Though I was born on 28-12-1938, the earliest childhood memories could be traced only from 1947 when I studied first form in Municipal Middle School , Vizianagaram. I was with my paternal grand parents. I had to walk to and fro twice from my home in K L Puram (Kukalametta Lakshmipuram) to School along Peddacheruvu gattu. I vividly remember the large sized mosquitoes relaxing on the school walls during rainy season. We had a Mathematics teacher (with amputated left hand) who was prone to beat students if they do not solve problems correctly. I remember D V L N Teacher who taught us Telugu. Mr.Uparadastra was the Head Master. I came to know (from where I don’t remember) that his daughter was a well known singer/dancer. That was the time when we used to hear stories of a rebellious girl student nick-named ‘Aggipette’ (match box) in M R College who was alleged to have slapped her class mate (boy). Probably that was the first time I could have known an empowered woman. Those were the days when the Head Master admitted me directly in first form on the basis of my performance in an interview conducted by him testing my knowledge in various subjects. My grand father took me for admission and wrote A L Mohan Rao in the form. My father on knowing it grew angry with my grand father and got Rao deleted from my name, because as a follower of the Gandhian thought that Rao gives out ones caste and so it should be deleted. My grand mother never wanted me to be named after my grand father (Satyanarayana) and being a fan of Mahatma Gandhi wanted me to be named Mohan and my father added Lakshmana in memory of one of his demised mama. Thus, I ended up as Lakshmana Mohan. I may now feel convinced that naming me as Mohan must have been responsible for my insistence on being truthful, honest, outright and lawful till now. I admire Gandhian thought in spite of the human foibles so often exaggerated, sensationalized and publicized by mean minded people. II My two years stay (1950-52) at Rajam seems to have laid the foundations for developing my personality (traits) later. Surprisingly I developed keen interest in morse telegraphy that I mastered in a short time on my own sitting in my uncle’s (Post Master) office in between two sessions of the school and when my uncle used to retire to the adjoining quarters for siesta. When he once fell ill and he could not get a reliever to make him avail leave (my handwriting was just like his) I could manage the telegraphic work and the Post office work successfully winning his approbation. Desire to excel in whatever I had an opportunity to do even in unfamiliar arenas must have sown the first seeds of self-confidence in me. That was the time when I read Vishwathmula Narasimha Murty’s translation of count of Monte Christo novel into Telugu serialized in Andhra Patrika weekly. My aunt initiated me into reading it as she used to interestingly narrate stories from epics etc at bed time. It lead me to read works (translated) of Dickens, Mark Twaine, Julse Verne etc.,that were serialized in Telugu weekly. It must have played a prominent role in my growing into a voracious reader later. My uncle was stickler to punctuality and a disciplinarian of a rare breed. His obsession for truth was frightening while my cousin (elder) brother used to fumble out of fear in replying truthfully to his searching questions, I used to reply him truthfully and courageously. While my frankness was appreciated my brother was left with the disgust of his dad. This experience must have helped me grow into a person of firm convictions. We had an excellent teacher (Sri Tanikella Bhanumurthy) teaching Telugu who encouraged me to attempt classical Telugu poetry. I tried my hand at Kandamala, Utpalamala etc., for some time. Probably it did the trick of getting me interested in Telugu writings per se. Facing an audience of hundred deep and reciting GETTYSBERG ADDRESS of Lincoln in a recitation competition won me first prize at Rajam but the same ended in a damp squib when I repeated it in my college days! Observing my aunt’s visiting brother smoking I was fascinated and when my aunt chided me not to be carried away, I assured her that I shall smoke the moment I earn my first salary. I stood by my words and resorted to smoking from 1 July 1961 to date. I have neither an intention nor compulsion to give up smoking. At another time, I challenged a friend of my brother who insulted him to come for a fight and took great pride in my courage in contrast to my brother’s impotent anger. That I could be rebellious was known to me then. III My stay at Rajam remains incomplete if I donot recall my remarkable friendships I struck there. Jabali Muni Putrevu (my elder cousins class-fellow and bosom friend) remained an affectionate friend of me as well as my younger bro to date for,nearly six decades.He continues showering the same amount of affection that he had when we first met. Another was P Narasimharaju ( son oof Dr krishnamraju our neighour)later became a Doctor and now stays at vizianagaram where his son is a practising OPTHALMOLOGIST.Many other friendships vanished in thin air as I could never cross their paths once I left Rajam. I shifted to NARASANNAPETA (Npeta) in 1952 on my uncles transfer.It is a TOWN compared to Rajam which remained in my memory as a village.At this place we had electricity in our quarters.Majority of my class-fellows hailed from families of affluent landlords,freedomfighters and rich vysya families.Tankala Babji Gupta ( Grandson of a renowned FREEDOMFIGHTER Potnuru Swamybabu ) my friend and class-fellow became a SARPANCH a record number of years and now heads VAJRAM CHARITABLE TRUST there.At this place I started taking greater interest in the happenings beyond class work and school. I had a friend T Hyagreevarao who used to score highest marks in Social Studies subject even though he seldom attended the classes and used to secure miserably low marks in all subjects except English. Curiosity drove me into his friendship when I discovered his avid interest in COMMUNIST Literature and addiction to Vishalandra, Telugu Daily Newspaper.After his Postgraduation at AU he actively participated in the communist movement under the leadership of Tarimela Nagireddy ,went underground being dubbed as a Naxalite , dabbled in Journalism for sometime and now lives at ANAKAPALLE as a reformed communist. Our HEADMASTER Choppalli Jagannadhaswamygaru was an excellent teacher of English and a disciplinarian.We had fear as well as respect for him.He prodded me to write in English using appropriate idioms from Eagletons Grammar Text and insisted on correct spellings of words used. Thus the foundation for my writing grammatically correct idiomatic English was laid by him. My active participation in the STRIKE on the death of Potti Sriramulu demanding separate Andhra state afforded an opportunity to draft the STRIKE NOTICE in English and serve it on the Headmaster as none had guts to do so.Strong influence of Shri Ch.J.S. on me had a Lions share in shaping subsequently my PERSONA. Securing second rank in sslc public exams from my school is more due to my regularity in attending classes than study at home.The first hindi movie seen by me was AWAARA at Narasannapeta, with narration of the story in telugu in between the many intermissions (which were as many as the number of films reels)!.
