HYDERABAD: TRS MP K Kavitha, who turned 38 on Sunday, is a suave politician, firebrand leader and a gifted orator. But these are the qualities which we have been witness to for over a decade, as part of Kavitha’s professional front. Very few women out there can match the teething demands of a career, while counterbalancing the challenges of running a family. Kavitha, as you will find out here, has aced this aspect of her life as well with aplomb.
Growing up
Kavitha, one of Telangana’s most popular politicians and social activist, says she was very silent as a kid. “My brother was always in boarding school, I was the only child at home with my parents. We were not pampered to the extent kids are pampered now. We were given freedom and treated well. My mother had to address the whole family, since my aunts and granny also live with us. My father was an MLA since childhood. He used to be busy with his work, but when he got the time, my father trained us in doing all work all by ourselves.”
“Even today, I don’t ask anyone to get me water, I get it myself. Both my mom and dad trained me to do household chores. They wanted me to understand the pain of labour,” she reminisces.
While Kavitha has transformed into a symbol for women in the state, she reveals that she was tomboyish in school. “I was always an average, boring, not-so-naughty student during school. I always tried to score 100 per cent marks in Mathematics, but missed out by one mark in my Intermediate exams. I love sports and would ofeten play football and cricket. My parents too never restricted me from running on the ground at MLA colony along with my friend and play games, climb trees and indulge in all the tomboyish activities,” she laughs out loudly.
As she grew older, Kavitha soon began to realise the importance of education. She also went into a rebel phase, where she skipped college a few times, but says the experience made her wiser.
“In my Intermediate I was very sincere student. I studied in Gowthami Girls College, SR Nagar, which has strict rules and regulations for students. We would be studying all the time but as soon as I got into engineering, the very first year, I bunked a couple of times. But by the end of the year, I got back to the studies track. I realised the importance of education,” she recalls on the fluctuation of her academic graph.
On Marriage
Her real encounter with life was when she stepped in the US. “In school, we didn’t really bother about social life. I slowly started getting a hang of what was happening around me after I ventured into my college life. Going to the US was an eye opener. I was introduced to the real world and all the training given by my dad came in handy,” she shares.
When Kavitha returned from the US after two years, she first met Anil Kumar, who she later married. “We met each other to discuss some business. Neither me nor him knew it was for marriage. It was arranged by our parents. We liked each other and within ten days, our wedding was fixed. I was not in a frame of mind to get married. I was planning to set up my start-up here but life took a different turn. My husband is very supportive though and he gives me enough space. He went back to America within five days of marriage. I lived at my in-laws place trying to understand them. The first year of marriage is very important for any woman. If we bond well in the first year, every thing will work out well,” she narrates on how she got into wedlock.
On Motherhood
Motherhood is the most beautiful phase of every woman’s life and it was no different for Kavitha. “Motherhood is the best part of my life so far. From the moment I got to know that I had conceived, I started to read a lot about pregnancy, children and their psychology. Like every mother, I do everything to my make my two little heroes happy. My older one is in seventh and younger one is in third standard. It’s like I am reliving my school days through them. Helping them with their assignments and homework is a wonderful feeling for me,” she smiles, with a sparkle in her eyes.
It is not very easy to juggle between personal life and professional life. Especially if the woman is a public figure. She says, “Like a modern day woman, I try to compartmentalize my life and keep it as organised as possible. I don’t usually get a full day off. When I do, I am completely with my children. We go out, cook together, watch movies and many more. The younger one is too young and he cries when I am not around. Its painful as a mother.”
Telangana Jagruthi and Bathukamma
Apart from being a politico, Kavitha is also the founder of Telangana Jagruthi, an NGO which strives to preserve and promote Telangana culture. “The best part of social activism is that we don’t have a set goal. As a politician, we are accountable for something. When I had started Jagruthi, I never anticipated it would grow so big. It has more than 1.5 lakh volunteers. We have more than 17 skill development centers, where more than 10,000 people were trained in the last three months alone. Initially the Bathukamma had less audience but by the end of third year, there was a huge turn out of crowd,” she beams.
“There was one instance so far which I am revealing now. Once, I had asked my people to not make any announcements to see how the turnout was going to be. To my surprise, the whole of Tank Bund was crowded to celebrate. As soon as I learnt about the crowd, I joined them in the celebration rally. I was so proud. Every Bathukamma flower that women carried had a flag called Jai Telangana. It was an endorsement of the fact that it was our festival. It felt good that women reflected what I wanted to propagate,” Kavitha reflects.
Kavitha has been the pioneer in reviving Bathukamma and giving it its due. “As we all know Telangana has two very indigenous festivals -- Bathukamma and Bonalu. I remember celebrating Bathukkamma in my childhood. I asked my mother why we has stopped celebrating, she immediately said most of the people in Hyderabad are not even aware of this festival. That’s when it struck my mind that I should highlight the festival before it fades to oblivion,” she informs on how the movement started.
‘I am naughtier than my brother’
A member of Telangana’s first family, Kavitha shares her insight into her personal life. “As a daughter, I can take the liberty with my dad more than anybody else can. He is a very loving father. There is a strong mutual support and understanding between my mother and me. I am more naughty compared to my brother. He is too sober and mature as a person. In the absence of my dad, my brother had always taken good care of me. I used to run to him for any problem or help,” she says.
“As a wife, I would say I am the luckiest. My husband is very understanding and encouraging. The core strength is the effort we put in to understand each other in the first year of marriage. When miles apart, we know what our emotions are. I keep my children in good communication. They are adults already. I don’t dismiss them when they ask me anything. I ensure I sit with them and talk to them before leaving for work out of Hyderabad,” she concludes.
Daily grind
My regular day is interesting. Mine is not a 9-to-5 job. On days when I have to go the constituency, I wake up before my kids, prepare everything for them and leave. I come back at 1 am or sometimes, I stay back at work. It’s very unpredictable. When things are under control, I ensure I come back home no matter how late it is, so that I can wake up and get my sons ready for school. From 6 to 7.30 am, its children’s time. From 7.30 to 9, I finish my work-out routine, read papers, eat breakfast. 9 am to 11 am is my time. I write articles, think of concepts, spend some tea time with husband. From 11am onwards, I am out for people. Its a crazy schedule. Though I try to bring some order, it works sometimes and sometime it doesn’t
Fitness regime
Early in life, I learn’t from my dad to eat like a pig but work like a bull. From class seven, my dad used to take me out to play shuttle in the morning, go for a walk and run sometimes. Those were the days, when my dad used to sing for me while walking together. No matter how busy I am, I don’t miss my work out regime. I have tried cross fit, yoga, walking and everything, but I somehow stick to running.