How a ‘chaiwala’ infused nationalism in an Andhra city

Josef Stanley Babu’s Indian Hotel in Andhra Pradesh’s Guntakal was a sort of an institution. For years, the unassuming city in Anantapur district gorged on toothsome snacks and gulped down what many describe as the “strongest cup of tea” served by a man who wears his heart and patriotism on his sleeve. What made the Indian Hotel a household name was Stanley Babu’s love for his country and the grand Independence Day and Republic Day celebrations organised by him.

He has been celebrating the national festivals for over two decades with the money earned from the tea shop. Each festival happens to be a month-long affair. While several programmes are organised on such occasions by government offices and schools, it’s Stanley Babu who made the celebration of national festivals a public affair in the true sense.

But like most small businesses hit by the pandemic, Stanley Babu’s shop too couldn’t withstand the Covid-induced lockdown. When it tried to reopen, Babu couldn’t afford to pay the rent which the owner had hiked after the lockdown was lifted. While he hopes to reopen the shop sooner than later, Stanley Babu’s love for his country hasn’t wavered an inch. If anything, it has become stronger.

Ask anyone about the important festivals celebrated in Guntakal, and “Stanley Babu’s I-Day and R-Day celebrations” are mentioned in the same breath as Pongal and Ugadi.

The “proud Indian” has single-handedly taught the entire city how to honour the national flag and celebrate our hard-earned freedom. While August 15 and January 26 see bigger celebrations, birth and death anniversaries of freedom fighters are also observed solemnly. The preparations for the celebrations begin about a month ahead of the event by involving students and youths.

However, the uncertainty over the reopening of his tea shop has cast a shadow on this project. While so far Stanley was spending on the events out of his own pocket, he is reluctant to ask for donations. His only hope now is to find a way to restart his business. If he fails to do so soon, Stanley Babu is afraid he will be forced to skip one of the celebrations in the coming year — for the first time in over two decades.

So, who is this man and what drives his passion?

Stanley, the patriot

A Class 10 dropout, Stanley Babu is a self-taught man. A die-hard patriot, he has turned his house in Bhagyanagar into a photo gallery of sorts with pictures and portraits of freedom fighters adorning the walls. The portraits occupy every inch of the walls inside. While the right side of the porch has ‘Vande Matarm and 1947’ written on the wall, the left side has ‘God Bless India’ scribbled over it. In between the two is a huge map of India with the Ashoka Chakra painted in the centre. Apart from the Tricolour embossed on the compound wall, the remaining walls too are devoted to pictures of national heroes.

“The house looks more like a museum or a school than a residence and stands out amid the rest of the houses in the colony,” says Kabul Saheb Pinjari, the headmaster of a nearby village school.

Pinjari, who has been with Stanley for over 15 years and helped him organise the celebrations, tells The Federal that patriotism is a way of life for Stanley Babu.

“Earlier, the small tea shop used to display portraits of freedom fighters. Now, his house has become a museum of sorts. Even Gods could not find a space on his walls,” Pinjari adds.

Even though Covid-19 stalled Stanley Babu’s work, it could not crush his indomitable spirit. The 54-year-old pooled his resources and revived his activities with the celebration of Independence Day on August 15 this year. He invited municipal chairperson Nangineni Bhavani as the chief guest.

Religious festivals no big deal

A Christian by religion, Stanley Babu treats religious festivals as a private affair of his family. “These festivals are a matter of faith in our family. On the other hand, the national flag and national festivals unite the people of all religions. Apart from that, national festivals carry a message of national values and sacrifices made by our freedom fighters. Inculcating the national spirit among schoolchildren is the best way to build a corruption-free, progressive India,” Stanley tells The Federal.

His dedication towards the cause reflects in the elaborate celebrations which are grander in scale than any official functions on the day.

“All offices, including the Railways divisional headquarters celebrate August 15 and January 26. But they are confined to the staff and limited public. Stanley Babu’s function sees the coming together of the whole city and even a few neighbouring villages,” says former four-time municipal councillor N Anjaneyulu, who is proud that Stanley Babu hails from Ward No 27, which he once represented.

