The ‘badnaam damaad’ has spoken....
Why now? That’s what political pundits are asking about Robert Vadra’s unexpected television interview earlier this week. It has certainly taken the nation by surprise. What really piqued the viewers’ curiosity, was his statement about his wife. Said Vadra, “I did not need Priyanka to enhance my life. I had enough. My parents gave me enough...”
My, my! Really, Robert? There is a great deal one can read into that comment. For starters, when a husband says he doesn’t need his wife to ‘enhance’ his life, what exactly does he mean? Enhance his life through her wealth? Enhance his life via her position? Her power? Her looks? Her influence? Her social status? Her fame? All of it?
It’s hard for an outsider to completely figure out the dynamics of any marriage. Even less, when it’s a celebrity marriage. There is a graphic Gujarati phrase that says it best. Grandmothers call it ‘Godhdi ni vaarta’. Roughly translated, it reads, “if quilts could talk...’ The implication is simple: What goes on between a couples sharing a quilt, is known only to the quilt! In the case of Priyanka Gandhi and Robert Vadra, people assume their quilt knows sensitive state secrets! Naturally, that makes it a VVIP quilt. One of the most precious, most priceless quilts in India!
But... far more importantly than any of this, the biggest question that obsessed Dilliwallas has always been this: How strong is the Priyanka Gandhi – Robert Vadra marriage? 20 odd years and two teenage children later, is Vadra trying to go public with some tricky news, vis-a-vis the fragile state of his relationship with his wife? Why else would he drag her into the interview and, and in a way, put her down?
A husband is entitled to assert himself and protect his ego, without resorting to demeaning his wife in public. ‘Enhance’’ is a loaded word, in that sense. And Vadra sounds needlessly defensive. The fact is, he did marry into one of India’s most prominent political families. Little was known about his background or lineage. The public at large still remains pretty ignorant. What they see is a beefed up man, who accompanies his elegant wife to ‘Fashion Weeks’, and unwinds at the Capital’s posh nightclubs. These are not crimes. The other charges involving multi-crore financial/real estate deals in Haryana and Rajasthan, are.
But, declares Vadra boldly to the ANI interviewer, “the nation should know the truth about me.” He also categorically states he would never leave India, no matter “how much I am humiliated or whatever the government wants to keep on writing or saying about me.” Sounding as jejune as his brother-in-law Rahul Gandhi, he also talks about a ‘revolt’, pointing out that people are ‘upset’. He didn’t specify which people, merely adding, “In business people are upset. In real estate people are upset.” I guess, those Indians not involved in business or real estate, don’t really count, and are not upset.
While his interview will raise questions, and members from various political parties will try hard to read between the lines, Robert Vadra does not sound like an arch villain at all, he sounds plain dumb. And alarmingly naive for someone who has had a ringside view of complex machinations, and perhaps also been privy to sizzling political discussions at the family dining table. One can only guess this interview was not cleared by ‘Madam’.
Keeping mum through any and every crisis has been Sonia’s forte for years. Priyanka, well-trained and discreet, has never crossed a line in all these years. Figuring out the timing of Robert Vadra’s interview is key to understanding his motives for granting it.
Meanwhile, I am stuck trying to figure out what he meant by the “I didn’t need Priyanka to enhance my life...’’ comment. I thought the whole idea of two people getting married was to enhance each other’s lives with love and respect? And on multiple levels – intellectually and emotionally? It’s a pity if Robert Vadra has not fully comprehended the depth of that powerful word – enhance. For, if he had, he would never have used it. Unless, of course, there is a major announcement coming up.
My, my! Really, Robert? There is a great deal one can read into that comment. For starters, when a husband says he doesn’t need his wife to ‘enhance’ his life, what exactly does he mean? Enhance his life through her wealth? Enhance his life via her position? Her power? Her looks? Her influence? Her social status? Her fame? All of it?
It’s hard for an outsider to completely figure out the dynamics of any marriage. Even less, when it’s a celebrity marriage. There is a graphic Gujarati phrase that says it best. Grandmothers call it ‘Godhdi ni vaarta’. Roughly translated, it reads, “if quilts could talk...’ The implication is simple: What goes on between a couples sharing a quilt, is known only to the quilt! In the case of Priyanka Gandhi and Robert Vadra, people assume their quilt knows sensitive state secrets! Naturally, that makes it a VVIP quilt. One of the most precious, most priceless quilts in India!
Robert Vadra’s choice of words is being decoded by rivals and critics. Perhaps there is a bit of an overreaction here, but come on, Vadra has been on the radar for years, even though he has scrupulously maintained a low profile. He popped up occasionally on television screens, campaigning for the family, or was seen in the odd magazine interview, where he spoke about his gym routine and dietary habits. Despite that, analysts looked for clues – how close was he to Sonia Gandhi, his formidable mother-in-law? What did brotherin-law Rahul Gandhi think of him? Did Robert Vadra have access to important files? How much did he know about his wife’s family? Did he leverage the famous connection to make money? Were favours done during his mother-in-law’s heyday? Favours that benefitted him financially? Or, was Robert Vadra yet another victim of successive witch hunts? Why has nobody been able to nail the man so far?
But... far more importantly than any of this, the biggest question that obsessed Dilliwallas has always been this: How strong is the Priyanka Gandhi – Robert Vadra marriage? 20 odd years and two teenage children later, is Vadra trying to go public with some tricky news, vis-a-vis the fragile state of his relationship with his wife? Why else would he drag her into the interview and, and in a way, put her down?
A husband is entitled to assert himself and protect his ego, without resorting to demeaning his wife in public. ‘Enhance’’ is a loaded word, in that sense. And Vadra sounds needlessly defensive. The fact is, he did marry into one of India’s most prominent political families. Little was known about his background or lineage. The public at large still remains pretty ignorant. What they see is a beefed up man, who accompanies his elegant wife to ‘Fashion Weeks’, and unwinds at the Capital’s posh nightclubs. These are not crimes. The other charges involving multi-crore financial/real estate deals in Haryana and Rajasthan, are.
But, declares Vadra boldly to the ANI interviewer, “the nation should know the truth about me.” He also categorically states he would never leave India, no matter “how much I am humiliated or whatever the government wants to keep on writing or saying about me.” Sounding as jejune as his brother-in-law Rahul Gandhi, he also talks about a ‘revolt’, pointing out that people are ‘upset’. He didn’t specify which people, merely adding, “In business people are upset. In real estate people are upset.” I guess, those Indians not involved in business or real estate, don’t really count, and are not upset.
While his interview will raise questions, and members from various political parties will try hard to read between the lines, Robert Vadra does not sound like an arch villain at all, he sounds plain dumb. And alarmingly naive for someone who has had a ringside view of complex machinations, and perhaps also been privy to sizzling political discussions at the family dining table. One can only guess this interview was not cleared by ‘Madam’.
Keeping mum through any and every crisis has been Sonia’s forte for years. Priyanka, well-trained and discreet, has never crossed a line in all these years. Figuring out the timing of Robert Vadra’s interview is key to understanding his motives for granting it.
Meanwhile, I am stuck trying to figure out what he meant by the “I didn’t need Priyanka to enhance my life...’’ comment. I thought the whole idea of two people getting married was to enhance each other’s lives with love and respect? And on multiple levels – intellectually and emotionally? It’s a pity if Robert Vadra has not fully comprehended the depth of that powerful word – enhance. For, if he had, he would never have used it. Unless, of course, there is a major announcement coming up.
Disclaimer: The views expressed here are the author's own. The opinions and facts expressed here do not reflect the views of Mirror and Mirror does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.
