Tenneti Vishwanatham Remembered

Gandhiji proclaimed repeatedly, “defeat never dares to embrace a satyagrahi with tenatious regard and attachment to truth” and Tenneti was one such lifetime Satyagrahi, truth seeker and a true patriot that fought to free India from foreign yoke along with his guru Prakasham, Gandhiji and various other great patriots of our country. He was wedded to Truth.

He was a Sathyyagrahi, a true Gandhian and a faithful follower of Andhra Kesari Tanguturi Prakasam. As a people’s representative, minister, administrator, parliamentarian, he made maximum contribution in achieving the various projects that helped to increase irrigation and food production. He brought out legislations that helped the poor tenants. He played an active part in getting the steel plant located in Vishakapatnam. He was the voice of the people.

People in general, fail to understand and take advantage of the lives and teachings of the great men, who spend all their energy and time for the good of others, motivated by the sayings of great seers like Swami Vivekananda.

A dedicated and devoted patriot that he was, blessed by god with a handsome personality, Tenneti, was a universal mind whose sympathies were co-extant with humanity. In his political life too, he actually lived “Asparsa Yoga – yoga of non-touch. Goudapada, the great guru of illustrious Adishankara, in his “Karika on Mandukya Upanishad”, salutes this Siddantha. Swami Raganathananda asks, “Yoga of non-touch with what?” and answers himself “Yoga of severence with all connection with Gain/Joy/Success”. Tenneti was a Janaka in contemporary political era, a great karmayogi, a fact that amazed the first Prime Minister of India, Nehru and Indira who made efforts to make him a Finance Minister at the centre but Tenneti declined the offer. However, we feel that it was the nation’s ill-luck that he did not enter active politics at national level.

As stated by late Sri Cherla Ganapati Sastri in his introduction (along with the then V.C. of Andhra University), Dr. Tenneti was endowed with a high degree of equanimity (Samadarshana). He did not marry when his wife died five months after the wedding. He had an exemplary life and was looked upon as a role model. In those days there were three legislators who were highly respected in Andhra – Tenneti, Vavilala and Sundarayya, known for simplicity, dignity and integrity.

As Turlapati, the journalist and ardent admirer of Tenneti, aptly puts it, “Tenneti’s heart is Ramayanam, his mind is MahaBharatam and his soul is full of Bhagavata.”

I am of the opinion that to perpetuate his memory, Dr. Tenneti Vedic/Upanishadic Values Research Institute should be started for the benefit of the people of the present day as a befitting tribute to this great soul.