Bonds of spirituality and camaraderie

Their paths are very different, Dr G.S. Rao is the managing director of Yashoda Group of Hospitals and Dr Rameswar Rao is the chairman and managing director of My Home Group of Industries.

Their relationship started in 1990 at Manjari My Home Apartments. “We met in 1990, when I  was looking for a flat for my colleague. That’s when I met Rameswar Rao for the first time, with my brother G. Ravinder Rao,” recalls G.S. Rao.

He was very impressed with Rameswar ’s simplicity, devotion to God and his attachment to his family. “When we went to meet him, he made us wait for more than half-an-hour as he was busy performing puja. But his wife Sri Kumari received us warmly,” adds G.S. Rao.

The respect, trust and fun among these two friends is long-lasting. Both are qualified doctors — G.S. Rao is a paediatrician and Rameswar Rao is a homoeopathic physician. “There is a general impression that builders are hardcore businessmen, but Rameswar Rao is very different. He is accommodative, affectionate and friendly,” says G.S. Rao. Adds Rameswar Rao, “We never had any business connections. We feel there are no barriers between friendship and affection.”

“Rameswar Rao is very spiritual. It’s because of him that I started following Swamy Chinajiyer. It’s more of a spiritual connection between us and when we meet, we talk about religious things, no business talks.”

And Rameswar Rao is awed by G.S. Rao’s bond with his family. “His attachment with his mother Yashoda Amma and his three brothers is incomparable. They are always united. From a small hospital they made Yashoda, one of the best healthcare institutions of our country. It is just because of their family values and the brothers’ united spirit, hard work and dedication.”

G.S. Rao’s daughter Meghana got married to Rameswar  Rao’s son Ram in 2009. “Our grandson is a true symbol of our 30-year-old friendship,” they say.

The two leading individuals in their respective fields feel that without individual and organisational contribution, society can never prosper. “I once went to a village in Khammam along with my family for a temple visit. The priest at that temple told us that the temple was supported by Rameswar Rao. He believes that God has given him wealth, and that he has the responsibility to share it with the needy. That’s why he supports orphanages, blind schools and Vedic schools,” says G.S. Rao.

Adding to this, Rameswar Rao says, “G.S. Rao’s father was a small clerk in the Revenue department near Warangal. He has worked hard along with his brothers to reach where he is today and created employment for thousands. It is a phenomenal achievement. Even when he was working in West Asia and Europe, he always maintained a very simple lifestyle.”