Warangal, Andhra Pradesh - 10th Feb 2011

There’s a bandh and strikes on here in Warangal due to the Telangana issue today making it dangerous for us to go out for programs in the morning.

We just step outside and see an all out tyre burning incident.. The shouts and slogans were in Telegu, but you could pretty much figure out what it’s about. They stacked up some tyres and lit the whole thing up and they were yelling to everybody on the roads. They even stopped vehicles, opened doors and shouted at the driver and passengers. Shops shutter down and what’s left is the protesters with the whole vicinity is smelling of the rubber tyres still burning. It’s almost like a regular occurrence here. We visit a few people living around. All the working people and students have all stayed home. Studies have been disrupted way too much ever since this whole thing started and so has the routine of the working man.

The Telangana issue has been raging on here for over 50 years now. Fr. Jayarao explained the situation - Leaders and politicians are not being elected from Telangana which is made up of 10 districts. Their economic situation, education, water and resources are not developed. It’s like a vicious circle – no development leads to no leaders being elected which leads to no development and so on and so forth. Whatever resources do come out of this region go into works of Andhra Pradesh and not for Telangana. People want a free state from Andhra Pradesh so that they have a chance to develop their resources and provide a better life to themselves and the coming generations. Protests started almost 60 years ago, bandhs have been continuing since then, and have got more pronounced in the last 5 years. Youth started getting involved in all of this, skipping college and their exams, staging violent protests, breaking property, burning tyres and stuff.. Killings also happened, mostly of the youth. The worst part is that so many youth were also killing themselves.

But what is the use? If they are alive at least they can fight for what they believe in, they can fight for justice, they can communicate, have dialogue, figure out a solution. What can you do if you are dead?

Telangana is 10 districts, the rest of AP is 35. So because of the majority most leaders are from here and apply their own policies. Soooooo many times the issue has been taken up by the state govt but ‘resolved’ that a separate state wont be formed. The central govt doesn’t give an answer. Just left it hanging. Corruption is rampant. Money flowing everywhere. The youth getting stuck in the midst of all the turmoil. Studies disrupted, working people’s lives disrupted. How much longer can this situation go on?

If anyone out there has any kind of answer to this problem, whether it is partial, silly, outrageous, anything – please say something. This cant be a lost cause.

We visited the home of Mr. Rayappa and Mary and their daughter Arpita in the morning. Happened to see photo of their son hanging above with a garland adorning it. They told us he passed away when on a trip with friends to Gangotri. He had some sort of a problem with the altitude and that caused some complication in his lungs. He couldn’t breathe..

 Its been about a year and a half, but it felt like the wound still fresh. He was only 23. Had been studying at IIT in West Bengal. His family couldn’t understand. They were just questioning why? They just couldn’t find a reason. It was heartbreaking to see them living in all that unknowing.. And the whole situation with the Telangana situation felt the same. The ‘why’ hanging in the air all the time. The wounds never healed completely before they were sliced open again and no one could understand why things couldn’t be right..

Warangal was one place where our team wasn’t sharing the same building to sleep at night, and all the girls where in a building just down the road. And guess what? We had neighbours! They were these two wonderful Italian ladies, Angela and Alessandra, in the room next door. I don’t fully remember the details, but they were here in Warangal to as social workers and were working primarily with children in the area. They were happy to meet us too, and learn about our campaign and journey. We invited them to join us for the program later that day.

In the evening, there was a program held at Waddepally village closeby. We were greeted with traditional teekas and garlands and the smear of haldi on the girls faces. There were smiles everywhere and the light feeling of celebration in the air. It was a very warm feeling, especially after the morning, to be welcomed and celebrated. The people were just so happy that we incorporated their small place into our yatra.

The interaction was mostly in Telegu and Rakesh spoke in English and Fr. Jayarao translated. The people were not as aware of issues as other places, but through the interaction I know they learnt a lot and also from each other. But the looks on the faces of the youth here..

Still with their innocence intact and full of a sprightly energy and the willingness to learn. They were a welcoming people, never to judge or discriminate, rather to fold you in their midst. And even though you may be different, you’re one of their own.

At the end, the locals put up a dance with their traditional garb and music and they performed it sooooooooo well!! And in the last one Solomon, with Jyothi, one of our local friends, climbed up on stage and started to dance with them alongside. Although the dance was a practiced one and meant for performance, they actually didn’t mind when Solomon and Jyothi joined them. Slowly our whole team got on stage and grooved to the music, Sister and all! And from the distance you could see Ravi’s head above all the rest, coz he’s so tall.. Hehehe..

But to see that togetherness and just their taking us in into the dance was something really beautiful. It could have easily gone the other way where they might have been annoyed, but they actually liked it and as people kept joining, they would even teach the steps.. What fun!

Before we left, it was the sweetest thing. All these young kids came up to all of us, they must have been 10 years old and younger, they shook our hands and said things like, “We will pray for you and your success” and “God is taking care of you” and “We are praying for you and you will only get good things on your journey” and “You have God’s blessing with you..”

It was like the purest blessing coming from these young spirits, so full of genuine care and love. We truly felt very special.