By Soumitra Bose/Mukesh Kumar Sinha
2006: “Hi sir, I am Amruta Ranade.” Some nine years ago, this was how Amruta, now Fadnavis, introduced herself to the man who would become her husband. Devendra Fadnavis, now Maharashtra’s CM-designate, responded with his characteristic namaskar.
“I used to call him sir always,” Amruta says with a shy smile. “It took some time and effort before I could drop the sir and call him Deven.”
2015 now : “Deven” remains…Added Narednra Modi. In other words, crisply speaking, newest, latest, most powerful center in the National Level is : Amruta Fadnavis. She has eased out the power of Union Minister Smriti Zubin Irani, till the other day closest to Prime Minister NarendraBhai DamodarDas Modi, according to her repeated vociferous ubiquitous admissions. She was often advised to end that practice to avoid wrath of Modi. She couldn’t care less because she loudly declared she was close to Modi and would always be by his side. …Time has come when Modi has bid adieu to her. He has understandably realised that ‘She’ is posing too big for her boots, he will be subjected to malicious insidious campaign/s that will spell “D” for him. Thus he reportedly has decided to ease her out of his charmed circle of VIPs. It will be evident in the ensuing reshuffle/revamping/reconstitution/rearrangement in his Council of Ministers.
Amruta’s account of their relationship also gives glimpses of Devendra the family man, such as his irregular food habits, how they make the most of the little time they get together, and how he prefers to use his eyes rather than words to express himself. …Added in it could well be Amruta Fadnavis, presently claimed to be extremely close to Modi because of her “vibrant zest, zeal+inherent capability to accomplish 3/4th of Indian Population covering HRD Ministry goals+‘Make In India’ through them+installing “Skill Indians” in ‘Make In India’ projects, thanks to her repeatedly proven Chitpavan Kokanastha Brahmin Ranade lineage. Professionally, she is a hardcore banker. “As HRD Minister, she will be absolutely apt as she is a virtuoso expert in Man Management, so pressingly needed in HRD Ministry”, says a Ministry insiders. Ministry officers are already celebrating Amruta Fadnavis as their new minister. They now openly admit, in the last so many months, nothing notable, worthwhile has happened in the HRD Ministry. Many a time, many important files have not moved due to lack of leadership in the ministry. In Amruta, they see a ‘concrete’ personality.
…“Unlike me, Deven is not expressive. I don’t think he has ever commented on what I wear or how I work. It’s always silently conveyed through his eyes. And I understand,” Amruta says.
The first meeting (between them) was at the home of one of his friends. “Ours was an arranged marriage, and our mothers were keen that we should meet,” Amruta says. “I let Deven know I didn’t want to go through that ritual of wearing a saree and serving poha and tea. He didn’t want that either, and said let us meet at a friend’s house.
“He came from his constituency and visited a temple,” she recalls. “He was wearing a red tilak on his forehead. Frankly, I remember only the calm look on his face. His smile was so reassuring and genuine. But we did not decide immediately. It was after some more meetings and discussions on our careers that we agreed on the marriage.”
Amruta, whose daughter Divija is now six, is (till she officially quits it) an associate vice president with Axis Bank. Before she met Devendra, she admits, “my impression about politicians and politics was not very good”. Once they met, she says, she was struck by his dedication to his constituency and its people, and his integrity — she found him “extremely down to earth”.
“It was made clear to me that his would be a very hectic schedule. I am reconciled to that and have never demanded his time. Whatever little time we have together, it is extremely happy,” she says. “But whenever I need him, I believe he will be there for me, as I would be for him.”
The day the election results were declared, she could meet him only for minutes, when he was in an open jeep surrounded by supporters. “He landed at Nagpur airport and entered the jeep. It was late evening when I got to meet him. I told him, ‘I am happy for you as the people have again reposed their faith in your work’,” she says.
Frequent travel also makes Devendra’s meals irregular, but when at home, Amruta keeps his food free of oil and fat. They haven’t even watched a film together since Lagaan.
Amruta is a classical singer, a talent Devendra apparently doesn’t share. “Yes, I sing all the time and he loves to sit and listen. And no, I never allow him to try singing for he sounds like he is reciting a poem,” she says. “When we have got together with college friends, though, he has often joined me in duet. He sings only one line — ‘Monica, oh my darling’ — when I sing Piya tu ab tu aaja.”
(Amruta, who had gone to St Joseph’s Convent, graduated from GS College of Commerce in Nagpur,and got an MBA from globally famous Symboisis College in Pune, says she was always among the top three as a student.)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi having extremely high opinion/s on Ranade (Amruta now is associated with and is synonymous with Ranade)urged the youth to make their life meaningful rather than be just successful and cited the example of Bill Gates to bring home the point.
Saluting the contributions of (Eknath) Ranade who lived by the teachings of Swami Vivekananda, the Prime Minister hoped that Ranade’s ideals of “one life, one mission” will inspire the youths to join in nation-building and fulfil Swamiji’s dreams.
“Ask anyone what the purpose of their life is and they will tell you it is to be successful. But Ranade used to attach more importance to make life meaningful rather than being simply successful. That should be our strive in life,” he said.
To drive home the difference between a “successful (safal)” and a “meaningful (sarthak)” life, the Prime Minister cited the example of Microsoft founder Bill Gates, one of the richest men in the world, is today working towards social welfare, helping people install toilets across the world and serving humanity.
“Bill Gates made a discovery that changed the world. He made a world of wealth, attained unmatched success but then realised that all this was not the end of life. He then donated money towards the human development in poorer nations, supporting toilet-building and other activities. This made his life meaningful,” he said.
Modi said Ranade’s vision should inspire in creation of an India that is both “bhavya” (prosperous) and “divya” (spiritual).
Evidently clearly why Amruta Ranade is now VVIP in The Capital!
