The two-time Kerala chief minister and current leader of the opposition in the Assembly, Pinarayi Vijayan, opens up about his daily routine, favourite food, books, films, football, family, political influences and some of the most painful moments of his life.
I read the newspapers first thing in the morning. After that, I work out; I make sure to exercise regularly.
I prefer home-cooked food above everything else. I like puttu with green gram, fish dishes, and meals with rice accompanied by buttermilk curry and avial. I insist that everyone at home sit together and eat home-cooked food.
I follow a strict exercise routine and maintain a disciplined diet.
Reading is my primary hobby. Whenever I get some free time, I read books and poetry. Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina, Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables and Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai’s Kayar are among the works I particularly enjoyed.
I also watch films on television and enjoy travelling.
I am truly a Rajinikanth fan. I have a particular liking for his action films. Whether in Malayalam or Tamil, I enjoy action movies.
Back in school, I used to perform kathaprasangam and even did magic tricks. I have always had a deep appreciation for the arts.
I was a football enthusiast when I was young. I still watch football and follow World Cup matches with keen interest.
Back in my school days, a teacher gave me the nickname ‘Mukhyasthan’—meaning one who takes the lead—perhaps after observing my character and demeanour.
When I was young, my mother used to sing Vadakkan Pattukal, the traditional ballads of North Malabar, to me. The Ramayana and Mahabharata have also had a deep influence on me. They have shaped my thoughts and personality in many ways.
Communist leaders such as EMS Namboodiripad, AKG (A.K. Gopalan) and Chadayan Govindan, along with party comrades from the earlier generations, have had a major influence on me.
The loss of dear comrades has been the greatest loss. The deaths of Chadayan Govindan and Kodiyeri Balakrishnan were major losses, both for the party and for me personally.
The loss of my mother was another deeply painful experience. She died with her head resting on my lap. That separation was immensely painful.
There have been few such occasions, but my mother’s death affected me deeply and made me cry. I have also been heartbroken when people close to me passed away. Kodiyeri’s death, in particular, was an extremely painful experience.
My imprisonment during the Emergency and the brutal custodial torture I faced. I was beaten so severely that my flesh was torn.
I have not written about my life in detail anywhere so far. However, I do intend to share my experiences through an autobiography.
There have been a lot of allegations against me, but I do not pay much attention to such negative stuff. If you have done nothing wrong, there is no reason to be afraid of anything.
Personally, I am not afraid of anything. But I am someone who lives under the discipline of my party. So, I have both fear and respect for the party.
The support I receive from my family is invaluable. The strength I draw from my wife Kamala and my children is immense. Despite my busy schedule, I try to spend as much time with them as possible.
When I reach home, I am no longer a politician. I become a father, grandfather and husband to my family.
I enjoy travelling with my family. Our trip to Singapore is one of the journeys I remember particularly fondly.
I believe that whatever position I occupy is a particular responsibility entrusted to me. When it is time to move on, we should be prepared to do so. There should be no difficulty in accepting such a change.
We must be able to embrace change and accept the need for it. That is why I am completely content with my life as it is today.
(This article was published in the June 30 issue of Dhanam business magazine)