Creating his own traditions

The national festivals are celebrated in a systematic way both at home and in public. “On August 15 and January 26, my family and I take bath early in the morning and wear new clothes. We pay tribute to all heroes of the freedom struggle at home. Later, I go to the nearby Jawaharlal Nehru School, which I have adopted to hoist the flag. The children are taken around the city in a rally with flags in hand. On the way, we garland all the statues of national leaders in the city. A minute’s silence is observed at the statues of Mahatma Gandhi, Dr BR Amdedkar, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Babu Jagjivan Ram, among others,” says Stanley Babu.

Explaining the rest of the day, Stanley Babu adds, “Around 11 am, the students come back to the school where they are offered sweets and gifts. Our family distributes sweets in the colony as well. In the evening, cultural programmes are organised with students till 11 pm. Local dignitaries participate as guests and distribute prizes to the participants. Social workers are facilitated with a shawl and homemade mementos.”

The enthusiasm of the whole family notwithstanding, a lot of blood, sweat and hard-earned money goes into making these celebrations a success, says the man who often faces budgetary constraints.

Babu has been celebrating the festivals for over two decades with the money he earned from the tea shop. Each festival is a month-long affair and not just a day’s gala.

“I go to all the schools and request the students to participate in the cultural events. Choreographers are sent to the schools to train the students in dance and ballads. I oversee the activities. A huge stage is erected at the R&B Bungalow Circle which is illuminated to match the occasion. A sound system is also organised,” he explains.

All this means about Rs 50,000 to Rs 1,00,000 spent on each festival. However, he never found the expense a burden and channelled a significant part of his earnings from the shop towards the functions. Now that the shop doesn’t exist any longer, Stanley Babu seems worried and he has his reasons.

“He comes from a very poor background. The family is surviving on a petty Railways pension and Stanley Babu has a daughter and son to take care of. Still, he gives so much importance to instilling the spirit of nationalism among schoolchildren,” former municipal chairman Ramalingappa, who has attended Stanley’s programmes in the past as a chief guest, tells The Federal.

Born to a Tamilian father and a Kannadiga mother, Stanley Babu’ settled in the Andhra town since his father’s last posting as a Railways employee was in Guntakal.

While he started picking up Telugu after opening his tea shop in the town, the shop helped him realise his dream of hoisting the Indian Tricolour with pride.

But what motivated Stanley Babu to make it his life’s mission?

“The idea struck me when I used to live in Bangalore during my childhood. I happened to watch the military parades and flag hoisting by the officials regularly from my house in a colony close to the cantonment. Although I wanted to do the same, private citizens were not allowed to hoist or unfurl a flag (under the Flag Code of India) until 2004. As the new rule came into force that year, everyone became free to fly the national flag,” Stanley says, explaining how a small flag hoisting ceremony at the tea stall in Guntakal has now grown into a massive celebration, thanks to “the patronage the tea stall received from the public”.

Stanley Babu considers what he does as his national duty. “My objective is to bring awareness about the sacrifices made by our freedom fighters and instil a sense of pride in the youth. The flag and national festivals are the means to reach out to them. I am satisfied with the result because after more than two decades, these are no longer my programmes alone, the entire Guntakal has owned the celebrations. My programmes represent the town’s collective spirit,” he says.

All local dignitaries such as the MLA, municipal chairman and commissioner, love to join hands with Stanley Babu.

Ramalingappa recalled how Stanley mobilised nearly 16,000 people to carry a 500-metre-long national flag as part of the celebrations of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav recently. “He has earned such goodwill in the town that everybody loves to attend his functions,” Ramalingappa adds.

It’s not just Stanley’s functions that people have become a fan of, but his house too is drawing considerable attention.

According to Nagesh Babu, circle inspector, Railway Protection Force, Guntakal, a visit to Stanley’s house is “quite educational”.

“Look at the portraits of known and little-known freedom fighters on the walls. You will know new aspects of the independence struggle. His life is a mission to create awareness about our freedom struggle and instill values among the children who are now disconnected from the past,” says Nagesh.

Like Nagesh, Rehman Tanguturi, the founder of Red Drop blood bank, is proud to associate himself with Stanley Babu.

“We feel honoured to support his activities. He never takes money nor does he work for publicity. He doesn’t even sit on the dais during the programmes. His selfless campaign is the reason behind the huge turnout in his functions,” adds Tanguturi, who set up the Red Drop following his father’ death due to non-availability of blood.

It is this goodwill collected over the years that keeps Stanley Babu going. Patriotism, as they say, is not a frenzied outburst of emotion, but a steady dedication of a lifetime. And who knows it better than Stanley Babu!