girds her lions with strengths and makes her arms strong She perceives that her merchandise is profitable Her lamp does not go out at night She puts her hand to the distaff And her hands hold the spindle She opens her hand to the poor And reaches her hand to the needy She is not afraid of snow for her household For her household are clothed in scarlet She makes herself covering Her clothing is fine linen and purple Her husband is known in the gates”
Smt. Rajamma w/o Late Sri Y.S.Chinna KondaReddy blessing her grandson Late Y.S.Paul JaganMohan Reddy S/o Y.S.Prakash Reddy on his wedding day.
Late Sri Y.S.C.Konda Reddy along with Late Dr.Y.S.Rajasekhar Reddy (our former Chief Minister) on the occassion of his grandson's marriage of Late Paul Jagan Mohan Reddy s/o Y.S.Prakash Reddy 29