Party no bar: Students unperturbed over ‘Swaeroes hero’ Praveen Kumar joining BRS after quitting BSP

With little help from others, Kumar poured over his books, determined to usher in a change by entering politics.

However, politics had to wait. He pursued Veterinary Science from the Andhra Pradesh Agriculture University, before joining the Indian Police Service in 1995. He also holds a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard University’s Kennedy School.

Kumar rose through the ranks and became a director general of police. He was holding the office of the secretary of the Telangana Social and Tribal Welfare Residential Educational Institutions (TSWREIS) when he took voluntary retirement on 19 July 2021, six years before his superannuation.

He had by then won the sobriquets ‘Gurukul hero’ and ‘Swaeroes hero’, for his trailblazing work in promoting tribal and social welfare institutions. His initiatives grabbed national attention when a student of the Telangana Social Welfare School, Malavath Poorna from Nizamabad, became the youngest girl in the world to scale Mount Everest on 25 May 2014, at the age of 13 years and 11 months.

Poorna: Courage Has No Limit, a movie by Rahul Bose, was her biopic. Bose portrayed Kumar in the 2017 movie.

Related: Telangana BSP chief Praveen Kumar resigns ‘under pressure’

Inspiration to lakhs of students

Contrary to the initial belief that he might join hands with the TRS (now BRS), Kumar joined the BSP led by Mayawati with the firm belief that it was time for Dalits and Bahujans to strive to attain political power in the state.

The BRS had to wait three years to get Kumar in its fold. Two days after quitting the BSP, its former state president joined the BRS in the presence of former chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao.

Meanwhile, the ruling Congress had taken serious note of Kumar and his work. Addressing a Meet the Media programme organised as part of the Congress’s 100 days in power in Telangana, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy said Kumar was his choice to head the Telangana State Public Service Commission.

“RS Praveen Kumar is a Director General ranked officer and he would become one in Telangana, The delay of 15 days in announcing the chairman of Telangana State Public Service Commission was because I approached RS Praveen Kumar with the position. I intended that a top bureaucrat, an inspiration to lakhs of students, would be the perfect person. However, he refused the offer,” Revanth Reddy said.

Kumar has been appreciated widely and was an inspiration for many underprivileged students to pursue education. The students dedicate their success to Kumar.

Also Read: KCR schemes, Congress guarantees are conspiracies, says Praveen Kumar

To Sir, with Love

Mohammad Asif was one student whose life has been touched by Kumar. He was on a bus, heading to a friend’s place when South First caught up with him.

“Whatever I am today, I owe them all to RS Praveen Kumar Sir. After completing my 12th grade at a residential hostel in Telangana, sir, as the Secretary of a Social Welfare Institution, organised a study camp for underprivileged students seeking coaching for the IIT entrance test,” he said.

“Praveen sir also assisted us with funds from the welfare institution. With sir’s support, I secured a seat for a Degree in BSc Honors at Delhi University. It was sir who directed officials to assist me with funds from the Social Welfare Department.” he said.

The generosity did not stop with Kumar. “Now, I am pursuing my Masters in MSC Operational Research. I face challenges, but sir’s son Puneeth Repalle has provided me with accommodation and study support, as instructed by sir. He is a dedicated individual, and despite his switching political parties, we believe in his unwavering commitment to advocating the betterment of the marginalised and supporting students like us,” Asif said.

Another follower of Kumar said he was a potential chief minister, as endorsed by BSP national president Mayawati. Despite lacking media attention, conducting surveys, or financial backing, he demonstrated remarkable intellectual prowess. He is poised to represent the voice of the Bahujan community in Parliament, particularly advocating for the South,” he said, requesting anonymity.

“He has devoted countless hours to party affairs, eschewing personal enjoyment throughout his tenure. He is renowned for his unwavering commitment to providing opportunities for the Backward Caste (BC) community, encouraging their participation in the Bahujan Samaj Party. We will be missing him as a BSP candidate,” he added.

Also Read: Phones of journalist, poll strategist compromised: Praveen Kumar

Gentleman officer

Kumar had served in Kosovo for two years from 2005. During his stint with the UN Peacekeeping Force, he investigated three war crime cases allegedly committed by the Serbians on Albanians. He learned about various crime strategies during his tenure in Kosovo.

A serving police officer said the most important case Kumar handled was the murder of former minister Paritala Ravindra by his rivals on 24 January 2005. Kumar was then the Superintendent of Police in Anantapur.

It was said that Kumar knew about the conspiracy that was hatched from jail to eliminate Ravindra, and the officer had submitted the information in writing to the ruling political party.

“We wish all the best in his political endeavors,” the officer said.

(Edited by Majnu Babu)