HYDERABAD: Venkatesh’s movie Gemeni, released in 2002, and Nakka Rajasekhar Goud’s life story are similar. In the movie, Venky is a rowdy who peeps into his own conscience and realises how his chosen path is not right and without a second thought, swiftly shifts gears to the right track. Two decades ago, Rajasekhar was a goon. Today he is a reformed man.
Like any other 20-something boy, he was also fun- loving and enthusiastic. His misplaced enthusiasm to change the society made him chose the wrong path. The influences of the company he was with overshadowed his intentions. The political leaders he worked for ended up taking advantage of him. Of course, Rajasekhar blames himself for trusting the wrong people.
“In 1992, I had majored in BCom from Sanghi College, Tarnaka. I was always with a gang of boys loitering around. I would easily get provoked. Whenever someone would ask me for help, I would rush and indulge in violence, all as part of ‘settlement’. I was unaware that it was unlawful. I was blindfolded by company I was in. I naively entered the criminal realm. Soon enough, my name featured in a few police cases in 1992 and 1994. In 1996, a major incident took place, which landed a gang into custody and I was one among them. I was rowdy sheeted in the Alwal Police limits,” he recalls.
Rajasekhar dreamt of being a sub inspector of police and had also appeared for a few selection examinations. “Whenever I indulged in some criminal activities, I stayed away from the city until things cooled down. Then the police would visit my place searching for me. My parents, who were oblivious about my activities, would inform that I have gone to appear for some selections. When the police would tell them the truth, it was heart breaking. They tried their best to make me understand but I never paid heed,” he says.
Narasimhulu was the Circle Inspector of Alwal station two decades ago learnt about Rajasekhar’s educational qualifications and counselled the 23-year-old on how to focus on SI selections. “He would explain to me how the leaders were misusing me. I would like to earnestly apologise to him a million times now for not taking his words seriously,” he reveals with moist eyes.
Rajasekhar spent a few months in custody for what he had done in 1996. His rowdy sheet was closed in 2003 and that was the turning point. Today Rajasekhar is a businessman. He is happy he is blessed with good kids who have learnt lessons from his life.
Whenever he spots teenagers, 20-something boys who seem inclined towards crime, he counsels them and helps them land a job. The educated ones get placed at call centres and the others as ticket collectors in a theatre or a waiter in a restaurant.
“I am keen to start an NGO called Bachao to rehabilitate wayward kids. I sit and explain to them about the dynamics of crime, the repurcussions, plight of their family members and their life at large,” he informs. He proudly shares that he has managed to help 20 boys make the transformation through his NGO. Although it is operation, he is in the process of registration.