Bhandaru Srinivasa Rao
Having once served as Vice President of the Hyderabad Press Club—though that was three decades ago—it’s fascinating to see how much has changed since those simpler times. At that time, the membership stood at around 300. Today, the number has quadrupled to nearly 1,200, reflecting the rapid growth of both print and electronic media.
In our time, club elections were modest affairs—no banners, no posters, no campaign blitzes. You just shook a few hands, shared a cup of chai, and hoped for the best. Now, it’s no less than a civic election! There are posters, slogans, and social media volleys flying around faster than breaking news alerts. If this isn’t evolution, I don’t know what is.
This year’s Press Club elections have stirred unusual excitement—minus, perhaps, a primetime debate on TV. Campaigning has gone digital. WhatsApp groups are buzzing, Facebook timelines are on fire, and every candidate seems to have a PR strategist in tow.
My old friend Ramakrishna Buddhavarapu has already chronicled the club’s history and formation beautifully elsewhere, so I won’t retread that ground. My own tryst with the club’s elections was memorable enough—I once won as Secretary and lost another time. Ironically, the same circle of friends who helped me win also ensured I lost later. That’s democracy. I never took either too seriously. I still walk into the club today, greeted by the same warmth—and sometimes, even a bit of the old respect.
What I do feel strongly about, though, is unity. Let’s not allow politics to creep into what is, at heart, our collective home. Every journalist carries political leanings; it’s almost an occupational hazard. But the moment we step into the club, let’s leave those differences at the door.
If we believe the Press Club belongs to all of us, we can actually make it a place of genuine camaraderie and creativity once again.
The elections are just five days away—on the 26th. By evening, we’ll have a new managing committee. Some will celebrate; others will sulk. But let’s remember: victory is temporary, dignity is permanent. Winners should be gracious, losers should be patient. After all, these aren’t the last elections—we’ll all meet again at the next one, over chai, debate, and the occasional headline.
Let the Hyderabad Press Club continue to be a place we’re proud to call our own—vibrant, noisy, argumentative, but united in spirit..
