“Navatha” Chukka Reddy Passed Away At 72:- ‘Janadharma’ Acharya, ‘Jeeva Gadda’ Vijay Kumar, ‘Kekalu’ Ramdass, and ‘Mantalu’ Prabhakar - these titles are not their surnames but names of the magazines or newspapers published by them.
And the publications were so popular in Telangana that they became the first names of the publishers. Also belonging to this category was ‘Navatha’ Chukka Reddy, who passed away at a hospital in Hyderabad today at the age of 72.
Janadharma, Jeeva Gadda, Kekalu, Mantalu and Navatha inspired a generation and have left a great impression on the people of Telangana. These people have, at one time or another, for whatever the duration, published magazines or newspapers with a fearless and independent attitude.
From Warangal, MS Acharya used to publish ‘Janadharma’ and later also founded the daily ‘Warangal Vaani’. Its office in JPN Road, Warangal, was a state of affairs of political thinking and was considered as a journalism school. Many of today’s eminent journalists have reputed from this school.
Noted professor and present member of Central Information Commission Mr Madabhushi Sridhar is his son. Facing may difficulties, Mr Ramdass ran “Kekalu” from Nizamabad. He later started another publication called ‘Poddu’. From Karimnagar, ‘Jeeva Gadda’, a daily published by Vijay Kumar, was much talked about and many journalists started their careers with this organization.
Chairman of Telangana Press Academy Allam Narayana and Chairman of Telangana State Public Service Commission Ghanta Chakrapani, had began their journalistic careers with ‘Jeeva Gadda’. Its office located at Ganesh Nagar of Karimnagar was the most happening place with politicians and journalists gathering there. Various Left organizations and their members were regulars there. And ‘Mantalu’ Prabhakar, published from the small town Jagitial and true to its name, boldly highlighted several social issues over the years.
Komatireddy Chukka Reddy was born in Chegyam village of Velgatur mandal of old Karimnagar district. Although born into a well-to-do agricultural family, from a young age, he was drawn towards literature from a young age. His writings were published in a well known magazine of the yesteryears, “Yuva”. People have always referred to him with his new surname ‘Navatha’, the publication he started in 1978.
‘Navatha’ came out till 1990, and was known for its people-oriented stories and fighting for people’s rights. Many stories published in the so-called mainstream newspapers had their roots in the investigative stories published in ‘Jeeva Gadda’ and ‘Navatha’.
Apart from his editorial duties, Chukka Reddy was always involved in several people’s movements. From the well-known Karimnagar leader Juvvadi Chokka Rao to ward-level leaders, politicians of all hues consulted him for his opinion.
Mr Chokka Rao was always in touch with Chukka Reddy and another personality who went by the name ‘Union Bank’ Srinivas. Without any bias, Chukka Reddy used to analyze politics. Maybe this was the reason why the ‘clean’ politician Chokka Rao valued his opinion. Chukka Reddy was always the first person at R&B Guest House, whenever Chokka Rao visited Karimnagar. Chukka Reddy was well read, and must have read almost all the known books in Telugu and English.
For the Telangana people’s movement and the society, his demise is a great loss.
SUPRAJA
