HYDERABAD: TRS Member of Parliament from Karimnagar B Vinod Kumar and Dr B Madhavi, gynecologist, got married in 1990 – an arranged marriage and a joint decision by their families with the individuals’ consent. Both grew up knowing that one day they would get married. “There was no tension or suspense leading upto the wedding. Both of us are closely related and knew each other right since childhood. Our parents had arranged our marriage. You could say ours is a love marriage that was arranged,” says Vinod, who won three LS elections in 2004, 2008 (by-election) and 2014.
Rainy wedding day
Vinod’s journey to marriage started in the year 1990. He was a successful practicing lawyer in Warangal. It was time that he got married. It was a lavish wedding. “There was a mammoth gathering at my wedding. In fact, even today people remember it. Unfortunately the entire day it was raining and that dampened our festivities. We were all upset. But then, during the muhurat of the actual wedding ceremony, the rain stopped and the ceremony went off beautifully,” recalls the Deputy Floor Leader of the TRS.
“At the time of my wedding, I was a little nervous as I was in the midst of priests, incantations and pujas. Participating in such rituals was new for me. During my student days, since I was in All India Students Federation (AISF), I did not believe in following orthodox Hindu rituals, especially when it came to marriage,” he adds.
Taking a difficult step
The leader, who believes in the institution of marriage, feels if a couple falls out, the two families are there to support them. They have helped put the marriage together. “After my first son Prateek was born, we moved to Hyderabad. I faced a difficult situation as I had to give up my successful career and shift to Hyderabad,” he recalls.
Vinod and Madhavi did a lot of talking and Vinod says they have confidence in each other. “I came to Hyderabad and my practice at the High Court was just picking up when TRS was launched and I was one among the founder-members. Those were hectic days. I used to go the High Court in the Old City and then travel back all the way to Banjara Hills to meet KCR. Finally it got too much and I had to make a choice – to focus on my career or on the Telangana movement. That’s when I decided there was no point sailing on two boats and decided to fully focus on the Telangana movement. With her support and backing, I was able to take the difficult decision in 2002 of giving up my career and plunged fully into the movement. This decision and subsequently with hard work, I was able to do perhaps made KCR offer me a ticket to contest from Hanamkonda in the 2004 Lok Sabha general elections,” shares the leader with a smile.
A different kind of love
Vinod is very mindful that his wife Madhavi left many family and friends behind. “Today she is a very successful gynaecologist in Hyderabad,” and adds, “She can share her feelings with me. She is like my best friend, as well as my life partner. Madhavi shares everything that goes in her routine before going to sleep.” Vinod feels, there are different types of love, “The days she proposed to me I knew I was in love with her. During school and college days she was my neighbour and right since then I was caring and protective of her. From then the affection only grew and matured into a steady, lifelong bond. I wouldn’t say it was love at first sight and there was no single defining moment as such.”
Spacing out
Every relationship has its share of ups and downs. It’s almost 26 years and this couple has kept its promises. “We fight, we quarrel and we overcome fights or disagreements by keeping quiet for a day or two. We’ve learned to give each other the space,” shares Vinod.
The couple, who has two children – Prateek and Pranay, says, “If a model marriage is considered as one that is happy and successful then why not our my own marriage?” With so many marriages falling apart around us today, he says, “Out of sight is out of mind. In a lot of marriages nowadays couples live apart mainly because of their jobs. This sometimes weakens the emotional bond that is there. One should ensure that it doesn’t happen and that the couple stays together and talks to each other in order to ensure a smooth and emotionally and spiritually blissful life.”
With her support and backing, Vinod was able to take a difficult decision in 2002 – of giving up his career as a lawyer and to plunge fully into the Telangana movement
One hell of a ride!
In August 1990 after our marriage we visited the Andamans. We went to an uninhabited island on a very small boat powered by a diesel motor and pump. It was very risky, both of us going at 20 km into the deep sea on that boat. In that mode I did not think much about the risk but had it been today, I would have refused such an adventure.