Writing about Syed Iqbal has been a challenging exercise. On the surface, he appears almost one-dimensional ? living a simple life devoted to his calling and his faith. Nonetheless, closer inspection reveals a personality so rife with abundant leadership activities, that, it is difficult to explain all his contributions as an impeccable union leader.
In many ways, Syed Iqbal defies the biographer?s knack. Perhaps, the reason could be his magnificent temperament that is few and far between meekness. Of course, it provided a starting point for me, the biographer. My quest began with the question, ?How could this unobtrusive man captivate and comfort those many members of a vast union?? Thus, my disclosure was ? it is the great consecration that makes the life of Syed Iqbal so interesting.
This book does not purport to be a definitive biography of Syed Iqbal. Indeed I wonder if such a thing is possible. I am sure that not anyone individual associated with him could fully master all the sources dealing with the multitudinous aspects of such a complex life of a leader like Syed Iqbal. I am of the opinion that even after spending a lifetime studying this union leader, Syed Iqbal, it becomes more elusive and more enigmatic the more one knows about him. I have therefore set myself the modest task of attempting a clear synthesis of my existing knowledge of this extraordinary colossus who convulsed the SBEU as a leader ? for a level-headedly long time.
Deplorably, I have decided that I cannot afford the amenity (perhaps self-indulgence) of detailed footnotes and citations. In the case of Syed Iqbal, in order to sustain a single proposition one would have to cite so much available evidence ? sometimes from more than twenty to thirty sources. It is a matter of fact that this volume is rationally long enough. I have therefore contented myself with a summary of indicative reading.
My debt to the encouragement of many colleagues, especially Chaturvedula Sree Rama Valli, Charepalli Sindhu, Cheela Shravan Kumar, Ashwini Koneti, and Meena N. H, is evident. Among other SBEU leaders, I would single out for special mention the contributions of R. Srinivas, Y. Pushkarendra Babu and P. Naresh Babu. My thanks are due to a number of individuals who played a part in this book. I am especially thankful to Mr Amardeep Singh Saini, the Chairman and Managing Director of Paradise Publishers, New Delhi. The person who gave me encouragement at vital moments when my spirits were flagging during the course of this project is Ankireddipalli Venugopal Reddy. Of course, my greatest debt is to the most important people in my life: Kasturi Savitha (my mother), Uma Rani Kasturi (my wife), and my sons: Kasturi Sai Advait and Kasturi Sai Advik.
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