Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan (C) with his wife (L) Kamala, daughter Veena, grandson Ishan and son Vivek Kiran (R). File photo/ManoramaWhat’s Pinarayi Vijayan like? We talk to the best person to shed some light on the private life of Kerala’s new chief minister - his daughter.
For Veena, her father is the pillar of her life. The man who controlled the CPM cadres and the Left politics of Kerala always found time to ensure that his children were safe and sound.
"Once I was supposed to travel to Kozhikode. I had to leave home at 10 am. Achan called me at five past 10 to ensure that I had left on time. I had just seen him live on television in a riotous situation in the street," Veena says.
The Bengaluru-based information technology entrepreneur says she can rely on her father for anything. "When I was staying in a hostel, I found it hard to wake up in the mornings. I would just sleep through the alarm bells. If I really had to wake up early in the morning, I would ask Achan to call me in the morning. I would get up refreshed the moment I hear his voice on phone," she says.
Veena and her brother Vivek had never given their parents a cause to complain about their studies. Their mother Kamala, a teacher, was in charge of the children’s education. Vijayan always asked them about school and studies. He would congratulate them on their little achievements and present them with small gifts.
He made it a point to call up home every morning and evening whenever he was out of town. There were days when both Kamala and Vijayan had to travel. Vijayan would keep calling up the children to ensure that they have eaten. He did this on any busy day.
Veena says she had always noted the way her father treated others. "He always cared for his co-workers. He dined with them and made sure that they were well-fed," she says.
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Another quality Veena admires in her father is his simplicity. He would not wear anything other than white shirt and mundu. She gifts him a shirt and mundu on his birthday.
Her childhood memories are dotted with the outings with her father. Vijayan is a hardcore fan of Rajinikanth, testifies his daughter. He prefers action and fantasy genres. He is a foodie too. He likes diversity on the dining table.
Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan.Vijayan is free from the usual ailments such as diabetes and hypertension, thanks to his healthy and punctual lifestyle, Veena says.
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Veena is married to Suneesh, an advocate in Thiruvananthapuram. Their five-year-old son Ishan is perhaps Vijayan’s best friend. He makes it a point to spend some time with his grandson whenever they come home.
Vijayan’s ascent as Kerala’s chief minister is hailed as a change for the state. But nothing changes for the family, Veena says.
