I met Nara Lokesh on Saturday the July 5,2025 at his Hyderabad Residence
(Jwala Narasimharao)
What was anticipated to be just few minutes turned into an enriching, invigorating, and thought-provoking interaction, unmindful of extra time taken, that lingered long after I stepped out of the Hyderabad Residence of Lokesh Nara, Andhra Pradesh State’s dynamic Minister for IT, Electronics and Communications, Real-Time Governance, and HRD. What touched me even before the conversation began was Lokesh’s spontaneous gesture of respect: he politely rose from his seat, welcomed me with warmth, and received with the affection due to an elder.
As I began introducing myself, he smiled: ‘Yes, yes, I know you,’ in a simple, yet graceful acknowledgment that spoke volumes about his grounded upbringing, cultural values, ability to recognize and remember people across generations. In an age where formality often eclipses sincerity, this quiet act of humility left a lasting impression. Meeting Lokesh was nothing short of a revelation. With an ever-present, infectious smile and a demeanor marked by warmth, grace, and boundless energy, he embodies a rare mix of political clarity and personal accessibility.
His strong focus on development, active listening to people’s feedback, and open, honest dialogue show that he welcomes criticism and accepts responsibility with integrity. In those moments, I could not help but recall his illustrious father, AP Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, with whom I had the privilege of interacting frequently during my tenure as a Faculty Member at Dr MCR HRD Institute (1995–2004). The same meticulous attention to governance, data-driven thinking, and people-centric leadership now seem to flow, in a contemporary idiom, through Lokesh, as legacy meets innovation in a leader of the next generation.
His natural instinct as I understood in that few minutes is not to say ‘No’ but to explore how best to say ‘Yes’ even if that means reasoning diplomatically when circumstances demand otherwise. This blend of optimism, realism, and humility made the encounter not just memorable, but deeply inspiring. It was evident that this is a leader who listens, learns, and leads, not from a pedestal, but from among the people.
What added delight to the occasion was the unexpected honor of receiving a personally gifted copy of ‘The Voice of People,’ a seminal chronicle of Lokesh’s extraordinary and unique political journey that makes a difference. This is not just a book; it is a living document of step-by-step, village-by-village account of ‘the story of the Historic Yuvagalam (the voice of the youth) Padayatra’ across Andhra Pradesh. In the words of Nara Brahmani, the book is nothing short of a ‘Game Changer’ and rightly so.
The Voice of People book captures the transformation of a leader who has been shaped not by entitlement but by experience, not by mere legacy but by legwork especially against the background of political critics had written off Lokesh. The pages breathe with the voices, hopes, and aspirations of lakhs of people who walked beside him, spoke to him, and placed their trust in him.
Lokesh himself shared with heartfelt pride that the first copy of the book was presented to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the second to his mother, Nara Bhuvaneswari, and the third copy, as he put it with a warm smile on his face, was given to (me) ‘you, among a few more.’ It was a pleasant gesture and a touching moment that made me feel both humbled and privileged, and one that will remain etched in my memory as a quiet but meaningful affirmation of mutual respect.
As I prepare to read and reflect upon ‘The Voice of People’ book in depth, I do so not merely as a reader or a reviewer, but as someone who has briefly, yet meaningfully, witnessed the passion, purpose, and promise of a leader in the making. A swift initial perusal of the book’s content, however, moved me to share these first impressions even before attempting a more detailed, comprehensive review.
When I offered to write one, Lokesh’s immediate response was both open and admirable: ‘Sure, be critical also wherever you feel so.’ That one remark spoke volumes. In a political culture often resistant to scrutiny, Lokesh’s willingness to invite criticism reflects not just maturity but democratic depth, a trait that every meaningful public leader would do well to emulate.
The book ‘The Voice of People’ offers a rich, pictorial, and content-driven narrative of the 226-day, 3132-kilometer-long Road to People’s Happiness which touched 1.5 crore individuals across 2094 villages in 232 mandals forming part of 97 constituencies spanning 11 districts of Andhra Pradesh, a massive and unprecedented public outreach.
The padayatra was undertaken between January 27, 2023, and December 2023, and the book captures in vivid detail how Lokesh Nara shared his dreams for a brighter Andhra Pradesh with people from all walks of life. The farewell photographs on pages 4 and 13 evoke deep emotion, truly heart-touching moments that reflect the personal bonds formed during the journey.
On Day One, quoting Navyandhra Pradesh, the book notes that ‘Lokesh embarked on his journey from the Sri Varadaraja Swamy Temple, driven by his vision for a brighter future and his desire for change. This historic yatra marked the beginning of the march towards that vision.’
A particularly lasting impression on Day Three came through his interaction with Navneeta, a vegetable vendor, an early signal of how deeply this journey would resonate with ordinary people. Remarkably, by Day Four, the padayatra had already drawn the attention of the national media. As Lokesh continued to engage extensively with agricultural workers and rural communities, his connect with the grassroots evolved naturally and powerfully.
As the days unfolded, The Voice of People unfolds not just a travelogue, but a chronicle of transformation, capturing Lokesh’s evolving dialogue with citizens, his grasp of local issues, and the emotional pulse of a state yearning for change.
The book’s narrative includes among others: ‘Lokesh frequently climbing the roof tops and addressing his supporters; Offering prayers at kanipaka; issuing stern warnings to the then government; working alongside farmers; taking a Selfie with water canon vehicles used by police to intimidate crowds; his Hello Lokesh Events; people enthusiastically cheering Jayaho Lokesh; his listening to women attacked by YRS supporters; his interaction with Rural Professionals and attempting to practice their skills; his declaring war on drug mafia etc.’ For more details it is ‘MUST READ THE BOOK.’
‘The Voice of the People’ is often referred to as ‘Vox Populi’ in Latin. In a way, The Voice of People, chronicling Lokesh Nara’s historic padayatra across AP, can be seen as a contemporary political parallel to the legendary ‘Vox Populi’ column of All time Great Indian Journalist Rusi K Karanjia’s Blitz Magazine. Karanjia used ‘Vox Populi’ not merely as reportage, but as resistance, frequently questioning power centers especially that of Indian politicians, and offering a bold editorial space for public sentiment and dissent.
Nara Lokesh’s padayatra gave voice not from behind a desk, but through direct, on-the-ground engagement with over 15 million people, across villages, mandals, and constituencies. His journey transformed listening into leadership, making The Voice of People not just a book, but a movement in motion. In essence, just as Blitz, through Vox Populi column, became a journalistic movement, The Voice of People too stands as a political movement rooted in democratic dialogue, shaped by the voices of the people themselves.
Eventually, this movement proved decisive, as the YSR Congress Party miserably lost the 2024 elections and the Telugu Desam Party returned to power triumphantly, largely credited to Lokesh’s relentless grassroots mobilization and people-centric campaign. Yet, unassuming Lokesh acknowledged the encouragement of wife Brahmini, loving son Devansh, Pillar of Support mother Bhuvaneshwari, and above all, his indebtedness to his Leader-Father Nara Chandrababu Naidu, for all the success!!!
(I presented by Book ‘Sajiva Vahini Sanatana Dharmam’ to Lokesh)
(Author is former CPRO to CM of Telangana)