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Kothapalli Jayashankar

Kothapalli Jayashankar (77), who emerged as an ideologue for the separate movement and was former Vice-Chancellor of Kakatiya University, died here on Tuesday. He was a bachelor, but had an adopted son named Brahmam.

Prof. Jayashankar was suffering from cancer for quite some time and was admitted to a private hospital in Hyderabad. He was later shifted to his house in the Advocates' Colony in Hanamkonda near here.

His death is a big setback to the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) since he had been the guiding force for the party in channelising the aspirations of its cadres, particularly the youth, for creation of a separate State of Telangana. He played a key role in the TRS' negotiations with the Centre on December 9, 2009 that led to the announcement by Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram that the Government of India would begin the process of creating a separate State.

Prof. Jayashankar was actively associated with the separate Telangana movement for the best part of his active life spanning five decades. He emerged as the polestar of the Telangana movement extending his intellectual support to various individuals and organisations that championed the cause of statehood to the region.

As soon as the news of his demise spread, hundreds of people from different walks of life made a beeline to his residence to pay their last respects. Scores of TRS activists and students of Kakatiya University students prevented Telugu Desam and Congress leaders from paying tributes to Prof. Jayashankar. TDP leaders -- R. Prakash Reddy, MLA, Gundu Sudha Rani, MP, and N. Rajalingam, MLC, were virtually chased away by unruly crowds.

The youth remained highly charged and unrelenting despite requests from TRS leaders to stay calm. Political JAC chairman P. Kodandaram, TRS MLA T. Harish Rao, K.T. Rama Rao, and others appealed to the youth to allow everyone to visit and pay their last respects to the departed leader, but in vain.

A large number of policemen arrived on the scene but could do little as the youth decided to go ahead with their plans to block the arrival of Congress and TDP leaders.

Born on August 6, 1934, Jayashankar completed MA Economics and obtained Ph D from Osmania University. He began his career as teacher at CKM College and taught Economics. He served CKM, CIEFL, and Kakatiya University in several capacities until his appointment as Vice-Chancellor of the university in 1991. He was member of National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector during 2004–2006.

Tributes

TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao rushed from Hyderabad to Prof. Jayashankar's residence to pay his tributes. Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy led a host of political leaders in paying rich tributes to the departed soul.