Hyderabad: In her budget speech, Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman drew inspiration from renowned Telugu poet and social reformer Gurajada Appa Rao. Quoting his famous lines, “Deshamante Mattikadoi, Deshamante Manushuloi,” Sitharaman emphasised that a nation is not just its soil, but its people.
Less than two minutes into her speech, the minister said, “Today, we begin a journey to unlock our nation’s tremendous potential for prosperity and global positioning.” She said the budget aims to foster growth across all regions.
These words from Gurajada, born in Visakhapatnam and known for his social reforms, resonated deeply in her speech. He highlighted that a nation’s true strength lies in its people, not its soil. His impactful poetry has inspired many, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who quoted the same lines while launching the Covid-19 vaccination programme in Jan 2021. The lines, “Deshamante Mattikadoi, Deshamante Manushuloi,” remind us that a country’s essence lies in the unity and strength of its citizens, rather than the land itself.
Modi also quoted lines from Gurajada’s poem ‘Deshamunu Preminchu Manna,’ urging people to set aside self-interest for the common good, reinforcing the poet’s call for national service. Gurajada’s literary works, including ‘Kanyasulkam,’ ‘Neelagiri Paataalu,’ and ‘Subhadra,’ have left a lasting impact on Telugu literature.
His legacy is cherished not just in literature but also in the public sphere, with his home in Vizianagaram converted into a museum.
