It is holiday time but the Daggupati home is hassled by the seemingly endless stream of visitors. After having wound up a trip to Bapatla with the Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, Purandareswari has been taking stock of her home and is now switching gears to focus on her trip back to Delhi. She keeps her appointment and I seize the opportunity and demystify the charming Member of Parliament from Andhra Pradesh.Â
Purandeswari, the second daughter in the NTR family is not a late bloomer. With an inherent quality of drawing respect and the potential of ‘holding court’, the lady has acquired the reputation of being a capable leader in her constituency. Neither fiercely private nor overtly aggressive, her charisma was enough to swing the public decisively in her party’s favour.
As the first woman among NTR’s progency to enter the political arena, her dexterity in the field calls for applause. Ask her if her leaning towards politics was intentional, and she says, “It was all very sudden and unexpected. I strongly believe in fate. I never saw myself leading a public life despite my father and husband playing an active part in politics. As a child, I always craved to do something different. My father wanted me to join the field of medicine, but I took up genetics and archaeology instead. He always thought that his girls did very well in education and had immense confidence in us, but when it came to the sons he wanted them to inherit his legacy. He would have been proud to see me here today. I really miss him.”
As a multifaceted student and efficient homemaker, the lady balances her home and career perfectly. She is a trained gemologist. “When my father passed away, I was very depressed. At that time a friend prodded me to take up a course in Gemology in Mumbai. What started as a hobby soon became an addiction and we set up the institute of gems and jewellery at Gunfoundry. Teaching is my passion and whenever I find the time, I go there and take classes at a stretch.”
The leader laments the lack of allround development in educational institutions today and says it has become more of corporate governance. She feels that most parents are responsible for the pressure and stress on students. “The joys of childhood have disappeared. I can climb trees but I can tell you for sure that my daughter doesn’t know to do so. Nivedita is a national badminton player and my son Hitesh plays tennis on the State circuit. I just want them to be good individuals and good citizens.”
Coming from the same arena, does she differ with her husband on various issues? “Like any husband and wife we have our arguments but ideologically we are on par with each other. He comes from a very orthodox background and sometimes the feudal attitude is evident but so far he has never given me a reason to complain. He never thrusts his opinions on me either, but expects me to be back at home when the children arrive and to give my home priority which I feel is not wrong.”
Purandeswari is not into glib talk. She shows a childlike enthusiasm in her eagerness and commitment to excel in her work and wants to change the face of her constituency in the next few years. “My husband feels I’m over ambitious about my plans for my constituency and there are times when he cautions me to slow down because things take time to materialise.” She adds, “I won the election as NTR’s daughter but now they know I mean business. I used to run around the Parliament asking them to give me a chance to speak. They woulld say chalo, NTR saab ki beti hai, ek chance denge but now they come to me and ask me if I want to initiate the proceedings.”
Ask her if her relations with her sister are cordial and she answers with a tone of finality, “I love my sister and I will never let my profession shadow my relationship with her. I will also not let my love for my siblings affect my professional life as well. Being emotional is a family trait, which is one reason why my brother lost out, but I refuse to be needled by unnecessary remarks from anyone in the Opposition. I know where to draw the line.”
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