Sanchaita Gajapati Raju, granddaughter of Dr. PVG Raju, (best known as Vizianagaram Maharaja) is the eldest surviving daughter of former MP late Dr. P Anand Gajapathi Raju.
Her six months at the helm of Simhachalam temple and MANSAS Trust has been marked with controversies and riddled with allegations. The ruling YSRCP government is trying hard to project her appointment as an initiative for gender equality which is true in the modern sense. However, much to the disappointment of all the feminists, the newly heli-dropped Sanchaita is reportedly seen doing away with the much-admired traditions established by the royal family.
What is MANSAS Trust?
Maharaja Alak Narayana Society of Arts and Science (MANSAS) Trust was established 62 years ago by Dr. PVG Raju, in the name of his father to advance education, science, arts and culture in the region. Currently, the trust manages 13 educational institutions. Until recently, only male members of the Vizianagaram Royal family occupied the post of the hereditary chairpersons – of MANSAS Trust and Simhachalam Devasthanam, Visakhapatnam. Earlier, Sanchaita’s father Dr. P Anand Gajapathi Raju and younger brother P Ashok Gajapathi Raju, a seven-time legislator from Vizianagaram and a parliamentarian from the royal family discharged duties as hereditary chairperson of the trust boards.
How Sanchaita took over the reins?
After the YSRCP government came to power in 2019, Ashok Gajapati Raju was removed in March 2020. Sanchiata was brought in to take over the post of the hereditary chairperson of the temple and the MANSAS Trust. Raju’s association with the TDP is cited as the reason for the ruling YSRCP to replace him. It tried to portray the appointment of Sanchaita as a reformist attempt at gender equality. However, the issue has now landed in the courts.
Controversies brewing at Simhachalam temple
The Simhachalam Devastanam has been embroiled in many controversies ever since she took over. One of them being that a private individual Karthik (not related to the temple) has been unofficially going through the official records and files related to the temple. Adding to it, the temple board under Sanchaita resolved to create a new post of Officer on Special Duty. The man waiting in the wings at the temple guest house is said to be filling the newly created post. This comes at a time when the revenues of the temple are at an all time low and many employees were ousted, only to be retained after intervention of Minister Muthamsetti Srinivas. In a new development, Executive Officer of Simhachalam Temple D Bhramaramba had requested the State Endowments Commissioner to relieve her from current duties and initiate transfer. Temple sources say that the EO has had major differences with Sanchaita’s ‘reforms’ and eccentric decisions that are making the temple the centre of controversies.
Much to the embarrassment of Sanchaita, endowment department and the State government, Executive Officer of MANSAS Trust Madhavi has also requested for a transfer. All these developments are giving rise to apprehensions in the minds of people about the goings-on in the organizations. Executive officers have to sign the files for any decisions taken by the board. It is learnt that officials are not ready to risk their careers to be part of political machinations and make rounds to the courts on a later date.
Why are land records being scanned?
According to sources, hectic activity is going on at the MANSAS trust to dig out files related to land records, allegedly at the insistence of Sanchaita. One version is that she wants to unearth irregularities in the land transfers of the trust that happened earlier and fix Raju for it. Another version doing the rounds is that she wants to learn about the availability of trust lands and divert them to those close to the ruling party. Whatever may be the reason, Vizianagaram residents have deep affection for the royal family and these palace intrigues are worrying them, leading to anger against the ruling party. It would be better if traditions are followed and adhered to so as not to hurt the sentiments of thousands of people emotionally attached to the temple and royal family.
