HYDERABAD: Advisor to government and retired bureaucrat AK Goel’s maiden book, ‘Emergence of Telangana’, was released by noted historian and another retired bureaucrat Narendra Luther here on Saturday.
Goel, who was born in Haryana and is TRS Politburo member, said the book was a result of four years of putting down into writing a collective understanding of learning from his four-decade-long career. The book, however, starts from prehistoric era.
Luther said: “The book raises two questions: What is Telangana and who made Telangana? It is not TRS, KCR, Channa Reddy etc but Goel’s answer is a big bang: the beginning of universe.”
He said he was relieved to see no signs of sycophancy in the book which he expected. “What is released today is not a book but the author himself,” he remarked.
Another advisor to government, A Ramalaxman, Goel’s colleague in TRS Politburo, said the book would be a great help to TPSC job aspirants.
Gautam Pingle, author of ‘Fall and Rise of Telangana’ and former director of Public Policy and Governance, ASCI, called Goel an adopted son of the soil.
T Vivek of Telangana History Society said the initial 70 pages of the 460-page book would test one’s patience. He said it was disappointing to see Kakatiyas, Akkanna-Madannas and the turbulent times between 1948 and 1952 did not get the attention they deserve.
Navin Mittal, GHMC special commissioner, termed the book ‘first real authentic account of all aspects of the state of Telangana.
Goel’s former colleague Prashant Mohapatra said societies and civilisations must learn how to harness power to make progress. Publisher of the book Supriya Balarao praised the straight-forward way of writing and great research Goel put into the book.