I enter through the grand gates of Raj Bhavan in Hyderabad and a stunning rangoli with colours and flowers welcomes me. Greeting me at the steps of the Governor’s residence is the First Lady of the State of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Mrs. Vimala Narasimhan, wife of Governor, Shri ESL Narasimhan. Watching me lost in the art, she shares, “Rangoli is one of my passions. It is part of my everyday ritual. I use colours and flowers on festive and special days.” You are instantly in admiration of her beauty, elegance and humility. This simplicity and warmth is the reason why she commands the adulation and respect of the entire staff at Raj Bhavan.
Mrs. Narasimhan is married to a decorated IPS officer from the AP Cadre, who rose to the pinnacle of power when at the Intelligence Bureau (IB). You expect her life to be busy and in the limelight. “We treasure our privacy and simplicity,” she says with a smile.
She makes you feel welcome and at home. The conversation is informal and the ambience, comfortable. The Dusshera Doll display is a visual treat especially the silver toys collection. “This year’s new addition is Lord Krishna’s Vishwaroopa Darshan. My very first is the sandalwood idols of Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi, gifted by my mother,” she recalls fondly of her late mother.
Mrs. Narasimhan lost her father, a world-renowned metallurgist in the 1950s, very early in her life. “He took great pride in every small thing about us. He always said how proud he was of my height and how I would be the tallest girl in my school,” she smiles.
Her mother was a gifted Veena player who performed on stage and for AIR (All India Radio). How did her mother shape her attitude and confidence post such a loss?
“Losing my father was a very difficult moment for the entire family. He loved my mother immensely, pampered her and stood by her dreams. Both my parents were progressive in their thoughts and actions. My mother’s strength and confidence motivated us to never give up. An artist who followed her passion, she continued to encourage us to pursue our dreams.
She was an independent and strong woman, who was also traditional in many of her beliefs and practices. She encouraged us to welcome the new thinking of the changing world. She could clearly differentiate between traditional practices and having an open mind to accept change and appreciate differences. I continue to embrace and uphold it to this day,” she recalls in nostalgia.
Mrs. Narasimhan, a teacher by profession and self-confessed learning addict, quit teaching when her husband was appointed as the Governor of Chhattisgarh. “I love children. It was a natural choice for me to teach children. A little known fact about me is I am temperamentally a very shy person. I would have never been comfortable working with adults,” she shares candidly about her love for teaching young kids.
“We had a memorable life in Delhi. On his retirement as Chief of Intelligence Bureau, we decided to move to Chennai. We stayed with our second son in Bangalore between our move for two weeks when we received the news of the posting. Retirement was not yet on the cards,” she says with a smile.
I am intrigued as to how she managed to balance work, with two young boys, a demanding job of her spouse and her family responsibilities. “I believe time management, planning and prioritising are keys to ensure you are able to do justice to your life choices. I used to plan my day ahead the previous night. As an early riser, I always had a head start with my responsibilities. Having a supportive family and spouse has been my greatest gift. My greatest advocates have been my father-in-law and my husband”.
Mrs. Narasimhan is also a woman of diverse talents. Her Tanjore Paintings adorn the walls of the Raj Bhavan. The grand rangoli art (with colours and flowers) at the entrance had revealed the creative artist in her. She shows me sarees block printed by her. A little known secret is that she has all her sarees to this date. So, does she remember the first sari gifted by her husband? With an emphatic yes and a twinkle in her eye, she shares, “I was married before I could write my final year exams. My husband got me a cream and green silk saree from Nalli Silks in Karolbagh for Rs.120 on the day of the announcement of my graduation results.”
I also get lucky in savouring delicious desserts handmade by her in her small personal kitchen. A fantastic cook, she still makes traditional dishes that are dying a slow death. “Our knowledge has truly grown exponentially from the time Madam started sharing her recipes,” shares Raj Bhavan’s Head Chef.
“I have always been excited about learning new things. Post my graduation, I completed M.A. (History) and B.Ed. but the thirst to pursue learning was always in me. I remember being upset when I had to miss a day in college to meet my (future) in-laws. When posted at Moscow, I went to Russian language classes. I resolved to learn Telugu when we moved to Hyderabad. It was important for me to relate to people in their native language. Carnatic music and Sanskrit language are my current passion. The mind requires a challenge to stay young and you cherish the challenge when you love what you do,” she shares enthusiastically.
I am now convinced. It is this thirst to learn that keeps her mentally young, reflecting on the outside as well. She accepts my compliments with grace and genuine surprise. “I am always surprised when I hear or receive compliments about my beauty. I still find it hard to accept compliments. I believe in positive thinking, eating healthy, exercising and smiling. I believe you reflect your inner state of spirit on the outside.”
The Governor and the First Lady are one of the most admired couples in Hyderabad. Often seen together at many social events and gatherings, they complement each other. So, what is the magic that holds them together? “My spouse and I are like chalk and cheese. In our temperament, habits, attitude and practices, we are diametrically opposite, but we respect and accept each other’s differences. We trust each other wholeheartedly and value the individuality we come with. This respect and acceptance is what binds us together. We have our small rituals – having our morning coffee together, a short evening walk, having our meals together; what we love the most is being in each other’s company, no matter how short the time is. Our interests are diverse and he has a demanding work schedule. We cherish every small moment we get with each other.”
“She is not only the First Lady of the State of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, but also of my heart,” says Mr. Narasimhan as he walks into the room. “She holds our family and the Raj Bhavan together with her tough love.” He is indeed a fine balance of humour and humility.
I ask him to share with us a few things about his wife that many may not be aware of. “She can never see the negative in any person or situation no matter how trying it can be. She always looks for the positive. She gets airsick and gets physically sick when watching violence or cruelty in movies.”
Mrs. Narasimhan quickly adds a couple more. “I am constantly on a public platform and people assume I am very confident and comfortable. On the contrary, I am a very shy person. There are times I have only smiled to get away from the crowd. I have never shopped for myself or by myself to this day. My parents or my sisters shopped for me in the past. Now my daughter-in-law takes care of my shopping needs.” she shares with a laugh.
As we walk out of the living room, a picture of them with their grandchildren captures my attention. “Being a grandparent is the best feeling in this world. It is more joyous than being a mother. Our grandkids keep us young in mind and spirit, infusing joy in our lives with their energy and enthusiasm,” she speaks of them affectionately.
Mrs. Narasimhan ends this wonderful conversation with a very honest message. “Women have come a long way and I am proud of all their achievements. It is very important for them to be financially and emotionally independent. They should pursue their passion against all odds. Women weave a strong fabric of love, compassion and harmony in the family. She has the rare gift to balance the demands of professional and personal life. I want them to prioritise and compromise but never lose sight of their dreams. We have a rare gift- ability to create life and make life too.”
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