It's like throwing the baby with the bathwater. Indeed, while trying not to have any truck with religion, the modern, secular state also keeps away from anything that smacks of spirituality. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is a rare ruler who has broken the mould. While giving his all to speedily develop Andhra Pradesh with his innovative schemes and unusual administrative measures, Naidu has also encouraged spiritual practices and organizations in the state. He gave an interview to D.R. Kaarthikeyan, LP's Vice Chairman and Parveen Chopra, Editor, at his Jubilee Hills residence in Hyderabad. Excerpts:

Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad in particular, is known for its composite culture. How has it been sustained?
People from various religions have lived together for centuries in Hyderabad, and in Andhra Pradesh, and their cultures have merged to give rise to this composite culture.

From ancient times, people have been docile and peace loving here. Of late, however, there has been a change in their attitude because of developments like communal violence, extremism, and factional politics. I would like to change all this.

People need peace more than they need money. If you have money and not peace, life has no meaning. This is what I firmly believe in and have been promoting. I am happy to see a magazine like Life Positive because its message is the same as mine—positive thinking, always. I believe that half your problems will be automatically solved if you think positive.

Politicians interested in spirituality are rare. How did your interest develop?
I have always felt the need to maintain balance in one's life and thinking. That is why I am interested in spiritual and holistic matters. You really can't blame politicians for the stressful life they lead. They have to face pulls and counter-pulls and there are so many expectations from them.

As a politician, if you really want to do something, you will obviously be under a great deal of pressure. As for me, I work round the clock except when I sleep. I am up at four in the morning. By 6 o' clock, I finish my yoga and breathing exercises. I reach office by 6.30 a.m. From then on, I work till 9 p.m. and then have my dinner. For this sort of a grueling schedule, you need a positive bent of mind. Except during elections, I don't talk politics. I prefer to focus on development, peace and happiness.

What do people feel about your promoting spiritual practices? Do they feel that you are imposing these upon them?
I never impose anything. I promote, I facilitate. If you impose anything, it will not go down well with anyone. There are some people who are quite receptive to what I am doing. You see, change is a vast process and nothing happens instantly. Change begins with a few and then multiplies. In Andhra Pradesh, I have taken the first step. The government has, for the first time, officially promoted practices for the spiritual well-being of the people.

But you have opposed the Central Government's move to induct Vedic astrology in educational institutions.
I am not opposed to astrology, I am against imposing religion on education. Educational institutions must remain above religion as they are strictly meant for imparting knowledge. In fact, my father had introduced astrology in Telugu University a long time ago.

Have you been able to make any difference in rural areas?
As I said, it is just the beginning. Schools, development projects, and other activities like yoga and meditation, which we are actively promoting, are picking up now. Tension arises when people lose balance. If you act positively when somebody commits a mistake, the tension will not build up and that mistake will lose its impact.

You seem to promote all spiritual organizations equally.
Wherever there is good, I follow it. If you say something good, I will immediately follow you. Every spiritual master is playing out his or her role. I want to encourage everybody.

Life Positive also takes the good from everywhere.
One man alone cannot do good things in this big country of ours or in the world. It is best to promote whatever good anyone is doing anywhere in the world.